Abraham MaslowAbraham MaslowHierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of Needs

His TheoryHis Theory

One of the many interesting things One of the many interesting things Maslow noticed while he worked with Maslow noticed while he worked with monkeys early in his career, was that monkeys early in his career, was that some needs take some needs take precedenceprecedence over over others.  For example, if you are hungry others.  For example, if you are hungry and thirsty, you will tend to try to take and thirsty, you will tend to try to take care of the thirst first… care of the thirst first… 

ContinuedContinued After all, you can do without food for weeks, After all, you can do without food for weeks,

but you can only do without water for a couple but you can only do without water for a couple of days!  Thirst is a “stronger” need than of days!  Thirst is a “stronger” need than hunger. hunger. 

Physiological NeedsPhysiological Needs These include the needs we have These include the needs we have

for oxygen, water, protein, salt, for oxygen, water, protein, salt, sugar, calcium, and other minerals sugar, calcium, and other minerals and vitamins.and vitamins.

Also, there’s the needs to be Also, there’s the needs to be active, to rest, to sleep, to get rid of active, to rest, to sleep, to get rid of wastes, to avoid pain…wastes, to avoid pain…

Safety NeedsSafety Needs When the physiological needs are largely When the physiological needs are largely

taken care of, this second layer of needs taken care of, this second layer of needs comes into play.  You will become comes into play.  You will become increasingly interested in finding safe increasingly interested in finding safe circumstances, stability, protection.  You circumstances, stability, protection.  You might develop a need for structure, for might develop a need for structure, for order, some limits. order, some limits.

Love and Belonging Love and Belonging NeedsNeeds

You begin to feel the need for You begin to feel the need for friends, a sweetheart, children, friends, a sweetheart, children, affectionate relationships in general, affectionate relationships in general, even a sense of community.  Looked even a sense of community.  Looked at negatively, you become increasing at negatively, you become increasing susceptible to loneliness and social susceptible to loneliness and social anxieties.anxieties.

Esteem NeedsEsteem Needs

Next, we begin to look for a little self-Next, we begin to look for a little self-esteem.  Maslow noted two versions of esteem.  Maslow noted two versions of esteem needs, a lower one and a esteem needs, a lower one and a higher one.  The lower one is the need higher one.  The lower one is the need for the respect of others, the need for for the respect of others, the need for status, fame, glory, recognition, status, fame, glory, recognition, attention, reputation, appreciation, attention, reputation, appreciation, dignity, even dominance.  The higher dignity, even dominance.  The higher form involves the need for self-respect, form involves the need for self-respect, including such feelings as confidence, including such feelings as confidence, competence, achievement, mastery, competence, achievement, mastery, independence, and freedom.independence, and freedom.

Self ActualizationSelf Actualization Becoming the best person that you Becoming the best person that you

possibly can bepossibly can be Developing confidence, using talents Developing confidence, using talents

wisely, improving your attitude, and being wisely, improving your attitude, and being able to like yourself and othersable to like yourself and others

Self actualization is a step which we never Self actualization is a step which we never completely reachcompletely reach

It is a continual process of self-It is a continual process of self-improvement, a lifelong effortimprovement, a lifelong effort