> Abraham Maslow is known for establishing the theory of a hierarchy of
> needs, writing that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs,
> and that certain lower needs need to be satisfied before higher needs
> can be satisfied.
>
> Maslow's hierarchy of needs was an alternative to the depressing
> determinism of Freud and Skinner. He felt that people are basically
> trustworthy, self-protecting, and self-governing.
> Humans tend toward growth and love. Although there is a continuous
> cycle of human wars, murder, deceit, etc., he believed that violence
> is not what human nature is meant to be like.
>
> Violence and other evils occur when human needs are thwarted. In other
> words, people who are deprived of lower needs such as safety may
> defend themselves by violent means. He did not believe that humans are
> violent because they enjoy violence. Or that they lie, cheat, and
> steal because they enjoy doing it.
>
> According to Maslow;
>
> Â there are general types of
> Â needs (physiological, safety,
> Â love, and esteem)
> Â Â Â that must be satisfied
> Â Â Â before a person can act
> Â Â Â unselfishly.
>
> Â He called these needs "deficiency needs."
>
> As long as we are motivated to satisfy these cravings, we are moving
> towards growth, toward self-actualization. Satisfying needs is
> healthy, blocking gratification makes us sick or evil. In other words,
> we are all "needs junkies" with cravings that must be satisfied and
> should be satisfied. Else, we become sick.
>
> Needs are prepotent. A prepotent need is one that has the greatest
> influence over our actions. Everyone has a prepotent need, but that
> need will vary among individuals. A teenager may have a need to feel
> that he/she is accepted by a group. A heroin addict will need to
> satisfy his/her cravings for heroin to function normally in society,
> and will not worry about acceptance by other people. According to
> Maslow, when the deficiency needs are met:
>
> At once other (and higher) needs emerge, and these, rather than
> physiological hungers, dominate the organism. And when these in turn
> are satisfied, again new (and still higher) needs emerge, and so on.
> As one desire is satisfied, another pops up to take its place.
>
> - Physiological Needs
>
> Physiological needs are the very basic needs such as air, water, food,
> sleep, sex, etc. When these are not satisfied we may feel sickness,
> irritation, pain, discomfort, etc. These feelings motivate us to
> alleviate them as soon as possible to establish homeostasis. Once they
> are alleviated, we may think about other things.
>
> - Safety Needs
>
> Safety needs have to do with establishing stability and consistency in
> a chaotic world. These needs are mostly psychological in nature. We
> need the security of a home and family. However, if a family is
> dysfunction, i.e., an abusive husband, the wife cannot move to the
> next level because she is constantly concerned for her safety. Love
> and belongingness have to wait until she is no longer cringing in
> fear. Many in our society cry out for law and order because they do
> not feel safe enough to go for a walk in their neighborhood. Many
> people, particularly those in the inner cities, unfortunately, are
> stuck at this level. In addition, safety needs sometimes motivate
> people to be religious. Religions comfort us with the promise of a
> safe secure place after we die and leave the insecurity of this
> world.
>
> - Love Needs
>
> Love and belongingness are next on the ladder. Humans have a desire to
> belong to groups: clubs, work groups, religious groups, family, gangs,
> etc. We need to feel loved (non-sexual) by others, to be accepted by
> others. Performers appreciate applause. We need to be needed. Beer
> commercials, in addition to playing on sex, also often show how beer
> makes for camaraderie. When was the last time you saw a beer
> commercial with someone drinking beer alone?
>
> - Esteem Needs
>
> There are two types of esteem needs. First is self-esteem which
> results from competence or mastery of a task. Second, there's the
> attention and recognition that comes from others. This is similar to
> the belongingness level, however, wanting admiration has to do with
> the need for power. People who have all of their lower needs
> satisfied, often drive very expensive cars because doing so raises
> their level of esteem. "Hey, look what I can afford-peon!"
>
> - Self-Actualization
>
> The need for self-actualization is "the desire to become more and more
> what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming."
> People who have everything can maximize their potential. They can seek
> knowledge, peace, esthetic experiences, self-fulfillment, oneness with
> God, etc. It is usually middle-class to upper-class students who take
> up environmental causes, join the Peace Corps, go off to a monastery,
> etc.
>
>
http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTMhttp://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/regsys/maslow...- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
