Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
There is no such thing as a self made man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.
George M. Adams
Maslow was concerned with how people develop their identity and humanness. He believed people develop their identity as they have their needs met and those needs formed a hierarchy, from the lowest, basic physical needs to highest, self-actualization.
For example, a hungry child will not develop much intellectual curiosity. Lower level physical needs (hunger amount them) must be reasonably well satisfied before any individual will attend to higher levels (intellectual curiosity being among the self-actualization).
Hierarchy of Needs Levels from lower to higher:
- Physical needs,
- Safety needs,
- Belonging & love,
- Esteem and feeling of being recognized, and
- Striving for self-actualization or to reach one's best physical, social, and emotional ability. (need to know), aesthetic needs (need for beauty), social (need to be among others), and emotional (need for success and mental well being).
