Psychology and Maslow Essay

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This assignment will explore the Hierarchy of Needs as developed by Abraham Maslow. It will contemplate to what degree the Model is now meeting my own needs. It will also discuss and critically evaluate Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Model in how it contributes to the development of a balanced lifestyle in comparison to the behaviourists approach. The humanistic approach was also known as the ‘third force’ as it transpired after the forces known as psychoanalysis and behaviourism. The humanist rejected the theories of the behaviourist and psychoanalysis as they were thought to be to deterministic, proposing that behaviour and experiences can be learnt or explained. The humanistic theory studies the person as an individual (Jarrett, 2010) and viewing human behaviour not only through the eyes of the observer, but through the person performing the behaviour. Bring about such therapies as developed by Carl Rogers called client-centred (Neil Martin, 2008).
In 1943 Maslow published a paper called ‘A Theory of Human Motivation’ (appendix 1) it was here that Maslow first looked into the motivational needs of a human being. He suggests that we consist of two motivational needs, deficiency needs (safety, love and esteem) and survival (fulfilment, growth and development) (Gross, 1996). Maslow believed that there were five stages of needs and each having its own particular order this was described as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (see figure 1). Once a person has reached one’s personal potential or fulfilment at one stage, then that person moves on and so on. To start the process of moving on a person must meet the first stage biological and physiological needs these are the basic life needs, oxygen, food and water, home. Such basic needs drive a person to be motivated for example if a person is hungry or thirsty then they would seek out food and water to survive (Gross, 1996) .When basic needs have been met the moves up to safety and security needs such as freedom from danger and feeling protected, once met a person moves on. Next is the need to of belongingness and love a person can meet these needs by belonging to a family, being loved and friendship. The fourth stage is esteem needs such as being responsible, recognition and respect from others. The final stage once the latter have been fulfilled is self-actualisation. This however, would be personal to each and every individual. The personal factor signifies to the self- directed choices we make in life, and the path we travel to reach our goal (Joseph, 2010). Maslow suggests that even when all needs have been met, a person may some become restless, unless they are doing something they truly enjoy, being the desire for more and more (Maslow, 1943). Some famous individuals whom Maslow identified as being self-actualised were Albert Einstein, Beethoven and Abraham Lincoln.

In view of my own life in relation to Maslow’s model, at this present moment, I personally feel that I meet the majority of the basic needs emphasized within Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. For the first level biological and physiological needs I am lucky to live in a well-developed country whereby food and water is plentiful and have the means to purchase supplies. I have my own home in which I have warmth, shelter and I can sleep soundly. Which takes me to the next stage the safety needs, here my needs are met as I am secure within my home and neighbourhood, and I am free from a threat of danger such as war, disease and natural catastrophes. I provide a safe and secure environment for my children to live in. The need for belongingness and love is fulfilled by the love I give and receive back from my family and the affection from friends. For the self-esteem stage this is where I see myself at present, by the means of trying to better myself through a college course. On this course I have been given a sense of self-worth, strength and capability which is necessary for me to move to the next stage. For me to reach
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