Hierarchy Of Needs (Abraham Maslow)

HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

(Abraham Maslow)

             When we make decisions about our lives, we try our best to ensure our own safety. We purchase insurances such as health and car to protect ourselves if something unexpected occur. We do this things to increase our sense of safety and security and make us feel more comfortable in our lives, which is what ABRAHAM MASLOW depict in the second stage of hierarchy of needs. 

1. Physiological Needs (basic issues of survival such as salary and stable employment).               These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food, and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most basic and instinctive needs in the hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met. Most of these lower level needs are probably fairly apparent. We need food and water to survive. We also need to breath and maintain a stable body temperature. In addition to eating, drinking, and having adequate shelter and clothing, Maslow also suggested that sexual reproduction was a basic physiological need.
2. Security Needs (stable physical and emotional environment issues such as benefits, pensions, safe work, environment and fair work practices).

            These include the needs for safety and security. Security needs are important for survival, but they are not as demanding as the physiological needs. Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, health care, safe neighborhoods, and shelter from the environment. The needs become a bit more complex at this point in the hierarchy. Now that the more basic survival needs have been fulfilled, people begin to feel that they need more control and order to their lives. A safe place to live, financial security, physical safety, and staying healthy are all concerns that might come into play at this stage. 

3. Belongingness Needs (social acceptance issues such as friendship or cooperation on job).

These include needs for belonging, love, and affection. Maslow described these needs as 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 social, community, or religious groups.

4. Esteem Needs (positive self image and respect and recognition issues such as job titles. nice work spaces, prestigious job assignments).

After the first three needs have been satisfied, esteem needs becomes increasingly important. These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition, and accomplishment.

At this point, it become increasingly important to gain the respect and appreciation of others. People have a need to accomplish things and then have their efforts recognized. People often engage in activities such as going to school, playing a sport, enjoying a hobby, or participating in professional activities in order to fulfill this need. 

5.Self-Actualization Needs (achievement issues such as work place autonomy, challenging work and subject matter, expert status on the job).

This is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and interested fulfilling their potential.

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