Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Summary Chart

Maslow's Hierarchy of needs
Maslow set up a hierarchical theory of needs in which all the basic needs are at the bottom, and the needs concerned with man's highest potential are at the top. The hierarchic theory is often represented as a pyramid, with the larger, lower levels representing the lower needs, and the upper point representing the need for self-actualization. Each level of the pyramid is dependent on the previous level. For example, a person does not feel the second need until the demands of the first have been satisfied.
  1. Biological / Physiological Needs. These needs are biological and consists of the needs for oxygen, food, water, and a relatively constant body temperature. These needs are the strongest because if deprived, the person would die.
  2. Security / Safety Needs. Except in times of emergency or periods of disorganization in the social structure (such as widespread rioting) adults do not experience their security needs. Children, however often display signs of insecurity and their need to be safe.
  3. Social (Love, Affection and Belongingness) Needs. People have needs to escape feelings of loneliness and alienation and give (and receive) love, affection and the sense of belonging.
  4. Ego / Esteem Needs. People need a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, and respect from others in order to feel satisfied, self confident and valuable. If these needs are not met, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless.
  5. Self-actualization Fulfillment. Maslow describes self-actualization as an ongoing process. Self-actualizing people are, with one single exception, involved in a cause outside their own skin.  The are devoted, work at something, something very precious to them--som calling or vocation, in the old sense, the priestly sense.  When you select out for careful study very fine and healthy people, strong people, creative people, saintly people, sagacious people... you get a different view of mankind. You ask how tall can people grow, what can a human being become?

    6.  
The people at each level in the hierarchy of needs seeks information on dealing with what is important to them.
  • Coping -seeking information when lost, out of food, or sick
  • Helping -seeking information on how to be safe such as food, shelter, emergency supplies
  • Enlightening -seeking information on how to have a happier marriage, more friends
  • Empowering -seeking information to help the ego

    • Edifying -seeking moral and spiritual uplifting such is found with the word of God, spiritual music, and paintings
    the  image is from http://www.maslow.org/images/hierarchy.gif
    the informaion on this page comes originally from http://www.connect.net/georgen/maslow.htm