THEORIES RELEVANT TO
NURSING PRACTICE
Maslow’s Human Needs
Theory
Abraham Harold Maslow
Abraham Harold Maslow (April 1, 1908 – June 8, 1970) was an
American psychologist who was best known for creating Maslow's
hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on
fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in
self-actualization. Maslow was a psychology professor at Alliant
International University, Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New
School for Social Research, and Columbia University. He stressed the
importance of focusing on the positive qualities in people, as opposed
to treating them as a "bag of symptoms". A Review of General
Psychology survey, published in 2002, ranked Maslow as the tenth
most cited psychologist of the 20th century.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow first introduced his concept of a hierarchy of needs in his 1943
paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" and his subsequent book
Motivation and Personality. This hierarchy suggests that people are
motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other, more advanced
needs.
While some of the existing schools of thought at the time (such as
psychoanalysis and behaviorism) tended to focus on problematic behaviors,
Maslow was much more interested in learning about what makes people
happy and the things that they do to achieve that aim.
As a humanist, Maslow believed that people have an inborn desire to be
self-actualized, that is, to be all they can be. In order to achieve these
ultimate goals, however, a number of more basic needs must be met such
as the need for food, safety, love, and self-esteem.
There are five different levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Let's take a
closer look at Maslow’s needs starting at the lowest level, known as
physiological needs.
Physiological Needs
The basic physiological needs are probably apparent—these include the things
that are vital to our survival. Some examples of physiological needs include:
▪ Food
▪ Water
▪ Breathing
▪ Homeostasis
In addition to the basic requirements of nutrition, air and temperature
regulation, the physiological needs also include such things as shelter and
clothing. Maslow also included sexual reproduction in this level of the
hierarchy of needs since it is essential to the survival and propagation of the
species.
Security and Safety Needs
As we move up to the second level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the
requirements start to become a bit more complex. At this level, the needs for
security and safety become primary.
People want control and order in their lives. So, this need for safety and
security contributes largely to behaviors at this level. Some of the basic
security and safety needs include:
▪ Financial security
▪ Heath and wellness
▪ Safety against accidents and injury
Finding a job, obtaining health insurance and health care, contributing money
to a savings account, and moving into a safer neighborhood are all examples of
actions motivated by the security and safety needs.
Together, the safety and physiological levels of the hierarchy make up what is
often referred to as the basic needs.
Social Needs
The social needs in Maslow’s hierarchy include such things as love, acceptance, and
belonging. At this level, the need for emotional relationships drives human
behavior. Some of the things that satisfy this need include:
▪ Friendships
▪ Romantic attachments
▪ Family
▪ Social groups
▪ Community groups
▪ Churches and religious organizations
In order to avoid problems such as loneliness, depression, and anxiety, it is
important for people to feel loved and accepted by other people. Personal
relationships with friends, family, and lovers play an important role, as does
involvement in other groups that might include religious groups, sports teams,
book clubs, and other group activities.
Esteem Needs
At the fourth level in Maslow’s hierarchy is the need for appreciation
and respect. When the needs at the bottom three levels have been
satisfied, the esteem needs begin to play a more prominent role in
motivating behavior.
At this point, it becomes increasingly important to gain the respect
and appreciation of others. People have a need to accomplish things
and then have their efforts recognized. In addition to the need for
feelings of accomplishment and prestige, esteem needs include such
things as self-esteem and personal worth.
People need to sense that they are valued and by others and feel that
they are making a contribution to the world.
Participation in professional activities, academic accomplishments,
athletic or team participation, and personal hobbies can all play a role
in fulfilling the esteem needs. People who are able to satisfy the
esteem needs by achieving good self-esteem and the recognition of
others tend to feel confident in their abilities.
Those who lack self-esteem and the respect of others can develop
feelings of inferiority. Together, the esteem and social levels make up
what is known as the psychological needs of the hierarchy.
Self-Actualization Needs
At the very peak of Maslow’s hierarchy are the self-actualization needs.
"What a man can be, he must be," Maslow explained, referring to the
need people have to achieve their full potential as human beings.
According to Maslow’s definition of self-actualization, "It may be loosely
described as the full use and exploitation of talents, capabilities,
potentialities, etc. Such people seem to be fulfilling themselves and to
be doing the best that they are capable of doing. They are people who
have developed or are developing to the full stature of which they
capable."
Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth,
less concerned with the opinions of others, and interested in fulfilling
their potential.
Characteristics of self-actualizers:
1. They perceive reality efficiently and can tolerate uncertainty;
2. Accept themselves and others for what they are;
3. Spontaneous in thought and action;
4. Problem-centered (not self-centered);
5. Unusual sense of humor;
6. Able to look at life objectively;
7. Highly creative;
8. Resistant to enculturation, but not purposely unconventional;
9. Concerned for the welfare of humanity;
10. Capable of deep appreciation of basic life-experience;
11. Establish deep satisfying interpersonal relationships with a
few people;
12. Peak experiences;
13. Need for privacy;
14. Democratic attitudes;
15. Strong moral/ethical standards.
Behavior leading to self-actualization:
(a) Experiencing life like a child, with full absorption and
concentration;
(b) Trying new things instead of sticking to safe paths;
(c) Listening to your own feelings in evaluating experiences instead of
the voice of tradition, authority or the majority;
(d) Avoiding pretense ('game playing') and being honest;
(e) Being prepared to be unpopular if your views do not coincide with
those of the majority;
(f) Taking responsibility and working hard;
(g) Trying to identify your defenses and having the courage to give
them up.
