MASLOW'S HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS :
Maslow believed that self-actualization was a need, the highest need in a hierarchy of human
needs. Self-actualization needs are metaneeds or growth oriented needs including uniqueness,
aliveness, playfulness, truth, beauty, perfection, creativity, joy, and goodness.
However these growth oriented metaneeds cannot be satisfied until lower needs are satisfied.
The lowest most animalistic needs are physiological needs for food, water and physical satisfaction.
The next level in Maslow's hierarchy of needs contains our needs for safety and security that
must be satisfied before we can focus on higher levels. Threats to one's safety or security can
trigger fear and animalistic responses of aggression. Imagined fears in places such as dark alleys
can also motivate primitive escape responses.
The third level of Maslow's hierarchy includes needs we feel for love and belongingness, human
affection and friendships that give psychological security and a feeling of connectedness and
worth. The fourth level includes ego-esteem needs, our needs for status, recognition, respect
and admiration from others. To feel self pride and self-esteem we try to achieve prestige, status
and influence over others.
The four levels of basic needs-physiological, safety, love, self-esteem-are deficiency needs.
Metaneeds, growth oriented striving, cannot be actualized until the defiency needs are satisfied.
Maslow believed that the fulfillment of growth oriented self-actualization needs were crucial to
psychological health and well being. When our metaneeds are not fulfilled we may become
alienated, hostile, depressed, cynical, manipulative and maladjusted. The key to psychological
health was satisfaction of lower needs so that one could self-actualize one's potential and fulfill
the self. As Maslow stated, "What a man can be, he must be."