Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory that proposes humans have five levels of needs: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. The theory suggests lower level needs must be met before progressing to meet higher level needs. Self-actualization is the highest level where one reaches their full potential, though Maslow believed few achieve this due to cultural and social restrictions. Critics argue self-actualization is not a basic need and Maslow's theory is too simplistic.

1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – An Internet Guide Self-Actualisation
Maslow, A. H. (1943) A theory of human motivation. • Maslow believed that typically successful people may experience malcontent as they are searching
Psychological Review, Volume 50(4), 370-396. doi: for self-actualisation.
10.1037/h0054346 • Self-actualisation is the need to realise and develop one’s full potential.
• It is subjective to the individual. Individuals who achieve self-actualisation are rare.
• Maslow suggested that self-actualisers have qualitatively different needs; he described them as
Self Esteem meta needs.
• The desire to be valued by others is an important stage in Maslow’s
hierarchy. A person wants to realise that what they are doing is being Characteristics of a Self-Actualiser
recognised by others as important. Objective perceptions of reality; Comfortable acceptance of self, others, nature; Spontaneity; Task
• Individuals with low self-esteem are inclined to gather esteem from other centring; Autonomy; Continued freshness of appreciation; Fellowship with humanity; Profound
people instead. However, this will not help their own self-esteem. They interpersonal relationships; Comfort with solitude; Non-hostile sense of humour; Peak experiences.
need to first realise what they are doing is important to themselves.
• If left with low self-esteem, people can develop inferiority complexes. Cultural restrictions In order to progress
This is characterised by a lack of unconscious self-worth, as well as • Maslow’s theories tend to be biased towards the west, with self-actualisation being very capitalist in through the hierarchy,
feelings of doubt and uncertainty. This can lead to anti-social behaviour, nature. In some countries, such as China, it is the contribution to the group that is important, one must meet each
in order to avoid social interaction/compensate for it. personal goals are put aside for communal aspirations. stage and its needs (i.e.
• Access to higher levels of self-esteem can be denied by depression. • Restrictions: Many ambitions or requirements of the hierarchy are dependent on social factors, meet all physiological
• This stage is often used as an aide to help increase productivity and such as gender, class, finance, law and physical restrictions. needs to get safety
happiness in the workplace. needs).
Esteem comes in two forms: lower and higher: Stage 5
• Lower = respect from others. Fame, glory, attention, prestige,
recognition, status. Love and belonging needs
• Higher = respect from the self. This is established through experience. • Once human basic needs have been met, humans become more aware of
A need for strength, self-confidence, independence and freedom. loneliness and require the feeling that they belong and are accepted among their
Safety Needs peers/family/community.
• These become more important motivators leading to behaviours such as making
• Safety needs include; needs for security, safe circumstances to live
friends, joining clubs etc.
within, self-protection, law-abiding communities and a sense of order.
Two types of love:
• Although Maslow focused on the positive aspects of these drives, what
• D-Love= ‘Deficiency Love’:
emerges at this level are individuals’ fears and anxieties about their own
• This involves acquiring loved ones to satisfy needs consisting of affection,
safety; these motivate individuals’ behaviour.
Stage 4 tenderness, feelings of elation and sexual gratification.
• Safety needs can be observed in infants and young children when they
• Individuals may manipulative behaviour to get the attention of people they desire.
are upset by sudden, unusual or major changes in their daily routine.
• This is observable in young children competing for attention of parents.
• Children need routines, consistently enforced rules and limits imposed on
• B-Love= ‘Being love’:
their behaviour to meet their safety needs.
• The ability to love others in non-possessive, unconditional ways and simply
• The absence of this safe, relatively predictable environment would impact Stage 3 loving them for being.
badly on a child’s development.
• Showing respect for others, putting their needs before one’s own on occasion
• His contention was that humans all prefer to live in stable societies,
and valuing them.
where they feel safe and are not continually at risk of being robbed or Stage 2 • It also can be considered an emotionally mature type of love. Only achievable
mugged or homes burgled.
after D-Love.
• Humans’ safety needs motivate them to buy insurance and save for a
• At least 50% of the love and belonging needs must be met in order to proceed to
pension or rainy day, and they may motivate them to train for a secure job
where they feel they are indispensable. Stage 1 the next level of the hierarchy of needs.
• Maslow (1968) pointed out that the downside of safety needs is that they
Supporting Research
can stifle our growth by encouraging humans always to opt for safe
• Lee and Ishii-Kuntz (1987) found loneliness has negative effects on morale
choices and thereby minimise risk in human life.
people aged 55+. Feelings of loneliness are reduced and morale is increased by
interacting with friends and associates, whereas interaction with children and
Physiological Needs grandchildren has no such effect.
• To satisfy physiological needs you must accomplish that which is necessary • Cacioppo et al (2006) found loneliness to be a risk factor for depressive
for survival. PRODUCTIVITY
Once the needs
symptoms.
• Some needs can be considered more important than others; e.g. thirst is a
are met, users
strong need, especially when compared with the need for food, it can be may be productive
argued that sex is the weakest need, although it ensures survival of genes, it
KNOWLEDGE SEARCH
does not preserve an individual themselves. The need to feel smart by Criticisms
Evidence: researching, reading celeb
• Ravizza (1977) reported that many athletes report peak experiences but are not self-actualisers
Plenty of anecdotal evidence of needs being met in everyday life: gossip and diagnosing illnesses
• Maslow argued against existing empiricism methodologies, inexcusable however to lack of attention to
• Housing and clothing provide shelter and warmth, so we use them FAILS providing objective support for this theory (Maslow, 1970).
• Eating because an individual is hungry, or drinking because an individual is The need to build self-esteem by
• Reasonable and high face validity.
thirsty viewing the idiocy of others
• Overly ambitious; if only a few people can ever achieve this, is it relevant to humanity?
• Suggested cravings are evidence for needs; humans often have cravings for • Can anyone ever be satisfied with what they have achieved?
foods we need. PORN
The need to feel love and give love to oneself • Berkowitz (1969) believed rather than self-actualisation being a basic need, it is more of a projection of
Evaluation the ideal self.
• Humans have biological adaptations to ensure survival. SOCIAL NETWORKS • Therefore, it is not realistic or sustainable.
• Some cultures do not have certain elements of the physiological section, but The need to feel connected to friends, acquaintances • Cofer and Apply (1964) argued self-actualisation theory was vague.
they can still progress across the hierarchy. and people randomly met once one night • Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is too simplistic or idealistic.
• For example, those who live in developing countries without a sufficient CATS • One major criticism of Maslow’s theory was his methodology, he focused on biographies - are these
amount of food and shelter can still have an acceptance from others, Above all else, Internet users require funny images of cats
empirical pieces of evidence? These are subjective opinions of self-actualisers.
therefore meeting the love and belonging needs.
Needs of the internet