Re-Learning Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Written by Moses Alhassan

First time I heard and about Abraham Maslow's theory of needs was probably in Junior or senior high school. I recently revisited his theory on human behaviour and I got to understand a few things about how this theory applies to us as humans.

Maslow's theory explains an aspect of developmental psychology, particularly behavioural motivation. The stages explored in this theory are;

• Physiological / Basic needs
• Safety (Security) needs
• Belonging and Love
• Social needs / Self esteem
• Self-actualization.

This theory suggests that in order for motivation to occur at the next level, each level must be satisfied within the individual themselves. Basic needs pertain to food, water shelter and for someone to seek the next stage of needs, one must have fulfilled the previous stages. 

After having your basic needs, the next thing you would want to do is to probably insure them, seek financial, emotional, health and personal security. 

The next thing you would probably do after this stage is to seek friendship, intimacy and family. Seeking relevance in society by way of status comes in after one has had a satisfied sense that he or she is loved and appreciated by family and friends.

Now, the stage where people seek to become all that they have always dreamed of becoming is the self-actualization stage.

Abraham Maslow added another component later on "Transcendence". This concerns the desire to reach the infinite. People who get to this stage are more motivated and attached to spiritual things. It is the highest and most inclusive level of human consciousness.

The interesting about Maslow's theory of needs is that when a person tries to seek a higher stage when he or she does not have enough of the previous stages, he or she would end up falling below even the "Basic needs" stage.

I do hope you learnt something. Feel free to share what you think about this.