Abraham Maslow and His Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow can be said to have created a psychology that is the basis of Western philosophical thought. Its core is that of human equality which crosses geographic, racial, gender, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds. This Humanistic approach is the backbone of his theory of motivation which is given to us as the Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow expresses through this theory that unfulfilled lower needs, such as our basic biological needs of food, shelter, sleep, and sex, dominate one's thinking, actions, and being until they are satisfied (Zalenski, Raspa 2006). When these basic physiological needs are met people move onto the next level which is Safety.
I will explain the basic ideas of functionalism and explain how common-sense plays a role in the theory. I will then present one objection to the common-sense functionalism theory and form a hypothesis of how a common-sense functionalist would respond to the objection. Lastly, I will present my own evaluation of the common-sense functonalism theory. Functionalism, in simple terms, is the doctrine that the function of an object should determine its design and materials. It is a doctrine in the philosophy of mind according to which mental states are defined by their causes and effects.
Humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow once wrote: “any theory of motivation that is worthy of attention must deal with the highest capacities of the healthy and strong person as well as with the defensive maneuvers of crippled spirits” (qtd. in Myers 565). Maslow definitely took both of these things into account when he created the hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy of needs, normally drawn out in the shape of a pyramid, starts with primitive needs, such as hunger and safety, and then continues on until we finally focus on trying to achieve ‘self-actualization’ and ‘self-transcendence’ needs. Maslow proposed that after one’s basic physical, psychological and self-esteem needs are met, a person strives for self-actualization, fulfilling our potential, and self-transcendence, where we need to find identity beyond our self (Myers 565).
Many theorists have expressed an opinion on how a desirable condition can be achieved, the two main schools of thought base themselves on either the Humanistic or the Behaviourist theory. Two major theorists associated with the humanistic view are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. These theorists, whom base their views on this approach, emphasise on the self choosing their own behaviour to achieve, and this behaviour is connected to their inner feelings and personal image and is not pre-determined. These theorists believe that all individuals have an instinctive drive to achieve their maximum potential. Abraham Maslow developed a model known as The Hierarchy of Needs (1) as a theory for understanding human motivation and personal development.
The main behavioral theories are, Maslow- theory of hierarchy, Douglas McGregor’s- Theory X and Theory Y. and Paul Hersey and Kenneth Balchard-Situational leadership model (directive behavior and supportive behavior) Maslow- theory of hierarchy, Abraham Maslow developed the need theories. The theory assumes three things. It assumes that people are never satisfied, that the behavior is direct to meet the need for satisfaction, and that needs are classified from lowest to the highest in a hierarchical structure of importance. The below 1. Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.
He placed these needs into the shape of a pyramid, in which the bottom layer consists of our lower motivational needs such as physiological needs, leading up to the top layer consisting of the higher motivational needs such as self-actualization. He believed that when a person satisfies their basic needs, they can then move up the pyramid to fulfill their higher needs. Abraham Maslow’s theory on human motivation is an accurate portrayal of how human needs affect their behavior. Many people have agreed with Maslow on his theory. In order for people to continue on with their daily tasks or life goals, they need to satisfy their most basic needs.
The emphasis on motivation, social interaction and group dynamics can be largely traced back to Mayo's Hawthorne studies of the 1920's (Fincham & Rhodes, 2005). It is in fact axiomatic now that knowledge of what motivates a worker is essential to sound personnel practice. Following the influential Hawthorne studies many occupational psychologists have developed their own theories on motivation within the work place. This includes Herzberg's 'Two Factor Model' (Herzberg, 1959) based upon the assumption that all individuals possess the same set of needs commonly known as content theory. Plus Vroom's 'Concept of Valence, Instrumentality and Expectancy' (Vroom, 1964) based upon process theory which emphasises the role of the individuals cognitive processes in determining his/her level of motivation.
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Lamisha Woods Everest College Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" in Psychological Review. Maslow subsequently extended the idea to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity. His theories parallel many other theories of human developmental psychology, some of which focus on describing the stages of growth in humans. Maslow used the terms Physiological, Safety, Belongingness and Love, Esteem, Self-Actualization and Self-Transcendence needs to describe the pattern that human motivations generally move through. Maslow's theory was fully expressed in his 1954 book Motivation and Personality.
“Maslow considered these needs to be less basic than physiological and security needs. Relationships such as friendships, romantic attachments and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as does involvement in
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory of motivation and personality developed by the psychologist Abraham H. Maslow (1908-1970). Maslow's hierarchy explains human behavior in terms of basic requirements for survival and growth. These requirements, or needs, are arranged according to their importance for survival and their power to motivate the individual. The most basic physical requirements, such as food, water, or oxygen, constitute the lowest level of the need hierarchy. These needs must be satisfied before other, higher needs become important to individuals.