Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory

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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory Motivation refers to the process of initiating, guiding, and maintaining goal-oriented behaviors. This process constitutes biological, cognitive, social and emotional factors that activate behavior. Theorists and researchers have over the years investigated this process to understand why certain factors trigger someone to perform something (Maslow, 2019). This discussion looks at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, one of the major theories of motivation.

The major concepts of the theory Maslow’s need theory has five main concepts also referred to as categories of needs.

These concepts include physiological, security, social, esteem and self-actualization. Maslow pointed out that, in line with the hierarchy, when people accomplish a lower need the next level of need becomes their focus of attention (Spielman et al., 2017). The need theory asserts that physiological needs including food and water make the first level of needs.

Physiological needs drive people to engage in activities aimed at satisfying the body’s need for hemostasis. Physiological needs are considered the most concrete needs since people can only focus on other needs once they satisfy their hunger and quench their thirst (Spielman et al., 2017). Safety, which is influenced by environmental factors, forms the second level of needs in the hierarchy.

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Safety is essential for growth and development across the lifespan. People need a secure and predictable environment and may react with anxiety and fear if these elements are disrupted (Maslow, 2019). The social needs form the third level of needs. These needs include love, belonging and relationship with friends and family members. Maslow pointed out that every human being has an intrinsic need to be loved and developing positive social interactions with others. Self-esteem is the third level of need which entails feeling confident and good about self (Spielman et al., 2017). Self-confidence enables people to participate in activities that contribute to growth and satisfaction. The final level of need is self-actualization which refers to the fulfillment of needs.

List the important theorists involved in the theory as well as their contribution Abraham Maslow developed the hierarchy need theory and postulated that human life revolves around the needs described in the hierarchy. Maslow noted that even though the accomplishment of one need increases the focus on the next level of needs, people do not necessarily have to accomplish each need for the next need, as depicted in the hierarchy, to emerge (Spielman et al., 2017). Maslow subdivided the needs into deficiency needs and growth needs. The difference between these needs is that in deficiency needs, motivation reduces upon accomplishing the needs, whereas satisfaction augments motivation in growth needs.

Discuss the criticisms of the theory Spielman et al. (2017) noted that the hierarchy needs theory has been criticized due to its subjective nature and limited ability to account for circumstances in the real world. Researchers have also pointed out inconsistencies with the hierarchy and the postulation that one level of need has to be achieved to focus attention on the other (Spielman et al., 2017). In some instances, however, an individual may starve himself to force the government or a group to address certain

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issues. Such a move contradicts the fulfillment of physiological needs to accomplish certain objectives. Moreover, the hierarchy needs theory does not provide a clear cause and effect relationship between needs and action.

Discuss the strengths of the theory Maslow’s theory is easier to understand and relate since people go through all the needs stated in the pyramid. The theory is also relevant in all aspects of human life including domestic and professional (Rodulfo, 2018). This theory also takes into account the basic human nature typified by the desire to accomplish the concrete needs of food and shelter as compared to other abstract needs such as self-actualization. For instance, if a young boy is hungry and is allowed to choose between food and a toy, there is a high likelihood he will select food.

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References Maslow, A. H., (2019). A Theory of Human Motivation. General Press Rodulfo, J., (2018). Why Maslow: How to use his Theory to Stay in Power Forever. Juan Rodulfo.

Spielman, R. M., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M., (2017). Psychology.

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