Design

Maslow's hierarchy of needs has 7 levels. Maslow's pyramid of human needs

Maslow's pyramid of needs reflects the main ideas of the American psychologist Abraham Maslow. He developed a hierarchical theory of a person's levels of satisfaction in life. Its essence is that a person meets his needs sequentially, gradually moving up the pyramid.

This is what Maslow's pyramid looks like

The hierarchical theory of needs itself was formalized in the presented diagram after Maslow’s death by his students. And initially, the theory of hierarchy, as it is also called, was outlined in Maslow’s work “The Theory of Human Motivation” in 1943 and was further developed by him in his work “Motivation and Personality” in 1954.

Levels of Maslow's pyramid

Let's take a closer look at what Maslow's pyramid is. In its more simplified version, human needs are distributed into 5 levels.

1. Physiological (organic): breathing, thirst, hunger, sexual desire, etc.

2. Protection needs: shelter, some stability in living conditions to replace everyday anxiety and fear and gain a basic sense of security in life.

3. Social needs or belonging: relationships with other people, everyday communication, feelings of affection, caring for other people, receiving attention or so-called “strokes” according to Berne, joint activities.

4. Prestigious needs or social recognition: achieving a certain level of self-esteem, recognition of merit from others, achieving success and high praise, career growth.

5. Spiritual needs: knowledge, satisfaction of aesthetic needs, self-actualization and self-expression, which is manifested in realizing one’s potential and discovering the meaning of life, fulfilling a spiritual mission.

A more complex version in which Maslow’s pyramid is implemented is a seven-level one. In it, the 5th stage of needs is divided into 3, of which first cognitive needs (to be able, to know, to explore), then aesthetic (order, beauty, orderliness) are distinguished, and only then the need for self-actualization, associated with awareness of the highest meaning of one’s existence.

Maslow's pyramid 7 levels

So, the first level of Maslow’s pyramid is organic or physiological. It is the basis of the foundations and no one can argue with that. We are in the physical world and are forced to maintain our existence with the help of air, water, food and natural needs. And here's what Maslow's pyramid tells us about this. Examples obvious. If you have an upset stomach on the way to work, then you will look for the toilet rather than think about the report, trying, for example, to go to the office for the first reason, and not for the second.

The second level of Maslow's pyramid is the needs for safety, protection, defense, etc. The basis of this level is a place where you can hide from the dangers of the outside world, that is, a house. You also want to stop constantly worrying about what to feed yourself and your family. Therefore, strive for a stable source of income. In addition, a person wants to part with the background feeling of anxiety for himself and his loved ones. That’s why the safety of the area, kindergartens, schools, universities, etc. is so important to us.

The third level of Maslow's pyramid is finding an internal social circle. This need is realized in the fact that a person wants to make friends, start a family, and join a team at work. That is, in a global sense, this is the need for everyday communication and receiving benefits from it.

The fourth level of Maslow's pyramid is the desire for social recognition and success. Typically, reaching this stage is characterized by the need for career growth or building your own business. It is on this that the basis for self-identification (who am I?) and self-actualization (what am I for?) is formed. This is where the first shoots of talent and creativity emerge.

The fifth level of Maslow's pyramid is expansion of cognition. Since a person has already achieved some success, it is quite possible that positive incentives will take him even further. He will not want to remain on his high “plateau”, but will try to take the next peak. Therefore, he will learn new things, receive additional information, and master missing skills.

The sixth level of Maslow's pyramid is contemplation and creation of beauty. It is practically expressed in the aesthetics of designing the space around oneself, traveling, visiting art galleries, museums, and theaters.

The seventh level is self-actualization. This need manifests itself in leadership, confirmation of one’s life mission, the need to transfer personal and professional experience and knowledge to others, mentoring, and awareness of the meaning of one’s life.

Maslow's pyramid: just a model?

You must remember that the theory of needs, expressed in a simple but clear diagram, is an ideal model. When this American psychologist developed his theory of hierarchies, he was guided by the experience of the most outstanding representatives of humanity - Albert Einstein, Richard Wagner, Abraham Lincoln, etc.

Human needs may not be satisfied so linearly. The very sequence of onset of certain stages may vary from one person to another. In addition, no one can measure the degree of satisfaction of a person who has reached a particular level. This means that when a person reaches a new level, the previous needs still do not disappear, but require their satisfaction.

Maslow's pyramid: application

Nevertheless, in sales management, namely in the field of employee motivation, the “decoding” of human needs, which was made by an American psychologist, can be very useful.

It forms the basis of the compound salary that should be applied to sales employees. A complex salary consists of 3 parts:

A fixed salary is about 30% of the total earnings of the salesperson who has fulfilled the plan. It is paid to the subordinate regardless of the result and must cover his basic needs, that is, those that Maslow calls physiological.

The second and third parts of the manager’s remuneration - a soft salary for fulfilling indicators in the amount of 10-20% and bonuses from transactions - at least 50%, are incentives that can “throw” a person immediately to the 4th level of satisfying the need for recognition and honor.

We talked about how sometimes people do not grow in a linear sequence of the needs model presented. However, the trick is that, most likely, a normal person will never move to the 5th level and beyond until he feels satisfaction in the first 4 steps. And here Maslow was generally right about the majority.

A sharp transition from the 1st level to the 5th or 6th, for example, without taking into account the previous ones, is available to rare non-standard individuals. But since you are hiring normal specialists, then provide them with an equally normal and understandable scheme of material motivation, described above.

After this, you, as an employer, are able to encourage the employee to move to higher levels. Develop forms of non-material motivation: training and professional development of employees, competitions. They will push the seller towards knowledge and even self-actualization.

Maslow's pyramid: what it gives

The pyramid of needs displays a hierarchy: instinctive needs, basic, sublime. We all experience these needs, and most often the basic ones are dominant, and higher-order needs are activated only when the basic ones are satisfied.

Maslow's pyramid is actively used by marketers: this is how they create new values - needs for the target audience. The pyramid also helps to build a system of motivating subordinates, taking the process of organizing work to a new level, without significant investment of money.

If we consider the ideal situation, then each employee should have a stable salary that ensures his security, additional bonuses, as well as the opportunity to create or participate in various social associations (corporate parties, sports competitions). Any kind of encouragement will indicate recognition, and individual tasks will contribute to the development of creative abilities.

We looked at Maslow's theory of needs and explained how you can apply it in practice to create the right motivational mechanisms in your company.

Every person has certain needs. It is impossible to exist without some of them. Experts have different views on needs. Human needs were first described and analyzed at the beginning of the twentieth century. Until now, each professional considers his own theory. In the article we will consider the basic needs of a person, we will analyze the classification of the famous American psychologist Abraham Harold Maslow.

The essence of the concept

Every person needs something. Everything depends on the living conditions, the individual’s activities, material objects, etc. This is the individual’s need. That is, this is the internal state of a person, because of which something is felt to be insufficient. The need manifests itself differently for everyone, depending on certain situations. Experts have noticed that the need never ends. If a person has satisfied one need, another immediately appears. This cycle happens throughout life. Each need is manifested by certain emotions. A person becomes angry and irritable when he cannot satisfy a need, that is, negatively disposed. Positive emotions only appear when everything has worked out.

If needs are not met, discomfort appears, which gradually develops into a negative state. That is why people try to create all the conditions for a comfortable and prosperous life. Every living organism needs something. This is not necessarily a person, but also plants, animals, insects and other living creatures. The concept and classification of needs are considered in diverse aspects. However, psychologists associate them with human needs in different areas and directions. This is the essence of every need.

Essence and classification

Classification of personal needs is a concept that is used in several meanings. First of all, these are objects of the external environment. They are the ones needed for a person’s normal life. The second area is the state of mind. A person needs communication, love and other feelings. If this is not the case, then a turning point occurs in the individual’s life, which greatly affects the psyche, which is why a depressive state appears.

There are also fundamental properties. That is, how a person relates to the world and the environment. The above needs include the following features:

The need is interconnected with the deficiency of a certain item or object. For example, when a person lacks food or clothing, he feels the need for it.
Needs are closely related to positive and negative emotions. It all depends on the situation. If a person has satisfied his need, for example, bought something or made something with his own hands, then he is happy and everything is fine with him. When the need is unfulfilled, then the mood deteriorates, depression appears and negative emotions appear.
The number of needs increases every year. If a newborn does not have many needs, then an adult has many more. A small child needs to be fed, played with or changed. He will already be satisfied with life. An adult has many more needs that require certain efforts and expenses.

The classification of human needs is a system by which the significance of needs is determined. Their features are directly related to a person’s motivation and purpose. This suggests that a need can only be satisfied when a person purposefully moves forward and remembers his motives.

Functions

There are three stages that determine a person's needs. First, a need is formed when a person has a certain attitude, feelings and emotions towards external stimuli. Then motivation is built, and the third stage is awareness of the need. At the same time, a person experiences negative or positive emotions, specific thoughts, goals and plans appear.

There are two main functions:

Signal. When a need arises, a person feels a shortage, thoughts change, and the state becomes more restless until the need is satisfied.
A driving need. The individual begins to act in his own interests. Activity and work activity manifest themselves, and a person’s behavior changes radically.

In fact, the classification of human needs closely intersects with functions. However, only a few species have been described. Many psychologists count more than 130 human needs. This is a lot, but people still strive to live better and satisfy their needs with both material and spiritual benefits. The same can be said about the needs of society.

Types of needs

Based on the above features, experts identify certain needs. Professionals usually use 6 types in their work - these are the main classifications of needs. The first of these includes the field of activity. That is, a person needs work or study. For example, a schoolchild or small child needs knowledge, and an adult needs work. However, every person has a need for both communication and relaxation. This applies not only to adults, but also to children.

The second classification is the object of needs. This can be the material side, biological, spiritual, aesthetic, etc. That is, it says that a person needs work to satisfy financial needs or rest. The third classification is very important. It determines the significance of needs and is divided into two types. In the first place is the basic need, without which the person cannot live, and in the second place is the dominant (secondary). The fourth classification of needs (temporary stability) is also divided into two types. The first need is situational, and the second is stable.

Functional role is the fifth classification, which is divided into two types:

Natural, when transmitted at the genetic level. This is the need for food, water, oxygen. Natural need comes first and is considered dominant.
Cultural. A person needs objects, various phenomena that are not inherited. These are beauty, purity, knowledge, religion, science, sports and much more.

The last, sixth classification of needs is by subject. This can be communication or work with a group of people, society, team or with an individual. The types of needs and their classification show that these are the facts that are taken into account in order to understand the essence of the needs of a person or society. In general, we can conclude that the absence of a good is caused by certain personal emotions. They can be both negative and positive. The needs of society can be characterized similarly.

Maslow's classification of needs

American psychologist Abraham Harold Maslow put forward his theory. He described human needs in some order. However, according to his theory, needs should be considered from the lower class to the higher. People must first satisfy those that are natural and original, gradually moving on to higher, spiritual ones.

Maslow's classification of needs includes the following basic components of need:

The need for self-realization.
Need for recognition.
In love and belonging.
Need for security.
Physiological needs.

Based on the above components, a pyramid was formed with the main human needs. In the list presented above, it looks like this: the bottom item is the foundation on which each subsequent component is based. The upper ones are the peak. The pyramid has become known throughout the world and is successfully used by students and teachers.

What are the basic needs?

As it turned out, Maslow’s classification of needs is divided into 5 components. The most interesting thing is that they are considered in reverse order. The first very important classification is physiological need. The life of not only a person, but also of any living creature depends on it. Physiological needs include sleep, food, sex and breathing.

The second component considers the fourth classification. This is a need for security. A person must be sure that he lives in a protected society where law and justice rule. He should not fear for his life. An individual needs to know that in case of an emergency, police officers, firefighters, doctors, and so on will come to his aid. This can also include a feeling of stability and confidence in the future.

The need for love and belonging is the third important component in human life. All people want to be loved and respected. Therefore, each individual needs to communicate with the team, friends, and relatives. At the same time, a person feels needed by someone. When the need for love is satisfied, then the individual needs prestige and recognition. This is the second step. A person wants others to see his talents. Only when people recognize a gifted individual does he become self-confident and successful.

And the first component is the need for self-realization. This is a spiritual need. Every person tries to be creative, goes to the museum, theater, circus. That is, he strives to develop spiritually. American psychologist Maslow arranged five main components in a hierarchical sequence. However, many scientists did not agree with this theory. After all, the need for self-realization cannot come first, and physiological needs come last. However, the psychologist was able to prove the opposite, since the pyramid is read from the bottom.

The meaning of Maslow's pyramid

The classification of needs in psychology has been considered by many scientists. They concluded that Maslow's pyramid is worth attention and respect if studied from the lowest level. After all, the most important thing in a person’s life is food, drink, and a roof over one’s head. Therefore, physiological need takes first place. Now this unique pyramid of needs is studied in universities in subjects such as psychology, economics and even marketing. Not only the student, but every person must understand the need in order of importance.

The point of the pyramid is that in order to satisfy a secondary need, the dominant one must be realized. Psychologists recommend that both parents and teachers engage children so that they have a desire to satisfy their needs. However, not all experts agree with this, since A. Maslow was not looking for individuality. He created a hierarchical level on his research, which is very different from the theory of other specialists. You can read about this below.

What does an unfulfilled need lead to?

Not every person manages to satisfy their needs the way they want. Therefore, there are situations when the need remains unfulfilled. What happens in this case? If a person has not been able to satisfy his need for self-realization, he becomes insecure and complex. In the future, such people do not have common topics of conversation with others. If a person has not satisfied the need for security and does not have stability, then psychological trauma appears. Subsequently, fear, nervousness, and stress appear.

When a person does not have friends and loved ones on whom he can rely, it means that the need for love is unsatisfied. Such people become withdrawn and lonely. They quickly fade and life becomes boring and uninteresting for them.

As it turned out, the physiological need is the most important. If it is not realized, then the person begins not only to get sick, but also to “fade away” before our eyes. The consequence can be disastrous. Any unfulfilled need negatively affects both health and the human psyche. This is why psychologists believe that it is necessary to satisfy your needs as soon as they arise.

Criticism of needs by psychologists

Many psychologists disagree with Maslow's pyramid only for the reason that they do not see the logic. The scientist has developed the needs in such a way that they only come one after another. Before you can satisfy the second need, you must first satisfy the first. In fact, psychologists only agree on physiological needs. After all, if a person is hungry, he will not want to realize anything else. However, why is the need for security in second place, and not for love? After all, every person is individual. If one needs stability, the other may need love.

At the same time, psychologists agree with Maslow that a person is dependent on needs. A person exceeds his needs, so the process of developing needs often becomes more complex. We can give Abraham Harold Maslow credit. He never insisted on his theory, but gave people a choice. He agreed with those psychologists who put forward their theories of classification of needs. Maslow agrees that any need depends on certain conditions in which a person finds himself. It seems that the theory of the English scientist gave a detailed answer to teachers or leaders.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that the theory of the famous American psychologist A. Maslow caused both bewilderment of other specialists and many questions. After all, his theory and hierarchy are not accessible and understandable to everyone. The psychologist analyzed human needs and created five steps that talked about people's needs. However, he did not take into account the individuality of the individual and therefore the hierarchy turned out to be the same for all people. Psychologists say that this cannot happen, since each individual has his own desires. If a person is overly creative and cannot imagine his life without creativity, then this is the most important thing for the individual. For such people, love and other needs become secondary.

Research by specialists shows that the same need both increases and decreases performance indicators. It all depends on the specific situation, the individual’s individuality.

It is often mentioned in various textbooks on psychology and management. There is an opinion that Maslow did not create this pyramid. He only studied the biographies of the most successful people on the planet. Based on his observations, he was able to derive interesting patterns of human needs. We will return to this theory later. Now let’s take a closer look at what Maslow’s pyramid of human needs is. First, let's present a description of all its levels.

Physiological needs

They are the foundation of the pyramid in question. These needs are inherent in all living organisms on Earth. Their satisfaction is so necessary for a person for the reason that his chances of survival depend on it. For example, people cannot do without food, water, and oxygen. It is not surprising that many call such needs instinctive. However, if they are not satisfied, then there is no desire for higher goals. This is reflected in Maslow's pyramid. Physiological needs force people to work and spend the money they receive on food, clothing, and home improvement. It is unlikely that a person experiencing severe thirst or hunger will spend his last money on a theater ticket.

Desire for safety

Let's consider what Maslow's pyramid of needs includes at the second level. It's about the desire to be protected and achieve stability. An example is babies. Babies, whose awareness is still at a minimum level, after satisfying thirst and hunger, instinctively seek protection. And in most cases, only the warmth of the mother can calm them down. We can observe the same thing with adults. If a person does not have mental abnormalities, the desire to protect himself manifests itself in a rather mild form - he takes out insurance, installs reliable locks, etc.

Need for love, belonging

Maslow's pyramid also includes a third stage. It contains social needs, which manifest themselves in the fact that people strive to join a group and make friends. They want to be loved and, of course, to love. The social environment provides an excellent opportunity to feel important and benefit others. That is why most people strive to establish relationships with acquaintances, to find a partner not only to start a family, but also to do business, and even to discuss issues that interest them.

Desire to be recognized

If the previous need is fully satisfied, the impact of others on the individual is minimized. The desire for respect, prestige, and recognition of one’s own capabilities and talents comes to the fore. An individual becomes confident in his abilities only after he receives recognition from loved ones, colleagues, etc.

The need for spiritual enrichment

Has the person won the love and respect of others? In this case, he is more likely to realize his potential. Maslow's pyramid ends with the need for spiritual saturation. People at this stage strive for creativity, visiting museums, exhibitions, and theaters. Another characteristic feature of an individual who has managed to rise to the fifth stage is the search for the meaning of life, the struggle for justice and knowledge of the world around him. Maslow considered such needs to be the highest. Now let's look at two more alternative levels.

Stage six

People are naturally curious. Children begin to become familiar with the world around them, crawling anywhere and everywhere. They are especially interested in things hidden away. A. Maslow described the needs for understanding and knowledge as follows:

A phenomenon called curiosity is also observed in some higher animals. For example, monkeys, when they discover unfamiliar objects, try to take them apart into parts, stick their fingers into all possible crevices, etc. In such a situation, exploratory behavior is observed that is not associated with fear, the desire for comfort, or physiological needs.

In the history of mankind there are many examples of a selfless search for truth, which causes misunderstanding of society, persecution and even a threat to life.

All psychologically normal individuals strive for the inexplicable, mysterious, enigmatic. At the same time, concepts and phenomena that can be fully explained cause boredom.

The needs for knowledge and understanding in children are expressed more clearly than in adults. Moreover, such a desire does not develop as a result of external influence. It is a natural consequence of growing up.

When we begin to talk about cognition, we often forget that this process is not an absolute synonym for learning. As a result of incorrect interpretation, it is assessed only from the point of view of the result. At the same time, one forgets about those feelings that arise in the process of comprehension and insight. But a person is truly happy when he manages to touch the highest truth, even for a moment.

Stage seven. Aesthetic needs

Some individuals really need to receive aesthetic pleasure. If they find themselves surrounded by ugly things or people, they literally become ill. The most effective cure for all ailments for them is beauty. Currently, this need has been little studied. Here's what you can say about it:

Some people have strong creative potential. In this case, creative needs are dominant. Often they become even more important than physiological ones.

Individuals with heightened aesthetic needs are ready not only to endure torment and hardship, but also to die for the sake of their ideals and values.

Basic postulates of the theory

Each step of the pyramid represents one level of needs. More pronounced needs are lower, and less pronounced needs are higher. Without satisfying (at least partially) basic needs, it is extremely difficult to move up the pyramid. Above we examined all the steps in detail. To list them briefly, they are physiology, safety, sociality, recognition and cognition. Alternative levels are curiosity and aesthetics. They play no less a role in motivating an individual’s behavior.

It has already been mentioned that physiology is the basic step of the pyramid. According to Maslow, a person should ideally reach his or her highest level by about age fifty.

So who is the author?

Maslow's pyramid of needs, as is commonly believed, was built by the scientist himself. However, it is not. Abraham Maslow devoted his entire adult life to considering the issues of human self-realization. But the pyramid in the form familiar to us was not compiled by him. The hierarchy of needs in the form of a diagram was first published in the publication of the Pillar textbook. This happened in 1975, and Maslow passed away five years earlier.

Do satisfied needs motivate?

Maslow's pyramid is undoubtedly built on the basis of logical conclusions. However, modern researchers have come to the following conclusion: an urgent need is one that is not yet satisfied at the moment. Agree that well-fed people are unlikely to fight for an extra piece of bread. And a person who does not strive to communicate will avoid annoying interlocutors. Someone who does not need prestige will not bother to change his behavior and habits in order to satisfy a need that he, in fact, does not have.

What in practice?

According to most modern psychologists, no matter how structured Maslow’s pyramid of needs is (the figure is presented in the article), it is not easy for it to find practical application. Focusing on this scheme, one can slide into extremely inappropriate generalizations. If we ignore the statistics and look at each individual individually, the question arises as to whether we are so hopeless, for example, in conditions of prolonged malnutrition. And is it so unbearable for someone who is not recognized by others? Maslow's pyramid does not take into account the fact that many people achieve what they want because of unmet needs. What are unrequited feelings worth?

If Maslow's pyramid of needs is taken as the basis of reasoning, then it becomes completely incomprehensible how emaciated prisoners of concentration camps could successfully organize underground anti-fascist activities. Or how, for example, some brilliant writers and artists created in absolute poverty.

There is evidence that Maslow’s pyramid was criticized by the psychologist himself. Studying his later works, “Towards a Psychology of Being” (1962) and “The Farthest Limits of Human Nature” (1971, published posthumously), one can come across the author’s own thoughts that he advocates a serious revision of the concept of motivation and personality.

Opponents of the theory

Maslow’s pyramid of needs (see photo in the article) is often criticized by specialists at various levels. First of all, the expediency of the very idea of hierarchy and the impossibility of individuals to satisfy all their needs once and forever are questioned. The most harsh criticism of Maslow's pyramid of needs (the pictures below reflect its essence) is as follows: “According to this psychologist, people are animals who want something all the time.”

Another reproach is the inability to apply this concept of the distribution of human needs in business and marketing. However, one can object here by recalling exactly why Abraham Maslow thought about the concept of motivation and personality. The pyramid of needs appeared because the author sought to find answers to questions that were not covered either in behaviorism or Freudianism. The theory developed by a scientist is not a technique, but rather a philosophy.

Advantages and disadvantages

Maslow's pyramid (examples of the five basic levels were given above) is not a simple classification of needs. It is assumed that human needs are subject to a certain hierarchy. Thus, basic and more elevated needs are distinguished. We pass through all levels, and the following law is observed: basic desires dominate. Needs of a higher level come to the surface and become motives for behavior in a situation when all lower ones are already satisfied.

It is important to take into account one feature. Thus, the forms of manifestation of needs in different people can differ radically. This also applies to the desire to be recognized and loved. For example, it is quite enough for one person to establish trusting relationships with children, while another will certainly strive to become an influential political figure. A similar range within a single need can be observed at any level of the pyramid. In order to avoid disappointment in life, you should listen to your desires, interpret them properly and try to satisfy them in the most adequate way.

Maslow's famous theory. Pyramid of needs in practice

The aspirations of individuals do not undergo transformation. The only thing that may be different is the ways to satisfy them. How to apply a scientist's theory in real life? Having considered the levels of Maslow's pyramid, a personnel manager can build the most effective motivational ladder in a particular situation. When it comes to finding a job, it’s important to first outline your own goals. Answer yourself the question of what you want to get from a certain position. What factors are important? By understanding your personal motives, you can avoid mistakes in choosing a company or even a profession.

Marketing

Maslow's pyramid of needs (its levels were briefly discussed above) is often used in this professional field. Some experienced marketers claim that, guided by the presented hierarchy of human aspirations, it is possible to identify what level of needs is served by a particular company. It is no secret that the activities of a particular company are directly dependent on the dynamics and state of the needs markets being satisfied. For example, when the economy is in crisis, consumer needs quickly fall to the lower levels of the well-known pyramid.

As for food needs, they are eternal. The same can be said about medical services. But the desire to follow fashion trends fades as income declines. The basic principle of strategic planning for any type of activity is the need to keep abreast of market needs. If there is a tendency for one of the needs to develop, it makes sense to tune in to service it.

As John Sheildrek noted, the levels of Maslow's pyramid of needs are only relevant to humans. It makes no sense to apply the postulates of this theory to large companies, since the behavior of organizations is particularly complex, and to analyze it one should be armed with other theoretical tools.

Planning

Maslow's conclusions about human needs, according to experts, can be useful in the process of drawing up long-term forecasts or plans. Taking into account the degree of satisfaction of the needs of different social groups, it is easier to predict which desires will be dominant in the long term (in a year, five or even more years). Based on the data obtained, specific services and products can be effectively developed and brought to market.

Theory of needs. Modern version

Are you convinced that children are the meaning of life? If the answer is yes, then you will undoubtedly be close to the idea of the existence of an alternative pyramid of needs. In the course of scientific research, psychologists have found that caring for children, caring for them, teaching, feeding, and the like is a need located in the depths of the subconscious. Its satisfaction is considered a natural component of the human essence.

American psychologists have proposed their own version of the pyramid in question. As the researchers noted, although realization is undoubtedly a significant motive, it cannot be considered leading from the point of view of evolutionary theory. The vast majority of the actions listed by Maslow in his theory reflect basic biological needs based on obtaining status in order to attract a partner and subsequently continue one's own race. As one of the participants in the experiments, Douglas Kenrick, noted, among the fundamental aspirations of people, the main one is the desire to have offspring. That is why raising children can be considered the basic level in the modern pyramid of needs.

Conclusion

Aspirations largely determine people's behavior. To understand human nature, it is important to consider the needs of different levels. In this case, it will be possible to find an explanation for most people’s actions.

Each person has his own needs, some of them are similar, for example, the need for food, air and water, and some are different. Abraham Maslow spoke about the needs in the most detailed and accessible way. An American psychologist proposed a theory according to which all human needs can be divided into separate groups located in a certain hierarchy. To move to the next level, a person must satisfy the needs of the lower level. By the way, there is a version that Maslow’s hierarchical theory of needs appeared thanks to the psychologist’s study of the biographies of successful people and the found pattern of existing desires.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs

The levels of human needs are presented in the form of a pyramid. Needs constantly replace each other, taking into account their significance, so if a person has not satisfied the primitive needs, then he will not be able to move on to other stages.

Types of needs according to Maslow:

Level No. 1– physiological needs. The base of the pyramid, which includes the needs that all people have. You need to satisfy them in order to live, but it is impossible to do this once and for the rest of your life. This category includes the need for food, water, shelter, etc. To satisfy these needs, a person takes active action and begins to work.
Level No. 2- need for security. People strive for stability and security. Satisfying this need according to Maslow’s hierarchy, a person wants to create comfortable conditions for himself and his loved ones, where he can hide from adversity and problems.
Level No. 3- need for love. People need to feel important to others, which manifests itself both on a social and spiritual level. That is why a person strives to start a family, find friends, become part of a team at work and join other groups of people.
Level No. 4- need for respect. People who have reached this period have the desire to become successful, achieve certain goals and gain status and prestige. To do this, a person learns, develops, works on himself, makes important contacts, etc. The need for self-esteem implies the formation of personality.
Level #5– cognitive abilities. People strive to absorb information, learn, and then apply the acquired knowledge in practice. For this purpose, a person also reads, watches educational programs, and, in general, receives information in all existing ways. This is one of the basic human needs according to Maslow, since it allows you to quickly cope with different situations and adapt to life circumstances.
Level #6– aesthetic needs. This includes a person’s aspirations for beauty and harmony. People use their imagination, artistic taste and desire to make the world more beautiful. There are people whose aesthetic needs are more important than physiological ones, so for the sake of ideals they can endure a lot and even die.
Level #7– the need for self-actualization. The highest level that not all people reach. This need is based on the desire to achieve set goals, develop spiritually, and also on the use of one’s abilities and talents. A person lives with the motto - “only forward.”

Maslow's theory of human needs has its shortcomings. Many modern scientists argue that such a hierarchy cannot be taken as truth, since there are many shortcomings. For example, a person who decides to fast is contrary to the concept. In addition, there is no tool that would allow us to measure the strength of each person's needs.

Prestigious human needs

The presence of prestigious needs in a person indicates his desire for a better life and success. This article talks about what is included in the category of prestigious needs, and also provides examples for a better understanding of the topic.

Basic human needs

All people have needs that may change throughout life. They are divided into different groups, united by characteristics. This article talks about basic human needs and gives their brief characteristics.

Increased sensitivity

Psychological problems

(“pyramid” by A. Maslow) – a theory of motivation, according to which all the needs of an individual can be placed in a “pyramid” as follows: at the base of the “pyramid” are the most important human needs, without which the biological existence of a person is impossible, at the higher levels of the “pyramid” are the needs that characterize a person as a social being and as an individual.

brief information on the term

A. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is one of the most famous theories of the content of motivation and is based on the results of numerous psychological studies. Needs are considered as the conscious absence of something that causes an urge to action.

Maslow's theory of needs

Needs are divided into primary, characterizing a person as a biological organism, and cultural or higher, characterizing a person as a social being and personality.

According to A. Maslow’s theory, the first level needs are physiological(the need for food, rest, warmth, etc.) - are innate and inherent in all people. And the needs of higher levels of the “pyramid” can appear only if a certain level of satisfaction of the needs of the previous level is achieved.

So, need for security, protection and order arises if a person’s physiological needs are satisfied by at least 85%.

Social needs

(in friendship, respect, approval, recognition, love) arise when the need for security is satisfied by 70%.

Social needs must also be satisfied by 70% in order for a person to develop need for self-esteem, which implies the achievement of a certain social status and freedom of action.

When the need for self-esteem is satisfied by 60%, the person begins to experience need for self-actualization, self-expression, realization of one’s creative potential. This last need is the most difficult to satisfy, and even when a person reaches a 40% level of self-actualization, he feels happy, but only 1–4% of the Earth’s population reaches this level.

From the point of view of personnel management and the implementation of a labor motivation system, it is extremely important to achieve the necessary level of satisfaction of physiological, social and safety needs, so that the employee has a need for self-expression, as well as to create conditions for its implementation at a given enterprise.

Motivation and reward
A selection of materials on motivation and material incentives for staff work.

Gromova D. Personnel motivation in the conditions of crisis management and restructuring
Approaches to personnel motivation at OJSC “Volgograd Tractor Plant” at various stages (anti-crisis management, restructuring, implementation of reforms) of the activity of this enterprise are considered.

Volgina O.N. Features and mechanisms of labor motivation in financial and credit organizations
Both existing principles and new approaches to strengthening labor motivation and the most effective use of the potential of employees of financial and credit organizations (using the example of a commercial bank) are reviewed and analyzed.

See also:

Bolshakov A.S.,Radin A.A. Express course on creating and organizing the activities of a company. – St. Petersburg: Peter, 2000. – 496 p. (Series “The Science of Making Money”)
Vikhansky O.S., Naumov A.I. Management: textbook. – 3rd ed. – M.: Gardarika, 2002. – 528 p.
Maslow A.G. Motivation and personality / trans. from English – 3rd ed. – St. Petersburg. : Peter., 2003. – 392 p.
Organizational personnel management. Workshop: textbook. manual / ed. Doctor of Economics, prof. AND I. Kibanova. – M.: INFRA-M, 1999. – 296 p.

Basic human needs

All living beings have basic needs, but humans still occupy a leading position. People satisfy their needs every day, starting with the basics: eating, drinking, breathing, etc. There are also secondary needs, for example, self-realization, the desire to gain respect, the desire for knowledge and many others.

Basic types of needs

There are many different classifications and theories that allow you to understand this topic. We will try to highlight the most significant of them.

10 basic human needs:

Physiological. Satisfying these needs is necessary for survival. This group includes the desire to eat, drink, sleep, breathe, have sex, etc.
The need for physical activity. When a person is inactive and does not move, he does not live, but simply exists.
The need for relationships. It is important for people to communicate with others, from whom they receive warmth, love and other positive emotions.
Need for respect. To realize this basic human need, many strive to achieve certain heights in life in order to receive approval from others.
Emotional. It is impossible to imagine a person who would not experience emotions. It is worth highlighting the desire to hear praise, feel security, love, etc.
Intelligent. Since childhood, people have been trying to satisfy their curiosity and learn new information.
To do this, they read, study and watch educational programs.
Aesthetic. Many people have an instinctive need for beauty, so people try to take care of themselves in order to look neat and tidy.
Creative.
Human needs according to Maslow

Often a person is looking for an area where he can express his nature. This could be poetry, music, dance and other areas.
Need for growth. People do not want to put up with the situation, so they develop to reach a higher stage in life.
The need to be a member of society. A person strives to be a member of different groups, for example, family and team at work.

Increased sensitivity

Hypersensitivity is a feature of the nervous system in which a person can react individually to irritation from the external or internal environment. In some cases, this is a consequence of illness, stress and other factors.

Psychological problems

All people have psychological problems, but not everyone can cope with them. Their danger lies in the fact that they affect other areas of a person’s life - family, work, society. Often internal conflict leads to the appearance of various diseases.

Health Psychology

Health psychology is a science that studies how a person’s character, his behavior and relationship with society affect his physical health. By changing your habits, outlook on life, and nutrition, you can become physically healthier and improve further.

Turquoise color in psychology

It's no secret that each color has a different effect on a person. Today we will not talk about the most popular shade, but, perhaps, one of the most beautiful and unusual. So, let's try to find out what the color turquoise means in psychology and what can be said about a person whose favorite shade is this particular one.

Maslow's pyramid of needs

You weren't promoted at work.

Maslow's pyramid of needs and its application in life

Of course, this upset you, but what made you even worse was your significant other who left you. Besides, you were late for the bus and almost turned gray while walking along a creepy dark alley. But all your troubles turned out to be insignificant compared to an empty refrigerator when you really wanted to eat. Indeed, our needs replace each other in importance. And higher needs fade until the basic ones are satisfied. This fact suggests that all our desires, or rather needs, are in a clear hierarchical sequence. You can understand which needs can deprive us of our strength, and which ones we can do just fine without using Abraham Maslow’s pyramid of needs.

Abraham Maslow - pyramid of needs

American psychologist Abraham Maslow spent his entire life trying to prove the fact that people are constantly in the process of self-actualization. By this term he meant a person’s desire for self-development and constant realization of internal potential. Self-actualization is the highest level among the needs that make up several levels in the human psyche. This hierarchy, described by Maslow in the 50s of the 20th century, was called the “Theory of Motivation” or, as it is commonly called now, the pyramid of needs. Maslow's theory, that is, the pyramid of needs has a step structure. The American psychologist himself explained this increase in needs by saying that a person will not be able to experience higher-level needs until he satisfies the basic and more primitive ones. Let's take a closer look at what this hierarchy is.

Classification of needs

Maslow's pyramid of human needs is based on the thesis that human behavior is determined by basic needs, which can be arranged in the form of steps, depending on the significance and urgency of their satisfaction for a person. Let's look at them starting from the lowest.

First stage - physiological needs. A person who is not rich and does not have many of the benefits of civilization, according to Maslow’s theory, will experience needs, first of all, of a physiological nature. Agree, if you choose between lack of respect and hunger, first of all you will satisfy your hunger. Physiological needs also include thirst, the need for sleep and oxygen, and sexual desire.
Second stage - need for security. Infants are a good example here. Not yet having a psyche, babies at the biological level, after satisfying thirst and hunger, seek protection and calm down only by feeling the warmth of their mother nearby. The same thing happens in adulthood. In healthy people, the need for security manifests itself in a mild form. For example, in the desire to have social guarantees in employment.
Third stage - the need for love and belonging. In Maslow's pyramid of human needs, after satisfying physiological and security needs, a person craves the warmth of friendships, family or love relationships. The goal of finding a social group that will satisfy these needs is the most important and significant task for a person. The desire to overcome the feeling of loneliness, according to Maslow, became a prerequisite for the emergence of all kinds of interest groups and clubs. Loneliness contributes to social maladaptation of a person and the occurrence of serious mental illnesses.
Fourth stage - need for recognition. Every person needs society to evaluate his or her merits. Maslow's need for recognition is divided into a person's desire for achievement and reputation. It is by achieving something in life and earning recognition and reputation that a person becomes confident in himself and his abilities. Failure to satisfy this need, as a rule, leads to weakness, depression, and a feeling of despondency, which can lead to irreversible consequences.
Fifth stage – the need for self-actualization (aka self-realization). According to Maslow's theory, this need is the highest in the hierarchy. A person feels the need for improvement only after satisfying all lower-level needs.

These five points contain the entire pyramid, that is, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. As the creator of the theory of motivation himself noted, these stages are not as stable as they seem. There are people whose order of needs is an exception to the rules of the pyramid. For example, for some, self-affirmation is more important than love and relationships. Look at careerists and you will see how common such a case is.

Maslow's pyramid of needs has been challenged by many scientists. And the point here is not only the instability of the hierarchy created by the psychologist. In unusual situations, for example during war or in extreme poverty, people managed to create great works and perform heroic deeds. Thus, Maslow tried to prove that even without satisfying their basic and fundamental needs, people realized their potential. The American psychologist responded to all such attacks with only one phrase: “Ask these people if they were happy.”

Mechanism of criminal behavior

We all know that people are not born criminals, but become criminals under the influence of a number of reasons. We will not list them, since there are deeper factors than the reasons why a person committed an offense - this is the mechanism of criminal behavior itself.

Human material needs

Modern psychology has clearly divided all human needs into certain categories.

However, if you think about this issue, then such distinctions are very conditional, and often the same person, satisfying the same need, pursues different goals.

Maslow's pyramid of needs - from physiology to self-realization

15.1. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow called neurosis and psychological disorder deficiency diseases; he believed that such diseases were caused by certain basic needs not being met, just as the lack of certain vitamins could cause disease. The best example of basic needs are physiological needs such as hunger, thirst and sleep. Unmet needs sooner or later lead to illness, and the only treatment may be the complete satisfaction of these needs.

Basic needs are common to every individual. The extent and manner in which needs are met varies across societies, but basic needs (such as hunger) can never be ignored.

Physiological needs include the need for food, drink, oxygen, sleep and sex. Most people in our culture can easily satisfy these needs. However, if biological needs are not adequately satisfied, then the individual devotes himself almost entirely to searching for opportunities to satisfy them. Maslow argues that a person literally dying of thirst does not inquire whether other needs are being satisfied. But once that particular overwhelming need is satisfied, it becomes less important, allowing other needs to rise to the surface.

Some psychological needs also need to be met to maintain health. Maslow’s basic psychological needs include: the need for security, protection, the need for stability; the need for love and a sense of belonging, as well as the need for self-esteem and appreciation. Additionally, each individual has growth needs: the need to develop their potential capabilities and abilities, as well as the need for self-actualization.

Living at a higher level of needs means greater biological efficiency, longer life span, less disease, better sleep, appetite, etc. (Maslow, 1948).

Maslow's security needs include the individual's need to live in a relatively stable, safe and predictable environment. We have a basic need for organization, order and certain restrictions. People need freedom from fear, anxiety and chaos. As with biological needs, most people take for granted a smooth, stable, protective society. In modern Western society, the need for security manifests itself only under critical circumstances: natural disasters, epidemics and uprisings.

All people have a need for belonging and love. We strive to form close relationships with others and to feel part of groups, such as family and peers. These needs, Maslow wrote, are increasingly going unmet in our fluid, individualistic society. These unmet needs usually underlie psychological disorders.

Maslow (1987) described two types of esteem needs. The first is the desire to feel competence and personal achievement. The second is the need to be respected by others, which includes social status, fame, appreciation and recognition. If these needs are not met, the person begins to feel humiliated, weak or helpless. According to Maslow, esteem needs were noted in Adler's work and were somewhat neglected by Freud. Normal self-esteem consists of personal aspirations that lead to achievements, as well as earned respect from others.

Even if all these needs are met, Maslow argues, a person still feels frustrated and somewhat incomplete until he experiences self-actualization—the use of his abilities and talents.

The forms in which this need manifests itself are very different depending on what the person is like. Each of us has our own motivations and abilities. For some, it is very important to become a good parent, while others strive to achieve success in sports, become an artist or an inventor.

According to Maslow, the most basic needs must be satisfied before less significant needs are satisfied. For example, both physiological and love needs are important for humans; however, when a person is hungry, the need for love (or any other higher need) does not become the main factor in behavior. Conversely, Maslow believes, even when we have been disappointed in love, we still need food (romance novels claim the opposite).

“It is absolutely true that man lives by bread alone - when there is no bread. But what happens to a person's desires when there is plenty of bread and when his stomach is constantly full? Other (and higher) needs instantly appear, and it is these needs, and not physiological hunger, that control the body. And when these needs are satisfied, new (even higher) needs appear again, and so on.” (Maslow, 1987, p. 17)

“Man’s higher nature rests on his lower nature, needing it as a foundation, and collapses without this foundation. Thus, the majority of humanity cannot manifest its higher nature without satisfying the basic lower nature” (Maslow, 1968, p. 173).

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HIERARCHICAL MODEL OF CLASSIFICATION OF MOTIVES A.

The ideologist and author of one of the popular modern classifications of needs is A. Maslow, who believed that although a person is biologically determined and has innate potentialities that are revealed in the processes of maturation, he, however, is fundamentally different from all other animals.

______ 18.3. Hierarchical model of classification of motives by A. Maslow

distinguished by their ability and even the need for value-based self-actualization.

A. Maslow put forward the idea that until a need is satisfied, it activates and influences activity. At the same time, activity is not so much pushed from within as attracted from without by the possibility of satisfaction. The basis of A. Maslow’s position is the principle of relative priority of actualization of motives, which states that before the needs of higher levels are activated and begin to determine behavior, the needs of the lower level must be satisfied.

The classification of motives according to A. Maslow is as follows.

Physiological needs: hunger, thirst, sexuality, etc. - to the extent that they have a homeostatic and organismic nature.

Security Needs: safety and protection from pain, fear, anger, unsettlement.

Social connection needs: needs for love, tenderness, social connection™, identification.

Self-esteem needs: needs for recognition and approval.

Self-actualization needs: realization of one's own capabilities and abilities; the need for understanding and comprehension.

The hierarchy begins with physiological needs. Next come the needs for security and the need for social connections, then the needs for self-esteem and, finally, self-actualization. Self-actualization can become a motive for behavior only when all other needs are satisfied. In case of conflict between the needs of different hierarchical levels, the lowest one wins.

A. Maslow called the needs of lower levels deficient, and the needs of higher levels - growth needs.

A. Maslow pointed out that there are differences between lower and higher needs, for example:

1. Higher needs are genetically later.

2. The higher the level of need, the less important it is for
survival, the further its satisfaction can be pushed back
tion and the easier it is to free yourself from it for a while.

3. Living at a higher level of needs means more
higher biological efficiency, longer lasting
vitality, good sleep, appetite, less illness, etc.

Chapter 18.

Maslow's pyramid of needs: hierarchy, examples

Classifications of needs and motives

4. Higher needs are subjectively perceived as less
her daily needs.

5. Satisfaction of higher needs often has its own
the result is the fulfillment of desires and personal development, more often
brings happiness, joy and enriches inner peace.

From the point of view of developmental psychology, the ascending hierarchy of motives corresponds to a certain sequence of their manifestation V ontogeny (Fig. 18.1).

Self-actualization [Self-esteem

Personal development

Put 18 1. Hierarchy of groups of motives regarding the priority of satisfying needs according to A. Maslow

Abraham Maslow recognized that people have many different needs, but also believed that these needs can be divided into five main categories:

Physiological needs that are necessary for survival - the needs for food, water, shelter, rest and sexual needs.

Needs for security and confidence in the future- needs for protection from physical and psychological dangers from the outside world and confidence that physiological needs will be satisfied in the future. A manifestation of the need for security in the future is the purchase of an insurance policy or the search for a secure job with good prospects for retirement.

Social needs, sometimes called affiliation needs - a feeling of belonging to something or someone, a feeling of being accepted by others, feelings of social interaction, affection and support.

Esteem needs- needs for self-esteem, personal achievements, competence, respect from others, recognition.

Self-expression needs- the need to realize one’s potential and grow as an individual.

Maslow's system of needs is hierarchical, that is, the needs of lower levels require satisfaction and, therefore, influence human behavior before the needs of higher levels begin to affect motivation. At any given moment in time, a person will strive to satisfy the need that is more important or strong for him. Before the next level need becomes the most powerful determinant of human behavior, the lower level need must be satisfied.

Since with the development of a person as an individual his potential capabilities expand, the need for self-expression can never be fully satisfied. Therefore, the process of motivating behavior through needs is endless.

For example, a person experiencing hunger will first seek to find food and only after eating will try to build a shelter. Living in comfort and security, a person will first be motivated to activity by the need for social contacts, and then will begin to actively strive for respect from others. Only after a person feels inner satisfaction and respect from others will his most important needs begin to grow in accordance with his potential. But if the situation changes radically, then the most important needs can change dramatically.

In order for the next, higher level of the hierarchy of needs to begin to influence human behavior, it is not necessary to satisfy the need of the lower level completely. Thus, hierarchical levels are not discrete steps. For example, people usually begin to seek their place in a certain community long before their security needs are met or their physiological needs are fully satisfied. This point can be well illustrated by the great importance which rituals and social intercourse have for the primitive cultures of the Amazon jungle and parts of Africa, although famine and danger are always present there.

Application of Maslow's theory

In order to motivate a particular person, a leader must enable him to satisfy his most important needs through a course of action that contributes to the achievement of the goals of the entire organization. Not so long ago, managers could motivate subordinates almost exclusively only with economic incentives, since people's behavior was determined mainly by their needs at lower levels. Today, even people at the lowest levels of an organization's hierarchy are relatively high up in Maslow's hierarchy.

A leader must carefully observe his subordinates to decide what active needs drive them. Since these needs change over time, you cannot expect that motivation that works once will work effectively all the time.

Managers need to know what an employee's preferences are in the reward system, and what makes some of your subordinates refuse to work with others. Different people like different things, and if a leader wants to effectively motivate his subordinates, he must be sensitive to their individual needs.

The main criticism of Maslow's theory was that it failed to take into account individual differences in people.

For example, many people in modern Russia were so shocked by the “default” of 1998 that after that (although they managed to “get back on their feet”) their dominant need for security remains.

Methods for satisfying higher level needs

Social needs

Give employees jobs that allow them to communicate

Create a team spirit in the workplace

Hold periodic meetings with subordinates

Do not try to destroy informal groups that have arisen if they do not cause real damage to the organization.

Create conditions for social activity of members of the organization outside its framework

Esteem needs

Offer your subordinates more meaningful work

Provide them with positive feedback on the results achieved

Appreciate and reward the results achieved by subordinates

Involve subordinates in setting goals and making decisions

Delegate additional rights and powers to subordinates

Promote subordinates up the career ladder

Provide training and retraining that improves competency

Self-expression needs

Provide subordinates with training and development opportunities that enable them to reach their full potential.

Give your subordinates complex and important work that requires their full commitment

Encourage and develop creativity in subordinates Herzberg's two-factor theory

Herzberg showed that people’s activities are influenced by 2 groups of factors, which he called hygienic and motivating.

Group of factors

Impact on people's activities

Hygienic

(related to working conditions)

earnings,

working conditions,

relationships with other employees,

administration activities

Even with complete satisfaction, they do not motivate to improve work efficiency

Motivating

(related to the content of the work, with assessment of results by management)

feeling of success,

career advancement,

recognition from others,

responsibility

Motivate to increase productivity, efficiency, quality of work

Hygiene factors do not motivate workers, but simply prevent the development of a feeling of job dissatisfaction.

Application of Herzberg's theory

In order to achieve motivation, the manager must ensure the presence of not only hygiene, but also motivating factors. Many organizations have attempted to implement these theoretical insights through job enrichment programs.

During the implementation of the labor “enrichment” program, the work is restructured and expanded so as to bring more satisfaction and rewards to its immediate performer. “Enrichment” of work is aimed at structuring work activity in such a way as to make the performer feel the complexity and significance of the task entrusted to him, independence in choosing decisions, the absence of monotony and routine operations, responsibility for the given task, the feeling that the person is performing separate and completely independent work . Among the several hundred companies that use job enrichment programs to eliminate the negative effects of fatigue and the associated decline in productivity are such large companies as American Airlines and Texas Instruments. Although the concept of work enrichment has been used very successfully in many situations, it is not suitable for motivating all people.

In order to use Herzberg's theory effectively, it is necessary to create a list of hygiene and, especially, motivating factors and give employees the opportunity to determine and indicate what they prefer.

The same factor can cause job satisfaction in one person and dissatisfaction in another, and vice versa. Thus, both hygiene and motivating factors can be a source of motivation, and this depends on the needs of specific people. Since different people have different needs, different factors will motivate different people.

For example, a person may love his job because he considers his colleagues to be friends and, by communicating with them, he satisfies his social needs. However, such a person may consider chatting with colleagues to be more important than doing the work assigned to him. Thus, although job satisfaction is high, productivity may be low.

Due to the fact that social needs play a very important role, the introduction of such motivating factors as increasing responsibility for the assigned task may not have a motivating effect and will not lead to increased productivity. This will be exactly the case, especially if other workers perceive the increase in the worker’s productivity as a violation of unspoken production standards.