Understanding human needs

Maslow's hierarchy of human needs toward self actualization

Chapter 5

p.8

People often refer to "Maslow's triangle of needs".

I know I've seen it before, could you refresh my memory?

According to Maslow every individual has a hierarchy of needs.

These needs manifest on different levels. Before a need on a specific level can be fulfilled, it is a prerequisite that the needs on the levels below are fulfilled first.

In the diagram below, you will see that in terms of Maslow’s theory, physical needs, security and safety needs as well as social needs have to be fulfilled before self-esteem is realized.

At Career Builder we added to the Maslow triangle. We have found that an individual develops through different stages of self actualization; sometimes we function on one stage another time on a different stage. We do not develop in a set manner from stage one through to stage five. Sometimes we will be spending some time on stage one, other times we find ourselves on stage three; there is no set recipe for human development. The Maslow theory is a way of creating awareness only, please apply it as such.

We have opened up the triangle on both sides and made it a life-cup; we believe a human to have limitless potential. The development of a human being is a open system of discovery and continuous growth through life.

So, if I understand it correctly, it means that anything a team leader might do to grow the self-esteem of his junior colleagues will be fruitless, unless they feel that they are well-paid, secure in their jobs and accepted by their colleagues.

Unless these things are in place, they will feel no need to grow their self esteem... They would still be grappling with needs on a lower level. Not so?

Physical needs / Physiological needs

The first human need is to live somewhere - then to obtain food, water, shelter.

If one of these needs is not satisfied there will be very little interest in the other needs.

Security and safety needs

When the physiological needs are satisfied, the next important need is security. Security does not only mean personal security fences, but also includes aspects such as economic security - enough money - a secure position at work, insurance policies and some type of saving.

Social needs

This level of needs is only reached after the first two levels of needs have been satisfied. There is a need to love and be loved, to belong and to be accepted by a small group, such as family and friends. Often people will work hard, without reward to satisfy this need, for instance, to be accepted as a member of a committee or organization.

The ego or self esteem needs

This need manifests only after the first three needs have been satisfied. This is the force that drives modern man - the need to be recognized by others, to have self-respect, to be given status, an important position, etc. For some people this need is symbolized by a desire for status-car, a large office or an important job title.

Self realization need

This is the last need to be satisfied - the self-fulfillment need; the need to achieve the best that is possible; to be able to show and express your feelings and to find ways to use your talents or skills.

It is important to remember that once a need has been fulfilled, it no longer drives a person, i.e. there is no longer a need to meet that desire.

“There is a tendency for needs to mix and different needs may be more important at different times, depending on the situation.”

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