Maslow's hierarchical structure depicting human needs: Examination and Controversy
In 2020, the Institutes of Education Science applied Maslow's hierarchy of needs to help children reach their learning potential during the COVID-19 pandemic. This psychological theory, first proposed by Abraham Maslow in the 1940s, offers insights into human motivation and what makes individuals feel fulfilled.
Maslow believed that human needs are hierarchical, meaning some take priority over others. The theory represents five key human needs: physiological needs, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
Physiological needs include physical needs that humans must meet to survive, such as food, water, sex, warmth, shelter, and sleep. Unmet physiological needs can lead to physical illness. Safety needs include things that make humans feel safe, such as living or working in a safe environment, having a stable and sufficient source of income, feeling protected from crime or abuse, and being in good physical health with no serious illnesses. Unmet safety needs can cause anxiety and psychological trauma.
Love and belonging needs include the feeling of being connected to others, belonging to a group, and having secure relationships. Unmet love and belonging needs can result in loneliness and antisocial behavior. Esteem needs include admiration and respect, both from oneself and from others. Good self-esteem involves self-worth, competency, dignity, and independence. Esteem from others may involve gaining respect from peers, acknowledgment for one's achievements, status or prestige, and fame or reputation. Unmet esteem needs can lead to feelings of worthlessness, invisibility or unappreciated, low self-confidence, depression, and boredom.
Self-actualization is the highest need on Maslow's pyramid and involves a person knowing themselves, understanding their full potential, and reaching it. Self-actualized people find motivation in growth and possibility rather than trying to gain something they lack. Other characteristics that Maslow felt self-actualized people possess include a realistic perception of reality, acceptance of imperfections, flexibility and spontaneity in pursuing goals, autonomy and responsibility, consistent and strong morals, appreciation for life, creativity, and being self-actualization does not mean a person has no problems and is always happy. It is an ongoing process rather than the end point of a journey.
However, Maslow's hierarchy of needs has faced numerous criticisms. Critics argue that the order of needs within Maslow's hierarchy is arbitrary and that people do not necessarily pursue or obtain the needs in this order. Real-world observations show people often pursue social, esteem, or self-actualization needs while some basic needs (like safety or physiological) remain unmet.
The hierarchy also reflects Western, individualistic values and may not generalize well to collectivist or non-Western cultures, where social or community needs could take precedence, or the prioritization differs. Additionally, Maslow’s original theory was derived from a small, subjective and primarily Western sample, raising concerns about researcher bias and limited scientific rigor.
Contemporary psychology sees motivation as more flexible and simultaneous rather than strictly hierarchical. Multiple needs can motivate an individual at once instead of a stepwise progression. In mental health or crisis situations, individuals may strive for growth despite unmet basic needs, challenging the hierarchy’s strictness. Similarly, professions like soldiers exhibit motivational patterns not consistent with Maslow's sequence.
Despite these criticisms, Maslow’s hierarchy remains a useful broad framework for understanding human motivation, but it must be applied flexibly, considering cultural, individual, and situational differences. The core insights about varying human needs across different levels continue to inform motivational psychology in adapted forms.
References:
[1] Greenberg, J., & Mayseless, I. (2004). Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Re-examined: A Self-Determination Theory Approach. The Counseling Psychologist, 32(1), 1-31.
[2] Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78.
[3] Alderfer, C. P. (1972). An empirical study of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Journal of Personality, 40(1), 151-174.
[4] Kasser, T., & Ryan, R. M. (2001). The psychology of materialism. In D. K. Schultz & K. C. H. Bauer (Eds.), Handbook of psychology (Vol. 11, pp. 337-354). Wiley.
- Unmet physiological needs, such as lack of access to health-and-wellness resources, can potentially lead to physical illnesses like colitis or hepatitis.
- Living in a safe environment is essential for meeting safety needs, but those experiencing violence or crime may suffer from anxiety and psychological trauma.
- Loneliness and antisocial behavior can result from unmet love and belonging needs, such as a lack of mental-health support or psoriatic disease impacting social interactions.
- Good self-esteem is crucial for mental health, yet unmet esteem needs can cause feelings of worthlessness, invisibility, or unappreciated, leading to conditions like depression or obesity.
- Though Maslow's self-actualization level focuses on personal growth and self-actualization, unmet basic needs, like diabetes or arthritis, can hinder their ability to progress towards self-actualization.
- Contemporary psychology suggests individuals can be motivated by multiple needs at once, such as pursuing mental-health treatments like therapy while striving for career success.
- A more flexible approach to understanding motivation is needed, as the hierarchy does not generalize well across all cultures or professions, like healthcare workers or soldiers who may prioritize needs differently.
- Referencing self-determination theory and empirical studies, researchers argue against Maslow's strict stepwise progression of human needs, proposing that motivation can be simultaneous.
- Predictive science continues to inform how human needs influence motivation, mindful of cultural, individual, and situational differences, enabling health-and-wellness professionals to better serve diverse populations.
