I MBA –II SEM - Soft Skills

Motivation

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper
"A Theory of Human Motivation" in Psychological Review.[2] Maslow subsequently extended the idea to
include his observations of humans' innate curiosity. His theories parallel many other theories of
human developmental psychology, some of which focus on describing the stages of growth in humans.
Maslow used the terms "physiological", "safety", "belonging" and "love", "esteem", "self-actualization",
and "self-transcendence" to describe the pattern that human motivations generally move through. The
goal of Maslow's Theory is to attain the sixth level of stage: self transcendent needs.[3]
Maslow studied what he called exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor
Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglass rather than mentally ill or neurotic people, writing that "the study of
crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple
philosophy."[4]:236 Maslow studied the healthiest 1% of the college student population.[5]
Maslow's theory was fully expressed in his 1954 book Motivation and Personality.[4] The hierarchy
remains a very popular framework in sociology research, management
training[6] and secondary and higher psychology instruction.

Physiological needs[edit]
Physiological needs are the physical requirements for human survival. If these requirements are not met,
the human body cannot function properly and will ultimately fail. Physiological needs are thought to be
the most important; they should be met first.
Air, water, and food are metabolic requirements for survival in all animals, including humans. Clothing
and shelter provide necessary protection from the elements. While maintaining an adequate birth rate
shapes the intensity of the human sexual instinct, sexual competition may also shape said instinct.[2]
Safety needs[edit]
Once a person's physiological needs are relatively satisfied, their safety needs take precedence and
dominate behavior. In the absence of physical safety – due to war, natural disaster, family
violence, childhood abuse, etc. – people may (re-)experience post-traumatic stress
disorder or transgenerational trauma. In the absence of economic safety – due to economic crisis and lack
of work opportunities – these safety needs manifest themselves in ways such as a preference for job
security, grievance procedures for protecting the individual from unilateral authority, savings accounts,
insurance policies, disability accommodations, etc. This level is more likely to be found in children as
they generally have a greater need to feel safe.
Safety and Security needs include:

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Motivation

 Personal security
 Financial security
 Health and well-being
 Safety net against accidents/illness and their adverse impacts
Social belonging[edit]
After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third level of human needs is interpersonal and
involves feelings of belongingness. This need is especially strong in childhood and it can override the
need for safety as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents. Deficiencies within this level of
Maslow's hierarchy – due to hospitalism, neglect, shunning, ostracism, etc. – can adversely affect the
individual's ability to form and maintain emotionally significant relationships in general, such as:

 Friendships
 Intimacy
 Family
According to Maslow, humans need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance among their social
groups, regardless whether these groups are large or small. For example, some large social groups may
include clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sports teams, and gangs. Some
examples of small social connections include family members, intimate partners, mentors, colleagues, and
confidants. Humans need to love and be loved – both sexually and non-sexually – by others.[2] Many
people become susceptible to loneliness, social anxiety, and clinical depression in the absence of this love
or belonging element. This need for belonging may overcome the physiological and security needs,
depending on the strength of the peer pressure.
Esteem[edit]
All humans have a need to feel respected; this includes the need to have self-esteem and self-respect.
Esteem presents the typical human desire to be accepted and valued by others. People often engage in a
profession or hobby to gain recognition. These activities give the person a sense of contribution or value.
Low self-esteem or an inferiority complex may result from imbalances during this level in the hierarchy.
People with low self-esteem often need respect from others; they may feel the need to seek fame or glory.
However, fame or glory will not help the person to build their self-esteem until they accept who they are
internally. Psychological imbalances such as depression can hinder the person from obtaining a higher
level of self-esteem or self-respect.
Most people have a need for stable self-respect and self-esteem. Maslow noted two versions of esteem
needs: a "lower" version and a "higher" version. The "lower" version of esteem is the need for respect
from others. This may include a need for status, recognition, fame, prestige, and attention. The "higher"
version manifests itself as the need for self-respect. For example, the person may have a need for strength,
competence, mastery, self-confidence, independence, and freedom. This "higher" version takes
precedence over the "lower" version because it relies on an inner competence established through
experience. Deprivation of these needs may lead to an inferiority complex, weakness, and helplessness.
Maslow states that while he originally thought the needs of humans had strict guidelines, the "hierarchies
are interrelated rather than sharply separated".[4] This means that esteem and the subsequent levels are not
strictly separated; instead, the levels are closely related.
Self-actualization[edit]
Main article: Self-actualization

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"What a man can be, he must be."[4]:91 This quotation forms the basis of the perceived need for self-
actualization. This level of need refers to what a person's full potential is and the realization of that
potential. Maslow describes this level as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the
most that one can be.[4]:92 Individuals may perceive or focus on this need very specifically. For example,
one individual may have the strong desire to become an ideal parent. In another, the desire may be
expressed athletically. For others, it may be expressed in paintings, pictures, or inventions.[4]:93 As
previously mentioned, Maslow believed that to understand this level of need, the person must not only
achieve the previous needs, but master them.

The Human Dimensions and Basic Human Needs

Physiologic Breathing, circulation, temperature, intake of food and

Environmental Safety and

Relationships with others, communications with others,

Self-esteem
Emotional dimension Fear, sadness, loneliness, happiness, accepting self.
needs

Intellectual and Self-actualization Thinking, learning, decision making, values, beliefs,