Maslow's Essay

1149 Words3 Pages

Abraham H Maslow was a psychologist who developed a theory that sought to explain human behaviour in terms of basic needs for survival and growth. (www.enotes.com. 2002). This paper will define Maslow’s theory (a ‘hierarchy of needs’) and explain how differences in priorities influence and inform upon consumer behaviour.

Maslow developed his ‘hierarchy of needs’ in an attempt to describe patterns of human behaviour, and to try to understand the processes behind the actions of consumers. In essence, his theory centres on the idea of ‘motivation’, which he sees as a driving force in a person’s movement from one level of need priorities to the next.

The above diagram, though not of Maslow’s own design, suggests the hierarchy of needs starts at the bottom with ‘physiological needs’, and continues up the pyramid, finishing with self-actualisation. Maslow’s theory identifies that there are general types of needs also described as basic needs they are the simple things in life that we must have to survive, such things as food, water, shelter and good health. These are known as your physiological needs. Safety needs represent the ability to feel safe and be away from danger, not being in a dangerous relationship or living free from abuse. Social needs are the ability to be loved and feel a sense of belonging in a society. Esteem needs refer to the individual having a good self-esteem and being in a health state of mind. These four categories of needs are known as ‘deficiency needs’, and Maslow suggests as long as we are ‘motivated’ to satisfy these needs, we are moving towards growth, and leading to self-actualisation. (mason.gmu.edu. 2004). At the top of the diagram is self-actualisation, which Maslow sa...

... middle of paper ...

...lable at: http://www.enotes.com/maslows-hierarchy-needs-reference/maslows-hierarchy-needs (Accessed on the 9th of March 2012)

Unknown Author. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd Available at: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/self-esteem (Accessed on the 10th March 2012).

Unknown Author. 2012. WebFinance, Inc.[Online] http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/Maslow-s-hierarchy-of-needs.html (accessed on the 18th of March 2012

Unknown Author. 2012. Psych Basics: Motivation [Online] Available at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/motivation (accessed on the 20th March 2012).

Van Wagner, Kendra. 2009. Self-Actualization and the Hierarchy of Needs. [Online]Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/ hierarchyneeds_2.htm. (Accessed: 13th of march 2012).

Open Document