Posted: February 1st, 2023

Psychology of Needs: How Does Maslow’s Pyramid Work?

Psychology of Needs: How Does Maslow’s Pyramid Work?
In the year 1943, a renowned psychologist of American descent, Maslow Abraham, developed the theory of hierarchy-of-needs that has a wide application in the field of psychology, education, economics, and sociology (Hagerty 42). Indeed, Maslow’s proposition is a distinct theory of motivation that has been observed by psychologists around the globe for ages.
In his model, which adheres to a five-stage hierarchical structure in form of a pyramid; Maslow makes an argument that the motivation of humans is driven by five specific needs: self-actualization, esteem, love, safety, and physiological (Zalenski and Richard 23). Fundamentally, Maslow posits that higher-needs- as stipulated in the hierarchical model- commence when individuals develop the feeling of satisfaction or contentment towards the lower (previous) needs.
At the bottom of the pyramid lie the physiological needs: these are arguably the most crucial needs that have to be fulfilled first by humans before moving on to other needs. Essentially, the physiological needs entail the physical requirements that the human body demands for mere survival; such as, food, and water (McLeod 29). Therefore, based on Maslow’s theory, the physiological needs are geared towards the maintenance of ordinary bodily systems.
Consequently, the second level from the bottom of Maslow’s hierarchical structure is the safety needs: these needs are focused on a human motivation to be within a safe surrounding or environment (Zalenski and Richard 25). In this case, the safety needs come about after the satisfaction of the physiological needs. Truly, children as well as adults are keen on dwelling in secure and safe environments, especially when calamities and disasters hit.
Certainly, the third level from the bottom of the pyramid is the need for having a sense of belong and love. Maslow points out that human are motivated by the need for being accepted as well as love that could be demonstrated in the form of family ties, romantic associations, and friendship ties (McLeod 36). Indeed, the fourth level in Maslow’s pyramid entails the need for esteem: this makes reference to the need for a good feeling that an individual has towards himself or herself.
Maslow asserts that the need for esteem can be manifested in two ways: the desire for self-confidence or self-love and desire for social recognition or value by people. Lastly, at the apex of the pyramid lies the need for self-fulfillment or actualization (Hagerty 54). In this case, an individual develops a unique and rare felling of utter achievement whereby his or her human potential has been unleashed and paid off well.

Works Cited
Hagerty, Michael R. “Testing Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: National quality-of-life across time.” Social work homework help  Indicators Research 46.3 (2013): 249-271.
McLeod, Saul. “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.” Simply psychology 1 (2015).
Zalenski, Robert J., and Richard Raspa. “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: a framework for achieving human potential in hospice.” Journal of palliative medicine 9.5 (2016): 1120- 1127.

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