Pyramid of Needs
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five
levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as deficit needs, the top
level is referred to as being needs. While deficit needs can be met, being needs
are a continuing driving force. The basic idea of this hierarchy is, that higher
needs come into focus only after all needs lower in the pyramid are met. Growth
forces result in upward movement on the hierarchy, whereas regressive forces
push prepotent needs down in the hierarchy.
Deficit Needs
The deficit needs (also termed D-needs by Maslow) are:
Physiological Needs
The body aims to achieve homeostasis, an equilibrium of different factors (water
content of the blood, salt content, sugar content, protein content, fat content,
calcium content, oxygen content, constant hydrogen-ion level/acid-base level,
constant blood temperature). This is obtained with food, drinks, shelter, fresh
air, a proper temperature, etc. If all of a human's needs are unmet then the
physiological need takes the highest priority. Given hunger for love and food, a
human is more likely to find a solution for the latter first. As a result all
other desires and capacities are pushed on to the back burner.
Safety Needs
When the physiological needs are met then the human turns towards safety needs.
Safety attains the highest priority over all other desires. A functioning
society tends to provide this to its members. Recent examples of failure include
Somalia and Afghanistan. Sometimes the desire for safety outweighs the desire to
easily satisfy physiological needs; for example, many Kosovars chose to inhabit
a secure area instead of an insecure area, the latter having more definite
access to food. In the United States, government and media propoganda could much
more easily manipulate public opinion after the 9/11 terrorist attacks; fear of
insecurity factors powerfully into social calculus.
However, in the case of acute danger, safety comes before things like eating.
Love Needs (Belonging Needs)
If safety and physiological needs are met then the human being gravitates
towards achieving fulfilment of love needs. A note worth making here is that sex
is not equivalent to love. Love can and is often expressed sexually. Sexuality
can at points be considered solely for its physiological basis.
Esteem Needs
This refers to the valuation given to one-self by other people.
Being Needs
Self-actualization
Self-actualization (a term originated by Kurt Goldstein) is the instinctoid need
of a human to make the most of their unique abilities. Maslow described it as:
A musician must make music, the artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is
to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be. This need
we may call self-actualisation. (Motivation and Personality, 1954)
While other needs can be met fully, self-actualization is seen as "growing",
i.e. as a continuing driving force. This is related to tikkun olam in the Jewish
tradition--using one's skills to fix what is broken in the world.
However, it is seen that not everyone ultimately seeks self-actualization, as
a strict reading of Maslow's hierarchy of needs seems to imply:
Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning describes his psychotherapeutic
method (logotherapy) of finding a reason to live.
Albert Einstein actually was drawn toward the sense of mystery in life.
Others seek good works, like Mother Teresa.
Others are drawn toward the dark side of the human condition.
These individuals would not be noted in the history books, however, if they
hadn't used their native writing, therapeutic or altruistic gifts in a way
different from most. They were aggridants.
Critique
While Maslow's theory was seen as an improvement on previous theories of
personality and motivation, concepts such as self-actualization are somewhat
vague. In recent years, the theory as a whole and especially this term have been
somewhat overused and are sometimes perceived as psycho-babble.
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