Hierarchy of needs - Maslow

• Physiological needs

  • Bottom of hierarchy
  • Food, water, oxygen and sleep
  • Without it you will crave food and water and with it you won’t
• Need for safety

  • Second to bottom of hierarchy
  • Security, freedom of fear, protection and stability
  • Without it you will display fight or flight behaviour and be anxious, with it you will feel physical security
• Need for love and belonging

  • third up the hierarchy
  • Friends, family, intimate relationships, acceptance by others
  • With it you will have mutual love, trust and freedom
  • Without it you will feel lonely, rejected, withdrawn and hostile to outside groups
• Need for esteem

  • Without it you will feel fearful of criticism, failure and risks, frustrated towards these and withhold respect. Envious, bitter and arrogant
  • fourth up on the hierarchy
  • Achievement, confidence, status, recognition by others
  • with it you will feel confident and content, free to step out of your comfort zone
• How the hierarchy works

  • Needs at the bottom are deficiency needs as they are designed to reduce inadequacies whereas the top levels are growth needs as they are designed to promote personal growth
  • We must satisfy lower needs to move upwards, we cant be healthy if they arent met and you can move up and down the hierarchy throughout life
  • Peak experience - feelings of ecstasy, achievement or elation
• Self actualisation

  • An ultimate feeling of well being and satisfaction
  • Top of the hierarchy
  • Morality, creativity, problem solving, lack of prejudice and reaching potential
  • Without it you will view life as meaningless and become restless and bored with a tendency to avoid growth and development
  • With it you will feel a desire to develop, creative and positive