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Hey friends, welcome back to the blog.  Today I am going to talk about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  This is a topic I tend to cover with most of my clients.  This hierarchy of needs is a theory of motivation which includes five fundamental categories of needs.  This theory suggests that based on which stage we are in will dictate our behavior.  As individuals progress through the needs fulfillment and motivation tend to increase.  This hierarchy of needs is often displayed as a pyramid with our most basic needs at the bottom.  In theory, we can’t really move on to the higher level needs until the lower levels are adequately being fulfilled.  We can however experience feel various needs at the same time and meeting each need does not fall into an all or nothing mentality.  Maslow’s framework can provide a lens to better understand human behavior and well-being.  

Let’s explore the five levels of the hierarchy of needs.           

1. Physiological needs: These needs refer to basic needs like breathing, food, water, shelter, clothing, and sleep.  These needs include anything that is required for human survival.  In this theory, the need for survival will be the first thing that motivates our behavior.  We can’t function optimally if our physiological needs aren’t met. 

2. Safety needs: people want to experience order, predictability, and control in their lives.  Safety needs can be fulfilled by family and society.  Emotional security, financial security, property, and health are examples of safety needs.  Safety needs are apparent even in childhood, children desire and need safe and predictable environments.  

3. Love and belonging needs: According to this theory, the next need involves feeling loved and accepted.  This need refers to a human emotional need for interpersonal relationships, connection, and being part of groups.  This can include friendship, intimacy, trust, acceptance, giving and receiving affection, and love.  This need is especially strong in childhood and can override the need for safety in children

4. Esteem needs: This need involves our desire to feel good about ourselves.  This includes self-worth, accomplishment, and respect.  According to Maslow, esteem involves two different components.  The first one includes feeling self-confidence and feeling good about yourself.  The second component involves feeling valued by others.  This includes feeling recognition about achievements and contributions.  When people’s esteem needs are met they feel more confident, more valued, and like their achievements and contributions are important.  Low self-esteem or feeling inferior may result from imbalances during this level. The need for respect and esteem are important in children and adolescents.  

5. Self-actualization needs: This refers to feeling fulfilled, or living up to our potential.  This is the highest level in the hierarchy and refers to the realization of a person’s potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth, or feeling we are doing what we believe we are meant to do.  Sometimes people focus on this need very specifically as a destination.  It is more encouraged to focus on this need as a continued growth experience and looks different for everyone. 

Since Maslow created this Hierarchy of Needs it is important to note that this model was expanded to include cognitive and aesthetic needs with esteem.  Cognitive needs include knowledge and understanding, curiosity, exploration, and need for meaning.  Aesthetic needs include appreciation and search for beauty, balance, appreciation and pursuit of music, art, and nature.  

Deficient Needs vs. Growth Needs

Out of these five levels of needs the lower level needs are considered deficiency needs and the higher needs are considered growth needs.  Deficiency needs are the primary focus of human life.  These needs are more motivated by deficiency or lack thereof.  These needs motivate people most often when they are unmet.  For example, when I am hungry I have an unmet need until I eat.  The motivation to fulfill these needs will become stronger the longer they are not met.  Growth needs are motivated more by the desire to grow as a person, feel good about yourself, feeling valued, and working on reaching full potential.  Growth needs don’t step from deficiency, they stem from a desire to grow as a person.  

Life experiences can cause people to fluctuate between the levels.  In theory, everyone is capable to move up the hierarchy if they can get their lower level needs met.  

When we are in therapy working with clients we find it important to make sure to address the deficiency needs and make sure they are being met.  Any disturbances in needs can impact our ability to feel better, reduce depression and anxiety, and grow as people.  

There are some specific behaviors that can help when it comes to growth needs.  If you find yourself in a position to be improving growth needs these are some of the behaviors I would explore: trying new things instead of sticking to what is safe all the time, listening to your own feelings when evaluating experiences, taking responsibility and working hard, trying to identify your own defenses and working on giving them up, being prepared for not everyone to like you, and to be honest.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is just one theory we use to help gain a better understanding of human motivation.  It is understandable that we may not be able to be the best version’s of ourselves when other needs aren’t met like physiological and safety/security needs.    We also have a need for connection and belonging to help us with self esteem and love.  All of these needs help us work toward reaching the highest level of potential and growth.  Each level can play a role as we move toward growth needs.  

Thanks for reading, until next time.

Emilie Barragan, LCSW

“Tackling physical and emotional pain” – Therapeuo Health