This is the third post in a series analyzing theoretical frameworks, as requested by @panchovillian.bsky.social. This post will focus on Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: A Summary
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory in psychology that proposes that human needs are arranged in a five-tier hierarchy. The theory suggests that individuals must satisfy lower-level needs before they can progress to higher-level needs.
The Five Levels of the Hierarchy:
- Physiological Needs: These are the most basic needs for human survival, including air, food, water, shelter, clothing, and sleep.
- Safety Needs: Once physiological needs are met, the need for safety and security becomes paramount. This includes personal security, financial security, health and well-being, and safety against accidents and illness.
- Love and Belongingness Needs: After safety, the need for social connection becomes a primary motivator. This includes friendship, intimacy, family, and a sense of belonging to a group.
- Esteem Needs: This level includes the need for self-esteem, achievement, competence, independence, and recognition from others.
- Self-Actualization Needs: This is the highest level of the hierarchy and refers to the realization of an individual's full potential and the desire to become everything one is capable of becoming.
Expanded Hierarchy:
Maslow later expanded his model to include:
- Cognitive Needs: The need for knowledge, understanding, and meaning.
- Aesthetic Needs: The appreciation and search for beauty, balance, and form.
- Transcendence Needs: The need to connect with something beyond the self, such as altruism, spirituality, or a higher purpose.
In conclusion, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs provides a framework for understanding human motivation as a progression from basic survival needs to the pursuit of self-fulfillment and personal growth.
