Maslow's hierarchy of needs

[dannyboy65]

First off sorry if the image did not show up I really don't know how to add images.

Well, for anyone that does not understand Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It was a chart made by an american psychologist named Abraham Maslow in 1943. The chart was made to show all of the human needs in order to succeed in life.

The first step was physiological which is breathing, gender, food, water, sleep etc. Technically everything you need to survive.

The second step is Safety for example employment, resources, morality, body and etc. So technically you need to feel safe in your everyday life.

The third step is love and belonging this means do you have a family, friendship, or a intimate relationship.

The fourth step is esteem do you have self esteem? Are you able to respect yourself and others? To be on this step you need confidence and a feeling of achievement.

The fifth and final step also the hardest is self-actualization. It is uncommon for anyone to reach this step to make it to this step you have morality, creativity, problem solving and etc. What makes this step so hard is you have to face all of the boundary's in the last few steps. Although these boundary's seem simple they are a lot harder to accomplish then you think.

Looking at myself I can say I am stuck on step three. Yes I have my family and friendship but for years now I have not had one intimate partner. In order to feel that I can move to step four I feel I need to mix step 3 and 4 in order to finally make it to step 4.

What step do you guys think you are on?

 

[cellophane]

I have some elements of 2, 3, 4 but not all of them. I need both more "resource security" and "relationships" with others. Ironically, neither really bothers me, because I know that with hard work I can secure the first and I don't really miss the second. What bothers me is that despite my achievements and others' respect for me, I feel no satisfaction and self-esteem is still out of reach.

 

[S_Spartan]

I am very skeptical of the hierarchy of needs.

It's too rigid.

I do not think that one must achieve material or even human relational success in order to acquire self actualization.

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

Well... I have breathing, sleep, water and usually food?
haha

 

[GraybeardGhost]

I am very skeptical of the hierarchy of needs.

It's too rigid.

I do not think that one must achieve material or even human relational success in order to acquire self actualization.

I am inclined to agree. Maslow's point seems to be that a life is built somewhat like a house. You start with the foundation, the basic necessities of life for any animal, and work your way up.

I have most of the needs on the lowest two levels—I believe calling them steps is a mistake, as that suggests chronology—well in hand, though some of those listed under "safety" may seem precarious at times. I also have achieved much of what is found on the highest level—or at least I believe I have—even though the elements on the third and fourth levels are almost entirely absent from my life. According to Maslow's blueprint, this shouldn't work. If you built a house this way, something would fall on your head sooner or later.

Maybe there's more to this theory than can be gleaned from a simple chart. :idontknow:

 

[Regret93]

There's at least 9 of those things I still need to collect.

 

[Pacific_Loner]

I am inclined to agree. Maslow's point seems to be that a life is built somewhat like a house. You start with the foundation, the basic necessities of life for any animal, and work your way up.

I have most of the needs on the lowest two levels—I believe calling them steps is a mistake, as that suggests chronology—well in hand, though some of those listed under "safety" may seem precarious at times. I also have achieved much of what is found on the highest level—or at least I believe I have—even though the elements on the third and fourth levels are almost entirely absent from my life. According to Maslow's blueprint, this shouldn't work. If you built a house this way, something would fall on your head sooner or later.

Maybe there's more to this theory than can be gleaned from a simple chart. :idontknow:

I was going to say this exactly. But I just googled it and to me it doesn't seem to have anything to do with SUCCESS, at least not directly. It's mostly a hierarchic list of what human beings need the most.

 

[GraybeardGhost]

I was going to say this exactly. But I just googled it and to me it doesn't seem to have anything to do with SUCCESS, at least not directly. It's mostly a hierarchic list of what human beings need the most.

So it's more about priority than progression. Gotcha. erfect:

 

[Kiwong]

I'm proof that you can live without sex.

 

[dannyboy65]

Yea its just something I learned in college this year that I thought people would like to talk about.

 

[jc972]

Jc972's hierarchy of needs in no particular order:

1 sleep
2 food
3 mountain dew
4 more sleep
5 sex
6 internet
7 sunlight
8 bathing
9 a nap

 

[MikeyC]

I think his hierarchy of needs is a decent guide for what you should achieve first, but I agree about its rigidity - someone without sex can self-actualise. A homeless person might be able to understand and disallow prejudice.

For me, I think Maslow was trying to understand the growth of humans throughout their lives, and that it's easier to move up the pyramid if basic needs are met. If things like sex, shelter, homeostasis, and so on are met, it's probably more likely that you're then willing and able to progress from that.

 

[singing-love]

Having actually studied this pyramid along with several other representations and theories like it, it was decided as a collective group that whilst the structure was too rigid the basic idea is present. Individuals that were surveyed when this pyramid was created and over the years since have agreed that you need to work towards self actualisation and whilst Maslow's is rigidly structured the basic fulfilling of needs is deemed accurate.
I've found that there are other systems that describe this better, however, Maslow's is an easy way to explain it and make people think about how well their needs are being met.
Most people don't progress past the esteem level according to studies. I can see why.