Hierarchy of needs
The Hierarchy of needs is about treating the lower needs before trying to achieve needs that are higher.
For example, people that go on long walks write a long essay or learn how to ride a bike can never achieve these things without the basics, such as water, food and sleep etc.
When the lower points have been completed then someone can build their way up to the higher hierarchy needs.
The Development in human beings does apply to Maslow’s theory. According to the Humanistic approach (2010) ‘This applies equally to the development of individuals: babies are more concerned with their bellies than with their brains....
‘The higher up the hierarchy, the more the need becomes linked to life experience and the less ‘biological’ it becomes.’
Hierarchy of needs and self-actualisation
- The hierarchy becomes more difficult to achieve the higher you go.
- Plans or goals will develop differently for each individual.
- Plans set out can only be achieved and developed over time.
- Through different experiences and life routes people gain self-actualization differently. This is then experience and not biology!
Evidence to prove Maslow’s theory
Although Maslow’s theory was very difficult t test an interested organisational psychologist, Clayton Alderfer put his theory in to practice.
Alderfer had difficulty motivating his workers in the workplace so applied Maslow’s motivational model.
Alderfer noticed that the concern laid in three main categories for his workers. These were:
- Material worries
- Relationships at work and home
- Being able to using their skills on the job and to be able to learn other aspects.
After realising this Alderfer believed that workers are motivated by:
- Growth
- Existence
- Relatedness
Self esteem:
Self esteem is something that people have naturally or gain through life.
People with a high self esteem are able to accept praise and take things as a compliment such as the way they look, exam marks or boyfriends/girlfriends.
Many individuals gain praise through feeling desired and loved, physically and emotionally.
According to ‘Self esteem is an evaluation of the emotional, intellectual, and behavioural aspects of the self-concept... Self esteem is a confidence in our ability to think, to cope with the basic challenges of life and confidence in our right to be successful and happy.’
Carl Rodgers
Carl Rogers, born January 8, 1902 was a psychologist who made a theory through years of experience working with his clients. His theory is about every living being and the way they live and survive. According to , ‘The entire theory is built on a single “force of life” he calls the actualizing tendency.’ It is about the motivation that individuals needs to keep living and to the extent they will go to achieve this.
Rogers believes that every living being goes to their full potential to do the best they can in their life time. Weather it is just being able to afford food and water or achieving all their life long ambitions. ‘Rogers believes that all creatures strive to make the very best of their existence. If they fail to do so, it is not for a lack of desire.’
Rogers believes that the reason creatures do what they do is because it is in their nature to do the best they can!
Self concept
- Carl Rogers believed that individuals behaviour is from their own awareness and understanding of life.
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Rogers saw living beings how Maslow perceives them. He said that “There is no beast in man; there is only man in man” (Rogers 1961 in Gross 1999) this means that whoever you are you are that way because that’s who your meant to be.
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Human behaviour is developed through own personal experience, weather if it is with self-image, relationships or personal actions.
However this is not always the way because even if someone looks like they have huge self confidence, behind closed doors they may be incredibly insecure and lonely.
For example, Britney Spears was in the limelight for the age of 16, she was seen as an icon with a lot of self belief and talent. By the time she was in her mid 20s she had a public breakdown through insecurity and vulnerability.
Even if people look secure within themselves does not suggest they actually are.
According to: Unit 8: Psychological Perspectives for Health and Social Care, Roger’s self theory ‘Being told you are successful is incongruent or inconsistent with the fact that you do not hold this view of yourself.’
- When an individual truly believes in themselves and expresses themselves in a way that relates to how they feel can they really excel to their full potential. This is called self-actualise.
However when someone does not achieve this and acts in a way such as being happy or sociable when they are in fact very much hurting inside will this lead to mental illnesses such as anxiety or depression.
