Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs The idea that there is a cycle of life that all of society must go through to be at peace with themselves is a popular concept behind the motivation of human needs. Abraham Maslow strongly believed that each human has a desire for self-fulfillment inside of them. So much that he created a hierarchy of needs that has become arguably one of his most abiding additions to psychology. From physiological needs at the base to self-transcendence needs at the top Maslow explains that humans must ensure that all their basic survival needs are fulfilled before they can move on to pursue other goals and needs that have reached a higher place on the hierarchy. The everlasting question of what motivates people and the six different
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In his view, humans are motivated to achieve the lower level needs of life starting at the physiological base of survival before trying to fulfill higher levels such as self-transcendence. So why is physiological needs the most important level to conquer first? Harrigan and Commons (2015) explain that this level coincides with homeostasis which leads to the behaviors that maintain it. Needs such as food, water, sex, and sleep are a human’s top priority and focus when the needs are not being met. However once food, sleep, and all basic survival needs of life are met humans will move their focus onto the second hierarchy which is safety. The need of stability in employment, health, resources and family is a level that many humans stay at for much of their life. Whether it is working on making sure there is a meal on the table for your kids or making sure your healthy and your body is being taken care of Maslow finds that this is a need to be focused on before other needs such as love and belongingness can influence behavior (Harrigan and Commons 2015). However, once you feel secure with your safety it becomes very important to feel secure with your friendship group and family. With all your survival needs in the prior two levels being met there is the belongingness and love level where it can be very hard to not feel loneliness or separation if there is no strong friend or family bond in your life (Harrigan and Commons 2015). Following that level, what motivates us on is esteem needs such as feeling confident, achievement, respect from others and so on. Once an individual feels the belonginess with their loved ones the want for respect and recognition from others reaches a high. Which leads to the fifth level of self-actualization; the need to live up to our fullest potential in life. Most mentally healthy individuals begin to realize their potential and their meaning in life as they
In his view, humans are motivated to achieve the lower level needs of life starting at the physiological base of survival before trying to fulfill higher levels such as self-transcendence. So why is physiological needs the most important level to conquer first? Harrigan and Commons (2015) explain that this level coincides with homeostasis which leads to the behaviors that maintain it. Needs such as food, water, sex, and sleep are a human’s top priority and focus when the needs are not being met. However once food, sleep, and all basic survival needs of life are met humans will move their focus onto the second hierarchy which is safety. The need of stability in employment, health, resources and family is a level that many humans stay at for much of their life. Whether it is working on making sure there is a meal on the table for your kids or making sure your healthy and your body is being taken care of Maslow finds that this is a need to be focused on before other needs such as love and belongingness can influence behavior (Harrigan and Commons 2015). However, once you feel secure with your safety it becomes very important to feel secure with your friendship group and family. With all your survival needs in the prior two levels being met there is the belongingness and love level where it can be very hard to not feel loneliness or separation if there is no strong friend or family bond in your life (Harrigan and Commons 2015). Following that level, what motivates us on is esteem needs such as feeling confident, achievement, respect from others and so on. Once an individual feels the belonginess with their loved ones the want for respect and recognition from others reaches a high. Which leads to the fifth level of self-actualization; the need to live up to our fullest potential in life. Most mentally healthy individuals begin to realize their potential and their meaning in life as they