Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory of human motivation that arranges human needs in a hierarchy. It suggests that lower-level needs must be satisfied before higher-level needs can be pursued. The five levels of needs are physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. The model places these needs in a pyramid structure with physiological needs at the bottom and self-actualization at the top.
2. What is it?
A theory of human motivation
His model places motivational needs in a hierarchy
and suggests that before more sophisticated, higher-
order needs can be met, certain primary needs must
be satisfied.
He placed the more fundamental lower-order needs
at the base and the higher-order needs at the top.
For a specific higher-order need to guide behavior, a
person must first fulfill the more basic needs in the
hierarchy.
3. Categories of Need
Five categories of need include:
Physiological needs
Safety needs
Love & belongingness
Esteem
Self-actualization
4. Physiological Needs
The requirements for human survival.
Usually the first needs to be met
Located at the bottom of the pyramid
The primary drives include:
Water, food, sleep, & sex
Example: If you are taking a road trip
and you get thirsty you usually stop
somewhere to get a drink.
5. Safety Needs
The need for a safe & secure
environment.
Can be met after physiological needs
are met
Located second from the bottom
Safety and Security needs include:
Personal security, financial
security, health/well-being, & safety
nets against accidents/illness
Example: People look both ways
before crossing the street & if they
don’t look before they don’t feel safe
6. Love & Belongingness
The need to obtain & give
affection.
Third layer of human needs on the
pyramid
This need for belonging can often
override the physiological and
security needs.
Humans need to love & be loved
by others-sexually & non-sexually
Example: Children join gangs just
to feel like they fit in & have
friends.
7. Esteem
The need to develop a sense of self-
worth by recognizing that others
know & valve one’s competence.
Fourth layer of humans needs
May participate in activities that
give them a sense of self-value
Example: Even though she knows
she is pretty, a young girl does
modeling to get compliments on her
beauty which builds up her self-
esteem.
8. Self-Actualization
A state of self-fulfillment in which
people realize their highest
potential, each in his or her own
unique way.
Located at the top of the pyramid.
Reaching self-satisfaction
Example: A teenager plays football
all through high school & college to
become a professional football
player & after college he does, now
he is happy & satisfied with his life.
