The Maslow’s pyramid of needs It is one of the great findings of the psychology of motivation. It proposes a hierarchical model of human needs that explains what intrinsically moves us to behave as we do.
According to his theory, the satisfaction of basic needs (located in the lower area of the pyramid) causes the appearance of others of a higher order. For example, once physiological needs are met, other types of unmet needs arise, such as safety needs, and so on.
The 5 categories of Maslow’s pyramid of needs
Physiological needs
These are needs of physiological origin, which are born with the person. All the others are secondary and do not manifest until this level is covered. They seek survival, both of the individual and of the species. Among others, Maslow identifies the following: need to breathe, drink water, eat, sleep, sex, shelter…
Security needs
The second layer of Maslow’s pyramid is made up of security and protection needs, which appear once the most basic ones have already been satisfied.
They represent a kind of mattress, referring to rights. This section includes physical, family, employment, income and resources security, etc.
Membership needs
This third link of the pyramid has to do with overcoming the individual sphere, the search for emotional ties and the social dimension of the person.
These needs arise when the previous ones have been overcome. The person then seeks to be part of a group, collective or community, to relate, to have a partner, etc.
Recognition needs
Once the affiliation needs are moderately satisfied, this pyramid raises esteem needs at a new level: both those that refer to the respect of others, appreciation, the need for attention and to occupy a status, and those that are more oriented towards oneself, with feelings of confidence, self-esteem, competence, etc. If this need is satisfied, the individual feels good about his or her self-concept, through the reflection that is returned to us through others.
Self-actualization needs
At the top of Maslow’s pyramid of needs we find those of personal self-actualization. In order to address them, it is necessary to have covered the previous levels. Maslow also referred to this peak as “growth motivation” or “need to be.”
It is the highest step, which has to do with spiritual development, creativity, altruism, talent, the development of personal potential through some activity, etc.
The importance and significance of Maslow’s theory
Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) was an American psychologist, the visible head of humanistic psychology, who represented “the third force”, beyond behaviorism and the psychoanalytic current. A new approach that turned out to be more positive and enthusiastic, which does not presuppose people as passive beings nor is it oriented exclusively towards pathological behavior.
In Maslow’s own words: “It is as if Freud gave us the sick half of psychology and now we must complete it with the healthy half.” Regarding behaviorism, Maslow does not consider his mechanistic approach to psychology to be incorrect, but he sees it as too narrow and limited in his overall conception of the human being.
His study of motivations and behaviors outside of mental disorders was innovative, in the sense that it demonstrated the usefulness of psychology beyond the strict corset of mental health. He concentrated on the study of psychologically healthy individuals.
In this way, his theory has had an important impact, of course in psychology, but also in the business world, marketing, sports, etc. The Maslow’s pyramid of needs It has been basic to develop the most diverse motivation plans.
.