2. History
Clayton Paul Alderfer (born September 1,
1940) is an American psychologist who
further developed Maslow’s Hierarchy of
Needs by categorizing the hierarchy into
his ERG theory (Existence,
Relatedness, and Growth).
3. ERG THEORY
A theory of human motivation that
focuses on three groups of needs that
form a hierarchy:
existence needs
relatedness needs
growth needs
The theory suggests that these needs
change their position in the hierarchy as
circumstances change.
6. Existence Needs
This group of needs is concerned with
providing the basic requirements for
material existence, such as
physiological and safety needs.
In a work context this need is satisfied
by money earned in a job for the
purchase of food, shelter, clothing, etc.
7. Relatedness Needs
This group of needs focuses on the desire
to establish and maintain interpersonal
relationships with family, friends, co-
workers and employers.
Interact with other people, receive public
recognition, and feel secure around people.
The amount of time most people spend at
work this need is normally satisfied to
some extent by their relationships with
colleagues and managers.
8. Growth Needs
These needs are about the fulfilment of
desires to be creative, productive and to
complete meaningful tasks.
These needs are all about by personal
development. In a work context a
person’s job, career, or profession can
provide a significant satisfaction of
growth needs.
11. Conclusion
Clayton Alderfer extended and simplified
Maslow’s Hierarchy into a shorter set of
three needs: Existence, Relatedness
and Growth (hence ‘ERG’). Unlike
Maslow, he did not see these as being a
hierarchy, but being more of a
continuum.
