Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy

One of the most commonly acknowledged theories of motivation is Abraham Maslow’s. It is widely accepted that all human behaviour is rooted in basic physiological demands. A requirement pyramid is a common visual aid for conveying this idea. The pyramid base represents the most basic requirements, while the top represents more complex ones.

Unlike in other schools of thought, such as behaviourism and psychoanalysis, Maslow was more concerned with discovering what makes people happy and what they do to achieve that happiness. As a humanist, Maslow believed that everyone has an innate need to be authentically oneself. Prerequisites must be met to achieve this goal. Things like food and shelter are essential to our survival. We must also have a positive self-perception and believe in our own values.

According to Maslow, human behaviour is based on the same fundamental needs as those of animals. For example, Maslow’s five-tiered hierarchy begins at the lowest level known as physiological requirements and progresses upward.

Maslow’s Contributions to Humanistic Psychology

Maslow felt disillusioned with Freudian psychoanalysis and behavioural theory, which dominated the area at the time while working in psychology.

According to Maslow, psychiatry was too focused on the “dark side of psychology”. According to him, not enough emphasis was placed on the distinctions between humans and the animals studied in behaviourism. As a result of this frustration, the third force of psychology was established, and he was one of its architects.

Maslow and Positive Psychology

“The new Positive Psychology movement is centred on issues raised by Maslow more than 50 years ago,” humanistic psychologist Nelson Goud explains. Maslow, according to Goud, “would advocate the scientific approach [positive psychology] takes in investigating issues such as happiness and flow; courage; hope and optimism; responsibility; and civility” (Goud, 2008, p. 450).

Maslow and proponents of positive psychology are motivated primarily by the conviction that conventional psychology has largely abandoned the study of the entire human experience in favour of focusing exclusively on mental illness.

Everyone who believes in positive psychology should be familiar with this line of thought. He even used the term “positive psychology” to refer to his brand of humanistic psychology, even though contemporary positive psychologists such as Martin Seligman assert that humanistic psychology lacks adequate scientific validity.

Finally, both proponents of positive psychology and Maslow believe that humanity is larger than the sum of its parts, particularly when it comes to disease and inadequacy. According to Abraham Maslow, who popularised the phrase “positive psychology,” it is equally important to improve the quality of life of healthy individuals as it is to normalise the experience of the ill.

Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy

A person’s physiological needs

A person’s physiological requirements are self-evident, and they include those that are absolutely necessary for their life. These are only a few instances of physiological needs:

• Food
• Water
• Homeostasis
• Breathing

Basic necessities like food, air, and temperature control are just a part of what a person needs to survive physiologically. This level of Maslow’s hierarchy includes sexual reproduction since it is crucial to the survival and spread of the species.

Safety and security concerns

As Maslow’s hierarchy progresses, so do the needs, especially at the second level. At this level, security and safety take precedence over all other concerns.

People want a sense of security and stability in their daily lives. There’s a strong correlation between the need for safety and security and this degree of conduct. The following are some of the most fundamental security and safety requirements:

• Insured wealth
• Wellness and good health
• Injury and accident prevention

Ensuring one’s health, conserving money, and relocating to a safer location are all examples of acts driven by a desire for personal security and well-being. To put it another way, “basic needs” refers to the safety and physiological levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Societal requirements

There are several examples of social needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of requirements. At this level, human conduct is driven by the need for emotional connections. The following items may help you meet this need:

• Friendships
• Attachments of the heart
• Family
• Groups of people
• People’s movements
• Religious groups and churches

Being liked and accepted by others might help individuals avoid mental health issues, including loneliness, despair, and anxiety. Participation in organisations like religious congregations, sports teams, reading clubs, and other social gatherings, as well as one’s social circle, all play a significant part in one’s overall well-being.

Self-respect

In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the fourth level is the desire for praise and respect. When the lowest three tiers of needs have been met, the desire for esteem becomes a more critical motivator of conduct.

Respect and admiration from others are incredibly vital at this stage. Most people want to have their achievements acknowledged as a reward for their hard work. Much like the emotions of success and prestige, esteem demands encompass things like self-esteem and personal worth.

In order for people to be happy, they need a feeling of worth from others and a sense of purpose in their lives. Accomplishments in work, academics, sports, and hobbies all contribute to a person’s self-esteem.

They are more likely to have a sense of self-worth and self-confidence if others have recognised them for their achievements. As a result, persons who lack self-esteem and the respect of others may develop feelings of inadequacy. One term for this is “psychological wants,” which refers to both esteem and social status in the hierarchy.

Self-actualisation needs

Self-actualisation needs are more concerned with the needs of the self. These are more related to what one thinks of oneself.

He said, “What a man is, he must be.” Maslow was talking about human beings’ innate need for self-actualisation. Maslow’s theory of self-actualisation says that “It might be roughly defined as making full use of one’s abilities, skills, and other assets. Such individuals seem to be happy with their lives and doing their best. They are persons who have or are on the verge of attaining their entire potential.”

Conclusion

Higher-order wants such as love and belongingness may still be met by individuals in societies where poverty is widespread (as in India). However, according to Maslow, persons who are unable to satisfy their most fundamental physiological requirements (such as food, shelter, etc.) are unable to meet their higher development needs. Consequently, this should not happen.

Maslow was convinced that none of the known psychological theories or methods for studying the human mind could sufficiently explain healthy human beings’ functioning, lifestyles, or goals. Abraham Maslow’s work is widely credited with initiating this shift away from anthologising and behaviourist methods of the past.