Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
July 7, 2008 – 10:41 pm
Hierarchy of needs is a psychological theory developed by American psychologist Abraham Maslow. It is one of the current theories on human kind and psychology, it was first mentioned in 1940s, but it is still being searched, argued and developed. Basically hierarchy of needs exemplifies the necessity of people, there is a chain and the more human get the more s/he wants and in the end, everyone reaches the true self. There are not strict rules limiting each other, however generally human psychology leads a way that Maslow depicted in his hierarchical theory.
Categories of Maslow’s Theory
If you are hungry you do not think security, if you are safe you look for more, you want love, after getting all these, your personality gains importance, and in the end you try to find true self. That is an example to Maslow’s chain of needs, there is a hierarchical form as the necessities increases. Hierarchy of Needs consists of five levels, all connected to each other. These levels are like that:
1. Physiological needs: Human kind needs some basic things, such as breathing, food, water, sex, health. If one of them is not provided, body tries to cover it and there is no extra effort for other necessities, so the first step should be fulfilled. A man who is hungry, ill does not want anything rather than health and food, for him having a good statue is not important, first of all, he must be healthy and have food.
2. Safety needs: If you do not need food, and you are healthy, what do you look for? A house maybe? Shelter and emotion of safety? If you feel secure at your home, if you are healthy, have a job, money and family, it means the second level is fulfilled.
3. Love and Belonging: Who does not want true love and the belonging feeling? Do not take it only the love between two people, this level is about friendship, family relationships, and human communication. After providing basic needs and having security, love and the belonging feeling come in the chain of Maslow.
4. Esteem: Self confidence, respect, being successful and believing in success, empathy, all these are in the fourth step of theory. With this step, human is closer to true self. Think of a person who has food, shelter, good relationships, and security, what comes next? Doesn’t s/he search for herself/himself?
5. Self Actualization: It is the peak point of the persona. This level comes true after all these four ones, physical, security, love and belonging, and esteem. If you have all these, it is easy for you to make the best of something. In this level, creativity, morality, acceptance, being true is important points. For a person reaching this level, morality is important, s/he accepts the world as it is, ideas and movements go along together, creativity plays a key role, human relationships are intimate, objectivity is a life perspective.