Maslow’s hierarchy of needs | The surprising truth about your daily choices

What compels us to behave in certain ways? Why do some individuals concentrate on survival, whereas others pursue creativity and a search for meaning? One of the most prominent psychologists of the 20th century, Abraham Maslow, presented acknowledged answers to these questions in 1943. He presented it in the form of a model composed of a list of human needs ordered, layer upon layer. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the name for this model.

This theory became some of the basis of psychology, pedagogy, and business. It lays out a method to think about what people require before they can develop, learn or do. In this article we will look at the hierarchical levels, how the theory works, and how the theory can be applied in real life.

What Is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory?

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory explains that people are motivated by different types of needs. These needs range from basic survival to complex desires for growth and fulfillment. According to Maslow, people move through five levels of need. Each level must be met before the next becomes a strong motivator.

Maslow presented these needs in the form of a pyramid. At the base are physiological needs. At the top is self-actualisation, the drive to reach one’s full potential. Maslow’s theory suggests that when a lower level is unmet, a person’s focus will remain there until it is satisfied. Only then can they move on to the next level.

The Five Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Each level in needs hierarchy represents a different kind of human requirement. These levels are arranged in a specific order. Let’s look at each one in detail.

Physiological Needs

Physiological needs make up the base of the pyramid. This includes the basic needs of all humans for survival: food, water, air, shelter, and sleep. Without these needs satisfied, one cannot function physically or cognitively. 

For example, if someone is starving then the only fixation they have the ability to focus on is to find and procure food. All their energy is focused on these basic needs. Once someone is in a position where they have their physiological needs met on a regular basis, they begin to seek safety and stability.

Safety Needs

Following psychological needs comes safety needs. These needs include both physical and emotional safety. People need to feel safe from harm, have consistent pay, healthcare, and have a safe place to live. 

Living in a state of fear is not a good place to be as it prevents risk-taking. If someone fears they’ll lose their job, their focus shifts to reaching financial security, such as wondering whether they are earning enough to meet the minimum wage in Ireland. These needs become urgent during vulnerabilities occurring in the world. These include natural disasters or political unrest. At this point, Maslow’s motivation is created by the desire to feel safe and secure.

 Love and Belongingness Needs

Once physical safety has been satisfied, humans pursue social connection. The third level includes love, friendship, and belonging. Celebrating moments like Father’s Day is a great example of how we build and nurture these emotional connections. People desire to belong to a family, peer group, or community as social beings. Having social relationships helps us feel loved and emotionally supported.

In the absence of love or connectedness, it is common for people to feel lonely or isolated. This is proven to lead to mental health struggles, even when they have met other lower needs. Meeting this level is needed for improved well-being and emotional stability.

Esteem Needs

Once people establish a sense of belonging, they then turn their attention to esteem needs. This includes esteem for self, esteem and respect from others, recognition, and status. Based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and motivation, people want to feel accomplished and to feel valued, both to themselves and to others.

There are two forms of esteem needs: internal and external. Internal esteem needs include self-competence in terms of self-confidence. External esteem needs involve respect or praise from others as well as reputation. Internal esteem examples include career achievements like a promotion. Or acknowledgements which could be receiving an award, as well as praise for a job very well done. When esteem needs are met, motivation is enhanced and a drive for more achievement is created.

Self-Actualisation

Crowning the hierarchy is self-actualisation. This psychological need is the craving to be the best version of yourself. This includes achieving your full potential, being creative, and pursuing your own growth. Individuals at this level are actively engaged in achieving their own goals and are trying to find meaning in life. 

Self-actualization takes all shapes and sizes. For some it may mean starting their own business. For others it may be creating art, or volunteering to help others. It goes beyond needs of survival and approval. It’s about purpose. Once an individual has checked the box of all other needs to survive, this is the aspect of motivation.

Maslow’s Theory in Real Life

Maslow’s theory can be applied in many different sectors. In schools, teachers apply the theory to create learning environments where students feel safe and secure. A student who is hungry or scared about going to school is unable to focus on learning. Understanding how a student’s basic needs must be met is important for the student’s success.

In businesses, employers apply the model to promote employee satisfaction. Fair pay, job security, and opportunities for growth helps staff remain engaged and productive. Businesses have learned that when staff’s basic needs are met they remain fully engaged. Even among healthcare staff, understanding a client’s needs helps to improve care delivery, especially for individuals who depend on supports like the Disability Allowance in Ireland.

When applying the hierarchy of needs in these practical cases, we can create better systems for individuals in the community.

Criticisms and Limitations of Maslow’s Theory

Despite its popularity, needs hierarchy theory has been critiqued on some levels. One concern is that not everyone follows the hierarchy. Some people will seek to meet higher, self-fulfillment needs when more basic, lower-level needs have not been satisfied. For instance, an artist may continue to create even when riffing on a top ramen diet because they are fulfilling their self-fulfillment needs (the art).

Another critical concern in the theory is the issue of cultural differences. Maslow’s hierarchy is derived from individualistic societies where goals portrayed on levels are most important. In collectivist cultures, personal goals are less important than those of the family or community. This can lead to a number of differences in the need hierarchy.

A final critique from researchers is that there is a limited amount of scientific research to show evidence of life stages as portrayed in the pyramid and to show they happened in order.Despite these criticisms, hierarchy theory is still useful in understanding human behaviour.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Motivation

The relationship between unsatisfied needs and subsequent action is fundamental to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and motivation. After a person meets one level of need, they may then pursue the next level. Their goals are inversely related to the lower levels of need satisfaction.

The concept of levels of need provides insight into the process of motivation. Students who are relatively safe and supported in schools are more likely to have success in a school and educational setting. In business, valued employees are engaged and productive. In counseling and therapy, using the concept can be helpful in gauging where a client currently stands in relation to their fight, struggle, or conflict.

Maslow hierarchy of needs motivation allows individuals to understand they are not “lazy” or “unmotivated”. In many cases, individuals have legitimate unsatisfied needs and nothing will change or improve until their needs are met. Once unsatisfied needs are met, potential can be released. Motivational growth is possible once levels of need are satisfied.

Conclusion

For decades, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has been one of the most recognised frameworks of motivation. It demonstrates that human beings are motivated by needs in a variety of types. From needs for survival to needs for greater self. This idea about levels of need can help us identify where we are in our own needs and what we may be working on next. 

Even though it isn’t perfect, the theory gives valuable insight. It suggests that all of us are working to meet different levels of need. By meeting these needs, we will help ourselves and others flourish.If you are an educator, a leader, or a person wanting a pathway to improve themselves, the hierarchy of needs presented by Maslow can help.

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