Abraham Maslow
Background of Abraham Maslow-Abraham Maslow was born in Brooklyn in the year 1908. He went to City College, New York, where he studied Law. He later developed an interest in psychology and joined Wisconsin University. Through his mentor’s support, he was able to attain a degree, masters, and doctorate in psychology. In the 1950s, he was one of the founders of the humanistic psychology school of thought.
Abraham Maslow’s theory of Hierarchy of Needs– states that human needs are in a hierarchy format, and once the lower is satisfied, people focus on the next requirement. The needs are physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization, with the first being the most vital (Cherry, 2018). The physiological need is the most essential, like drinking water, suitable environment temperature. It’s the first need that people satisfy. Once this need is met, people focus on their safety needs, ensuring safety environment. The next requirement is love and belonging. It states that people always need a feeling of love and acceptance. For example, from friends and families, romantic relationships, and social groups. The essential need involves feeling good about oneself by being self-confident and feeling of value to others. People feel satisfied when their contributions and achievements are valued and appreciated by others. The need for self-actualization means living to one’s potential; it’s entirely different for everyone.
The impact of the theory on other researchers -Researchers have based their arguments on Maslow’s theory. For example, Carol Ryff and Burton Singer relied on the self-actualization concept in their eudaimonic well-being theory. Besides, Roy Baumeister and Mark Leary advanced on the love and belonging need. They stated that it’s a fundamental need, and without it, there are negative consequences like mental health.
Contributions– he came up with humanistic psychology as he was not pleased with the Freudian psychoanalysis and behavioral psychology. His theory was appreciated for considering the human experience. Besides, he was a co-founder of the Humanistic Psychology journal in 1961 and Transpersonal Psychology in 1969 to emphasize his theory (Hopper, 2019)
What he did differently– Many psychologists concentrated on human nature, but he shifted his focus to the positivity of mental health. He shifted attention from psychopathology and the deficiencies of people to human behavior, which focused on the right. He concentrated on human potential and how to fulfill them.
Effect on leadership– many leaders today rely on the Maslow hierarchy of needs theory to improve the performance of their employees and to attain the desired goals (Soni & Soni, 2016). For example, organization leaders satisfy the immediate needs of employees to enable them to perform well, like providing good salaries, safety environment, rewards, and promotions. It has affected the leadership style many leaders use today, like in schools, organizations.
The application today– the theory is applied in the workplace where the employees are provided with steady salaries to meet their needs. Besides, giving safety environment and opportunity to form formal relationships. They also receive incentives and bonuses for their excellent performance and behaviors.
Besides, educational sectors where the teachers satisfy their physiological needs before the students. Provision of a safe environment for students, meeting physiological needs like food when hungry—improving their esteem by giving presents for an excellent performance. Moreover, each individual applies this theory in daily lives by ensuring the satisfaction of basic needs, safety home, love, and belonging.
Criticisms- the needs may not automatically follow the hierarchy stated. The theory assumes people experience the requirements in the order given, which does not consider aspects like cultural differences. The explanation of self-actualization is biased as he failed to use rigorous sampling. The methodology for the theory is not satisfying.
In conclusion, Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs in applied today by every person, leaders, and organizations. By focusing on the theory, I can attain my needs from the most essential; psychological to self-actualization. Besides, the theory is a motivational tool for the achievement of my goals.
References
Cherry, K. (2018). The five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Retrieved on May 9, 2019.
Hopper, E. (2019). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Explained. Viitattu, 12, 2019.
Soni, B., & Soni, R. (2016, July). Enhancing Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for effective leadership. In Competition Forum (Vol. 14, No. 2, p. 259). American Society for Competitiveness.