Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Harold Maslow

Abraham Harold Maslow Biography

Abraham Harold Maslow is an American psychologist and philosopher best known for
his self-actualization theory of psychology, which argued that the primary goal of
psychotherapy should be the integration of the self. He was born on April 1st, 1908, at
New York, of United States and died June 8th, 1970, on Menlo Park, California.
Maslow studied psychology at the University of Wisconsin and Gestalt psychology at the
New School for Social Research in New York City before joining the faculty of Brooklyn
College in 1937. In 1951 he became head of the psychology department at Brandeis
University (Waltham, Massachusetts), where he remained until 1969.
In his major works, Motivation and Personality (1954) and Toward a Psychology of
Being (1962), Maslow argued that each person has a hierarchy of needs that must be
satisfied, ranging from basic physiological requirements to love, esteem, and, finally,
self-actualization. As each need is satisfied, the next higher level in the emotional
hierarchy dominates conscious functioning. Maslow believed that truly healthy people
were self-actualizers because they satisfied the highest psychological needs, fully
integrating the components of their personality, or self. His papers, published
posthumously, were issued in 1971 as The Farther Reaches of Human Nature.

Basics of the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Theory

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier

model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. The five
levels of the hierarchy are physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-
actualization. Lower-level basic needs like food, water, and safety must be met first
before higher needs can be fulfilled. Few people are believed to reach the level of self-
actualization, but we can all have moments of peak experiences. The order of the levels
is not completely fixed. For some, esteem outweighs love, while others may self-
actualize despite poverty. Our behaviors are usually motivated by multiple needs
simultaneously. Applications include workplace motivation, education, counseling, and
nursing.

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Maslow’s Assumptions

Maslow's theory is based on the following assumptions: People's behavior is based on

their needs. Satisfaction of such needs influences their behavior. Maslow believed that
human behavior is based on their needs.

Brief of Hierarchy of Needs

According to Maslow (1943, 1954), human needs were arranged in a hierarchy, with
physiological (survival) needs at the bottom, and the more creative and intellectually
oriented ‘self-actualization’ needs at the top. Maslow argued that survival needs must
be satisfied before the individual can satisfy the higher needs. The higher up the
hierarchy, the more difficult it is to satisfy the needs associated with that stage,
because of the interpersonal and environmental barriers that inevitably frustrate us.
Higher needs become increasingly psychological and long-term rather than physiological
and short-term, as in the lower survival-related needs.

Main Point of the Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a theory in psychology. It argues that there are five
stages of human needs that motivate our behavior. Abraham Maslow proposed his
theory in 1943 after studying what he called exemplary people such as Albert Einstein
or Eleanor Roosevelt.

1. Physiological needs are biological requirements for human survival, e.g., air, food,
drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, sex, and sleep.

Our most basic need is for physical survival, and this will be the first thing that
motivates our behavior. Once that level is fulfilled, the next level up is what motivates
us, and so on. The human body cannot function optimally if physiological needs are not
satisfied. Maslow considered physiological needs the most important as all the other
needs become secondary until these needs are met. Once an individual’s physiological
needs are satisfied, the need for security and safety becomes salient. The moment we
get enough of that, and we feel awake, and our bellies are full, we get motivated by the
next thing.

2. Safety needs – people want to experience order, predictability, and control in their
lives.

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We want safety. We try to earn money, build up resources and look for shelter that
protects us against dangers. Safety needs can be fulfilled by the family and society
(e.g., schools, business, and medical care). For example, emotional security, financial
security (e.g., employment, social welfare), law and order, freedom from fear, social
stability, property, health, and wellbeing (e.g., safety against accidents and injury).
After physiological and safety needs have been fulfilled, the third level of human needs
is social and involves feelings of belongingness. Once we are satisfied and feel safe, we
have time to think about what we want next.

3. Love and belongingness needs refers to a human emotional need for interpersonal
relationships, affiliating, connectedness, and being part of a group.

At stage three, we seek love and belonging. We desire to be close to family and friends,
belong to a society or join a gang. Examples of belongingness needs include friendship,
intimacy, trust, acceptance, receiving and giving affection, and love. This need is
especially strong in childhood and can override the need for safety, as witnessed in
children who cling to abusive parents. But the moment we feel completely part of a
group, we already wish to be a little different than the rest.

4. Esteem needs are the fourth level in Maslow’s hierarchy and include self-worth,
accomplishment, and respect.

At stage four, we look for esteem, self-confidence, and respect from our peers. We
want to be someone. If we have money, we buy a fancy watch. If we have a brain, we
write, think, or work a lot. Time to perform and compete is now at its highest. Students,
athletes and inventors excel. Neil Armstrong even flew to the moon. Maslow classified
esteem needs into two categories: esteem for oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery,
independence) and the desire for reputation or respect from others (e.g., status,
prestige). Esteem presents the typical human desire to be accepted and valued by
others. People often engage in a profession or hobby to gain recognition. These
activities give the person a sense of contribution or value. Low self-esteem or an
inferiority complex may result from imbalances during this level in the hierarchy.
Maslow indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most important for children
and adolescents and precedes real self-esteem or dignity.

5. Self-actualization needs are the highest level in Maslow’s hierarchy, and refer to the
realization of a person’s potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth, and peak
experiences.

Only if we breathe, drink, eat and sleep enough and we feel safe and part of a group
and still special, only then can we reach level five, self-actualization. Now we can relax,
be creative, accept facts for what they are. Give back or do whatever we want. No
more pressure, unless of course there is trouble below. This level of need refers to what
a person’s full potential is and the realization of that potential. Maslow describes this

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level as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, and “to become everything
one is capable of becoming”. Individuals may perceive or focus on this need very
specifically. For example, one individual may have a strong desire to become an ideal
parent.

In another, the desire may be expressed athletically. For others, it may be expressed in
paintings, pictures, or inventions. Although Maslow did not believe that many of us
could achieve true self-actualization, he did believe that all of us experience transitory
moments (known as ‘peak experiences’) of self-actualization. Such moments, associated
with personally significant events such as childbirth, sporting achievement and
examination success), are difficult to achieve and maintain consistently. If you are a
leader and believe in the theory, use it. First, make sure everyone has eaten well. Then
make them feel safe and help them belong to a group. Once they feel they belong, they
are ready to stand out and excel.

Why is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs important?

Maslow’s theory has given rise to a new way to look at people’s needs. For example,
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is widely used in health and social work as a framework for
assessing clients’ needs. Problems or difficult circumstances at one point in a person’s
life can cause them to fixate on a particular set of needs, and this can affect their future
happiness. For example, a person who lived through a period of extreme deprivation
and lack of security in early childhood may fixate on physiological and safety needs.
These remain salient even if they are satisfied. So even if this person later has
everything, they need they may nonetheless obsess over money or keep enough food
in the fridge. This, for Maslow, was the root cause of many ‘neurotics’ mental health
problems, such as anxiety or depression.

Hierarchy of Needs in Nursing

The hierarchy provides a framework for understanding patients as multifaceted human

beings.

Patient care should be holistic, not just medical. Nurses must assess and address the
spectrum of patient needs – physical, mental, emotional, and social. Doing so motivates
greater engagement in care, faster healing, and improved outcomes.

1. Physiological needs – The first tier we are going to talk about is the physiological
needs. Ensure patients have adequate nutrition, hydration, pain control, sleep,
and physical comfort. Address pain that hinders sleep and recovery. Needs

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 consist of oxygen, fluids, nutrition, body temperature, elimination, rest, sleep,
etc. When referring to these needs as a nurse, you want to make sure you
include your ABCs, which is the airway, breathing, circulation. Your patient
airway should always be clear without any obstructions. Next, you want to make
sure your patient is breathing adequately and then make sure the blood is
flowing and circulating around the body. These are the primary life situations,
life, or death situations, so you want to make sure that this is top priority.

2. Safety needs – Moving up to the next tier, we have safety and security. Maintain
a clean, quiet environment with call bells for assistance. Prevent injuries through
fall precautions, blood clot prevention, and pressure ulcer avoidance. Explain
tests, treatments, and medications to patients to relieve anxiety. Keep patient
info confidential. Your patient should not be at risk of harming themselves or
others. Some examples, you can make sure the call light is accessible to your
patient, make sure their bed is lowered, having their IV secured properly, make
sure it is not tangled or wrapped. Also educating them, making sure they know
how to administer their medication properly.

3. Belongingness – The next tier is love and belonging. Loneliness impedes healing.
Make patients feel welcomed and included. Introduce them to other patients.
Allow for family visitation and spiritual practices. You want to make sure the
patient has effective communication skills with others and healthy relationships
in their life. You can help support your patient by showing active listening skills,
also having family and friends input on a proper care plan. Remember, you are
the patient's advocate, so you want to make sure they are getting the best care
all around.

4. Esteem – Climbing up the pyramid, we are now in tier four, which is self-esteem.
Show respect through courteous communication and cultural sensitivity. Maintain
dignity and privacy. Empower patients in care decisions. Explain care in an easy-
to-understand way. Listen attentively to their concerns. Make them feel valued.
To help promote your patient's self-esteem, you want to deliver a proper patient
education on any changes the patient may experience. Example, if your patient
is losing a limb or have a surgery that will leave scars, of course this can kind of
damper the patient's attitude or their view of themselves, so you want to make
sure you point out their strengths and build them up. Keep in mind the patient
perception of the change and not only your point of view.

5. Self-actualization – The last tier we are going to cover is tier five, which is self-
actualization. Align care with patient values and aspirations. Perhaps share
motivational stories of those with similar diagnoses who stayed active. Or
provide resources on coping with grief over health changes. The nurse should
focus on possibilities and strengths rather than the problems to maximize the
patient's life fulfillment. This will help them reach their full potential.

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That covers all five tiers. When using Maslow's hierarchy to answer and quick style
questions, you want to make sure you look for keywords such as priority, first, best,
most, and initial. These words right here will let you know that they are asking you
what the top priority is. What is the first thing you should do or who is the first patient
you should see, depending on the examples or the answer selection they give.

Conclusion

Maslow’s theory differs from more purely physiological representations of human

motivation because motivation is seen as being not just concerned with tension
reduction and survival but also with human growth and development. While Maslow’s
work was indeed relatively informal and clinically descriptive, it did provide a rich source
of ideas, and as such, a framework for discussing the richness and complexity of human
motivation that goes beyond homeostatic models and other biological models.

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Group 3 Members:

1. Castillo, Lois Guinevere

2. Reinante, Hannah Raizel

3. Ruiz, Nicole Claire

References:

• https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abraham-H-Maslow

• https://www.lavendaire.com/needs/

• https://slideplayer.com/slide/5668740/

• https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/ESICDD/MzE3OTA1/Which-of-the-
following-is-an-assumption-in-Maslow-rsquo-s-hierarchy-of-needs-Principles-of-
Human-Resource-Management#:~:text=Maslow%27s%20theory%20is
%20based%20on,is%20based%20on%20their%20needs

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.verywellmind.com%2Fwhat-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-
4136760&psig=AOvVaw1BrdaDgxDiWtac4zcMKZUd&ust=1700987835311000&so
urce=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCNCq1tLf3oIDFQAA
AAAdAAAAABAm

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Prepared by: Group 3 of BSN1 GIRON (End term)