Psychological Needs free essay sample

Dr. Dale Ironson Psychological Needs In the early 1940s, a humanistic psychologist known as Abraham Maslow developed a model for human motivation. Through this human hierarchy model Maslow demonstrated that humans are motivated by a progression of needs. According to Maslow, people first become motivated by physiological needs. Furthermore, once physiological needs are satisfied they progress to the level of psychological needs, and ultimately they progress to the needs of self- fulfillment. Maslows’s motivation theory is known as the hierarchy of needs (Huckenbury Huckenbury, 2014). According to Maslow (1943), the hierarchy of needs is divided by five levels of needs. The hierarchy model is depicted in the shape of a pyramid with the larger and lower-levels on the bottom and the need for self-fulfillment at the top. The top level, which is at the peak of the pyramid, is described as the level of achieving ones full potential. Following the top level of self-actualization is the level of esteem. We will write a custom essay sample on Psychological Needs or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In this level, people are motivated by fulfilling a need of self-respect and the acceptance from others. After the level of esteem comes the level of love and elonging. In the level of love and belonging Maslow describes the need of others to fulfill a sense of attachment to a relationship; whether it is friendship, intimate, or family. Subsequently following the level of love and belonging is the level of safety and security. This level describes the need to build financial, personal, health, and safety security. Last, the level of physiological needs ranks to be the lower level of the pyramid. The level of physiological needs is described by Maslow as fulfillment of metabolic requirements for survival. Needs for survivals based on Maslow’s hierarchies of needs are; air, food, water, homeostasis, sex, and sleep. All four lower levels of the pyramid are divided as physiological needs and psychological needs. The top level of self-actualization is the level of self-fulfillment (Green, 2000). The concept of Marlow’s hierarchy of needs is easily understood; however, I do not fully agree with the theory. I agree with the needs described by Maslow such as fulfilling basic physiological needs as well as psychological needs; nonetheless, I do not see a need for it to be broken down in levels. I believe the hierarchy of needs explains motivation as if there is only one ath in life to follow. It demonstrates that first people should fulfill metabolic requirements, to fulfill the need of personal safety, followed by the need of fulfillment of belonging, to the need of acceptance, and finally leading to self-actualization. What if you fulfill the metabolic requirements, possess a sense of belonging, fulfill t he need of self-acceptance; however, you lack the fulfillment of personal security? What happens if one level is met before the other? Maslow’s hierarchy of needs does not give an explanation describing any type of results if one need is met before the next level in the hierarchy. I believe it is possible to meet one level before the other; therefore, explaining the theory in levels may not be adequate. Perhaps approaching the theory as a balance of all needs of fulfillment would be more adequate than breaking it down in levels. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs relates to motivation because it explains how humans are growth-oriented. The hierarchy also describes that when one need is fulfilled, the need becomes satisfied; therefore, it will motivate an individual to grow and continue to the next need of fulfillment. Based on Maslow’s hierarchy, I do not find any of the needs to be challenging. I find myself to be a well-rounded person with strong values and morals. I value personal relationships, family, beliefs, opportunities, health, and life in general. My life may not be perfect; however, I am grateful for the positive and negative situations that become present in my life for it is those situations that allow me to grow and become the person who I am today. Every day is a learning experience, and every day I am in pursuit of reaching my full potential. References Cherry, K. (2013). Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved from http://psychology. about. com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds. tm Green, C. (2000). Classics in the History of Psychology. Retrieved from http://psychclassics. yorku. ca/Maslow/motivation. htm Hockenbury, D. H. , Hockenbury, S. E. (2014). Discovering Psychology (6th ed. ). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Maslow, A. H. (1943). â€Å"A Theory of Human Motivation†. In Psychological Review, 50 (4), 430- 437 . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Maslows Hierarchy. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. redwoods. edu/Departments/Distance/Tutorials/MaslowsHierarchy/maslows_ print. html