Abraham Maslow:The Hierarchy of Needs

ABRAHAM MASLOW

• was a leading humanistic psychologist

• developed the

Hierarchy of Needs• promoted the concept of

self-actualization• was born in 1908,

Brooklyn, New York

Maslow’s Early Life• was the eldest of seven

siblings• was a poor student as an

adolescent• was pressured by dad to

become an attorney• took one law class, dropped

out of college for one year• entered U of WI one year

later to study scientific psychology

Maslow’s Professional Life• studied dominance in monkeys• received Ph.D. in experimental

psychology in 1934• was on the Brooklyn College

faculty, 1937-1951• was on the Brandeis U faculty,

1952-1969• became a fellow of Laughlin

Foundation in CA• died in 1970, age 62

Maslow's Motivational Psychology

Abraham Maslow could be considered a motivation theorist or a personality theorist. He was a bit of both. One of his early books was titled Motivation and Personality (1954). Perhaps more revealing is the title Maslow originally wanted to use for that book: Higher Ceilings for Human Nature. Maslow dealt with "higher motives" of human beings, what might be called existential or spiritual motives. They are some of the most powerful and uniquely human motivations.

Maslow proposed an alternative: a Third Force in psychology. This type of psychology would deal with important topics neglected by the other two: topics like human fulfillment, the search for meaning, and what it meant to be psychologically healthy. Maslow teamed with Rogers, Fromm, and other psychologists to form new professional associations and launch new journals devoted to Third Force psychology, also known as humanistic psychology.

Hierarchy of Needs

growth

emotional

physical

Hierarchy of Needs

Physiological Needs

Physiological Needs

• food

• water

• air

• sleep

Food: A Most Powerful Need• South American

Rugby team crashed in 1970

• Food was the most pressing problem.

• They ate human flesh for survival.

• Even the strongest taboo was broken to fill the basic need for food.

Physiological Needs

Hierarchy of Needs

Safety Needs

• from physical attack

• from emotional attack

• from fatal disease

• from invasion

• from extreme losses

(job, family members,

home, friends)

Safety Needs

Safety: A Most Powerful Need

• when frightened, our thoughts and energies are diverted

• threat of, or actual attack creates “fight or flight” reaction

• threats to safety can be physical or emotional

Physiological Needs

Love & Belonging Needs

Safety Needs

Hierarchy of Needs

• Inclusion - part of a group: colleagues, peers, family, clubs

• Affection - love and be loved

• Control - influence over others and self

Love and Belonging(social/emotional)

Love and Belonging: A Most Powerful Need

Esteem Needs

Love & Belonging Needs

Physiological Needs

Safety Needs

Hierarchy of Needs

• respect from others through: awards honors status

• respect for self through: mastery achievement

competence

Esteem Needsemotional (ego)

Esteem from Self and Others: A Most Powerful Need

Congratulations!

Love & Belonging Needs

Physiological Needs

Safety Needs

Esteem Needs

Self-ActualizationNeeds

Hierarchy of Needs

Some Self-Actualizing People from History

• Abraham Lincoln• Thomas Jefferson• Mahatma Gandhi• Albert Einstein• Eleanor Roosevelt • Bill Gates• Nelson Mandela

• stop cruelty and exploitation

• encourage talent in others

• try to be a good human being

• do work one considers worthwhile

• enjoy taking on responsibilities

• prefer intrinsic satisfaction

• seek truth

• give unselfish love

• be just

Self-Actualization Needs

B-Needs of the Self-Actualized

• Truth• Goodness• Beauty• Unity• Aliveness• Uniqueness• Perfection and

Necessity

• Completion• Justice and order• Simplicity• Richness• Effortlessness• Playfulness• Self-sufficiency• Meaningfulness

Qualities of the Self-Actualized

• An non-hostile sense of humor• Intimate personal relationships• Acceptance of self and others• Spontaneity and simplicity• Freshness of appreciation• More peak experiences• Democratic values• Independence

Failure to Self-Actualize

The main question often raised with Maslow's theory is: if the need for self-actualization is innate then why isn't everyone self-actualized?

Abraham Maslow, suggests that many people fail to become self-actualized because:

Higher needs are less powerful; therefore, self-actualization is the weakest of all needs.

There may be things suppressing the need, the individual may be consciously ignoring the need, or the emotional environment may not be supportive to pursing self-actualization. For example, if a girl wants to play hockey but she is raised in an environment that thinks hockey is only a boy's sport where girls don't belong, then she will deny her potential because she believes it is wrong.

It takes a lot of work to achieve self-actualization. It means discipline, self-control, overcoming challenges, and sometimes breaking free of prejudices and societal norms. Sometimes it is easier to "play safe" rather than "rock the boat".

The Jonah Complex: Maslow believed that many people fail to achieve self-actualization because they do not have confidence in their abilities. Fear and low self esteem overrule courage and they begin to doubt themselves and their potential to achieve greatness.They have not satisfied the need to know and to understand. This is actually a mini-hierarchy that overlaps Maslow's larger one, and is very important to self-actualization.

Self-Actualization: The Highest Growth Need

Up and the Hierarchy of Needshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iucf76E-R2s

Journal Question:Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Consider your ISU Topic and identify 2 needs within Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs which aren’t being met.

Explain how the need is not being met and the impact it can have on the people involved. Explain how the injustice or suffering affects both the individual and or group, as well as how that impacts our society.

What can be done to meet these needs in your opinion?