A Guide to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (Extended Version)
What motivates you?
This very question is what the American psychologist Abraham Maslow wanted to answer when he developed his fundamental theory, the Hierarchy Of Needs.
Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs to better understand what exactly gets people out of bed every day; and perhaps more interestingly - what happens when those needs aren’t met.
By understanding our basic human needs, we can better understand what motivates us on a day-to-day basis. When we understand that, it’s a whole lot easier to get things done.
What is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a psychological theory that prioritizes human needs in the shape of a pyramid. At the base are basic physiological needs like food, water, and shelter, essential for survival. The next level focuses on safety and security, ensuring physical safety and financial stability.
Moving up the pyramid, the focus shifts to social aspects such as love, friendship, and a sense of belonging. Esteem needs follow, which emphasize self-respect, confidence, and acknowledgment from others. At the peak lies self-actualization, representing the fulfillment of personal potential and self-growth. Each level must be substantially satisfied before one can focus on the higher needs.
Different Types of Needs
In Maslow’s later work, he expanded on the initial hierarchy of needs to define two specific types of needs based on the behavioral motivation driving them.¹
Deficiency Needs (D-Needs): Stem from a lack of something essential.
Growth Needs (B-Needs): Arise from the desire to pursue personal growth.
He argued that once the deficiency needs are met, individuals can pursue growth needs more successfully. This differentiation gives rise to the theory that self-actualized people are motivated by the drive to grow and to fulfill their potential, unlike those who are motivated by deficiencies and go about life in “survival mode”.
Critique of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Although Maslow’s original, five-tiered hierarchy of needs is widely considered the default model for human motivation, it isn’t perfect.
Some critics largely support Maslow’s theory of human motivation but take issue with the prevalence of his earlier research. Google Maslow, and you’ll likely find his original 5-tier pyramid model from 1954. Yet some researchers have called for greater recognition of his later work that extended the pyramid to include self-transcendence, published in 1969.² This article includes Maslow’s later additions to the pyramid for this reason.
Other researchers have found that the original model is embedded with cultural bias and doesn’t apply to collectivist culture. In a 2003 article published in the Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship,³ researchers concluded that “in a collectivist culture, the basic need is belonging; self-esteem is eliminated, and self-actualization is attained in terms of meeting societal development needs.”
Why is the Most Popular Version of Maslow’s Hierarchy Wrong?
Well, Maslow’s theory was a hit with business community in the 1980s. This is when the popular, five-tier-pyramid diagram is believed to have been created by a management consultant. Maslow had developed his theory of self-transcendence during the 1960s during the time of spiritual awakening that swept the United States with the counter-culture movement.
Though this theory is disputed, I can only guess that self-transcendence didn’t quite fit into the management strategy of business leaders that used Maslow’s theory to build their companies during the 1980s…
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a popular theory used in psychology. It was proposed by Abraham Maslow in a paper he published in 1943 called A Theory of Human Motivation.⁴
The theory aimed to discern how people intrinsically partake in behavioral motivation, the driving force behind all the actions of an individual. He wanted to know if an individual’s needs and desires could have a strong and persistent impact on the direction of their behavior.
A Guide to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs: The Extended Version
In order to better understand what motivates people, Maslow proposed to organize people’s needs and desires into a categorical pyramid: Basically, a hierarchy.
Each level of the pyramid represents a need, starting with the most basic physiological needs and continuing on to psychological needs and more abstract needs, like fulfillment and self-actualization. According to Maslow’s theory, once a lower need or desire is met, the need above it becomes the next main focus of achievement.
The five-tier hierarchy is the most widely known version of Maslow’s work, but it’s important to note that he expanded the hierarchy later in his career to address the concept of self-transcendence. Venturing into religious psychology challenged the structure of Maslow’s tidy pyramid model, as he acknowledged in his famous Theory Z Paper, published in 1982: ⁵
It is unfortunate that I can no longer be theoretically neat at this level. I find not only self-actualizing per-sons who transcend, but also unhealthy people, non-self-actualizers who have important transcendent experiences.
Researchers hypothesize that the pyramid most people associate with Maslow’s theory was actually created by a management consultant during the 1980s when Maslow’s theory was enjoying rising popularity in the business community.⁶
To reflect Maslow’s theory more accurately, we’ve created a modified model based on the five-tier pyramid with transcendence represented as a venn-diagram that connects all tiers. In the guide below, you’ll find all eight stages of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs according to his complete body of academic work. Updates to the original five-stage model based on Maslow’s work in the 1960s and 1970s are indented below.
1. Physiological
Physiological needs form the lowest level of Maslow’s hierarchy. This category focuses on the basic physical needs a human has, like drinking water, eating food, getting sleep, and keeping warm.
Maslow considered these physiological requirements as the most essential of our needs and if these could not be met, then we could never progress through any of the other areas.
Basically, we aren’t ever going to reach self-actualization if we are dying of hunger, thirst, or exposure to the elements.
So our basic behavior is motivated most by our physiological needs. If we are hungry, thirsty, tired or cold we are going to seek remedy for these needs before considering anything else.
That’s exactly where the term #hangry came from.
Examples of Physiological Needs
Balanced Nutrition: Everyone needs to eat! Consuming a balanced diet with essential nutrients provides energy for survival
Drinking Water: We can survive longer without food than water. Access to clean drinking water is essential to maintaining health and hydration
Housing: Shelter from the elements and protection from security threats are essential to our physiological needs.
Clean Air: This may not be obvious, but access to clean, fresh air is essential to maintaining respiratory health.
Rest and Sleep: Getting at least 6 hours of sleep at night and resting after strenuous activity during the day enables the body to recover and supports overall health and wellbeing.
Protective Clothing: Clothing can be an expression of style, but its essential function is to protect the body from environmental conditions.
Essential Healthcare: Life-saving healthcare services and access to facilities for maintaining hygiene are another important example of our basic physiological needs.
Tips for Meeting Your Physiological Needs
Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins like chicken and fish
Find your optimal amount of sleep and stick to a schedule with it
Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to maintain good health
Wash your hands!
2. Safety
As we move up to the second level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, our requirements begin to become slowly more complex.
Once an individual’s basic physiological needs are met, the next motivational aspect that sparks people into action is the insurance of their own safety. This involves finding physical protection, securing financial security, achieving health or wellness, and seeking freedom from fear or oppression.
For example, finding a job, securing health insurance or health care, putting money away into a savings account, or living in a safe neighborhood are actions that are motivated from a place of seeking security.
The physiological and safety levels are what are collectively referred to as basic needs. It’s what most people in the world are seeking and why human rights issues are so prevalent.
Examples of Needs for Safety
Safe Community: Where you live and work defines the safety of your community. Living in a safe environment free from violence, crime, and physical risk meets the human need for a safe community
Financial Security: You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy financial security, which includes a stable income or enough savings to meet basic living necessities and unexpected expenses. If you work for a living, job security can also provide financial security.
Non-Violent Relationships: Engaging in supportive relationships that are free from all types of abuse also meet the human need for safety.
Emergency Preparedness: Meeting your need for safety also means being prepared for unexpected emergencies like natural disasters and pandemics.
Tips for Meeting Your Need for Safety
Build your home in a safe area
Live within your means
Educate yourself to know the difference between conflict and abuse
Develop a social support system for emergencies
3. Love And Belonging
Once basic needs are met, individuals seek out the third level of human needs, love and belonging. This level requires social acceptance, romantic relationships, and strong bonds with family and friends.
Most importantly, the need for love and belonging requires an individual to both feel as if they are loved and feel love towards others around them.
Maslow wasn’t wrong to include this in the pyramid. Social connection is related to better physical health and wellbeing, while feelings of isolation have a negative effect on an individual’s health and wellbeing.⁷
Examples of Needs for Love & Belonging
Connection to Family and Friends: Building strong, supportive, and loving relationships with family meets our basic desire to belong. Developing relationships with friends who provide mutual support and companionship nourishes our need for social connection as well.
Intimate Relationships: Forming intimate connections with a significant other meets the human need to share romantic love and affection.
Team Participation: Being part of a team, whether in sports, work, or other group activities, fulfills the human need for building identity around shared goals.
Mentorship: We can also find a sense of belonging by working with a mentor who can reflect our own value back to us through a guidance-based relationship.
Tips for Meeting Your Need for Love & Belonging
Take part in group activities aligned with your interests
Surround yourself with loving, kind and supportive people
Acknowledge your intimate desire as a human need and explore this in loving and supportive romantic relationships
Get to know your internal landscape with emotional awareness exercises
4. Esteem
The fourth level outlines the need for appreciation and respect. When the lower three needs are met, the requirement for esteem becomes the driving motivational factor.
To satisfy this need, individuals must accomplish predetermined goals and then have them recognized and appreciated by others.In addition to feeling accomplished and appreciated, individuals need to feel self-worth. People need to feel that they are valued by others around them and that they are making a contribution or difference to the world.
Individuals who are able to satisfy the fourth level of esteem feel confident in their abilities and feel they have found their true calling in the world. Those individuals who aren’t able to achieve these requirements, on the other hand, often feel that they aren’t respected by others and very likely bring into question their own purpose.
This level as well as that of love and belonging, together, make up what is referred to as the psychological needs of Maslow’s hierarchy.
Examples of Needs for Esteem
Self-Esteem: Building external esteem begins with your relationship to yourself. Developing confidence in your abilities and decisions and holding positive regard for yourself helps you to establish healthy self-esteem
Recognition and Respect: Everyone wants to be seen. Receiving acknowledgment and respect from your community for your achievements and capabilities demonstrates this essential human need.
Striving for Achievement: Obtaining a position, title, or role can bring recognition for your achievement within a specific community. Successfully accomplishing goals, mastering skills, or excelling in a particular activity is an example of the human need for esteem.
Tips for Meeting Your Need for Esteem
Find your people! Your natural talents will be appreciated if you find a like-minded community
Reflect on what you’re good at and do more of that
Advocate for yourself and your capabilities
Explore and affirm your own value through regular self-reflection
5. Knowledge
Maslow’s extended hierarchy includes a sixth level dedicated to cognitive needs, symbolizing the quest for knowledge and understanding. This stage is imbued with the thirst for exploring the world, satisfying intellectual curiosities, and appreciating beauty and ideas. It embodies the pursuit of wisdom and continuous learning, fostering a deeper understanding of oneself and the environment. This cognitive dimension signifies that beyond basic survival, safety, and social needs, individuals are motivated by intellectual enhancement and the discovery of new realms of knowledge and insight.
Such cognitive pursuits play a vital role in nurturing personal growth, self-actualization, and a comprehensive appreciation of life’s intricacies, contributing to a well-rounded and enriched existence, elevating the human experience beyond mere survival and physiological satisfaction. In this realm, curiosity isn’t just welcomed; it’s a driving force that propels individuals towards broader horizons and deeper understandings.
Examples of Cognitive Needs
- Learning New Skills: The need to learn and master new skills fulfills the human need to continue growing over time.
- Solving Problems: Understanding and solving problems stretches your brain and encourages new ways of thinking.
- Fulfilling Curiosity: Feeding your natural curiosity and exploring unknowns is a good example of Maslow’s definition of cognitive needs.
- Explaining Patterns: Humans are naturally programmed to recognize patterns. The need to make sense of this order and predict outcomes can fulfill your quest for knowledge.
Tips for Meeting Your Cognitive Needs
- Dive into books, articles, or journals on a topic that interests you.
- Participate in public discussions that give you a chance to develop your views in conversation with others.
- Continue pursuing formal and informal education throughout your life.
6. Beauty
Maslow’s hierarchy also encompasses aesthetic needs as a distinctive level, emphasizing the human longing for beauty, order, and balance in one’s environment. This aspect of the hierarchy underscores the significance of appreciating and seeking aesthetics, harmony, and creativity in our surroundings. These could manifest in various forms, such as art, music, nature, or architectural beauty. Aesthetic needs are tied to our sensory experiences and our perception of symmetry and elegance.
Fulfilling these needs nourishes the soul, cultivates mindfulness, and contributes to our overall well-being and happiness. It symbolizes the human desire to connect with aspects that transcend basic survival and functionality, enhancing one’s quality of life through enriching experiences that stimulate the senses and elevate human consciousness
Examples of Aesthetic Needs
- Immersion in Nature: Spending time immersed in nature, whether you’re viewing a beautiful sunrise or hiking through a dense forest, is one of the most primal and satisfying ways to appreciate beauty.
- Creative Expression: Expressing yourself creatively through artistic media like writing, drawing and painting, music, dance, or theater fulfills your aesthetic needs by developing your aesthetic vocabulary.
- Experiencing Cultural Events: Attending cultural events is another example of fulfilling an aesthetic need through engaging with history and culture.
Tips for Meeting Your Aesthetic Needs
- Organize and design the spaces where you spend the most time to inspire you with good lighting, well-chosen colors, and smart solutions to keep your things tidy.
- Whether you consider yourself “creative” or not, you can learn to create something beautiful by joining a class online or in person.
- Nourish your soul and sense by attending live local cultural events.
5. Self-Actualization
At the very top of Maslow’s original hierarchy of needs sits the fifth level; self-actualization. Maslow was once quoted saying, “What a man can be, he must be.”
In other words, people have to achieve their full potential as human beings to feel satisfied at the highest level.
Maslow defined self-actualization as the full use and exploitation of an individual’s talents, potentialities, and capabilities. Such individuals are fulfilling themselves and are doing this at the very best that they are capable of.
The goal of [self-actualization] seems to be simultaneously an end-goal in itself, and also a transitional goal, a rite of passage, a step along the path to the transcendence of identity. This is like saying its function is to erase itself.
Abraham Maslow, 1961
People who realize self-actualization are introspective, self-aware, concerned with personal growth, and are less concerned with the opinions that people may have about them.
Examples of Needs for Self-Actualization
Defining Identity and Values: Every human is born into a community that deeply influences identity and values. One essential example of the human need for self-actualization is the desire to define your identity and values.
Personal Fulfillment: Once values are established, it’s possible to pursue fulfillment. Setting and striving towards goals that align with your values is an example of fulfilling the need for self-actualization according to Maslow’s hierarchy.
Bodily Autonomy: Making independent choices about your body, from establishing your standard of personal care to making choices about your reproductive health, is another important example of the human need for self-actualization.
Tips for Meeting Your Need for Self-Actualization
Mindfully reflect on your experiences, feelings, and learnings on a daily basis
Make decisions that align with your authentic self by staying true to your values, beliefs, and convictions
Get better at saying no to commitments that don’t align with your values (and understand why it can be such a struggle)
8. Transcendence
Maslow’s hierarchy culminates in the eighth level, "transcendence," where individuals seek to connect with something beyond their personal selves and experience a higher state of consciousness. This stage is about altruism and helping others to achieve self-actualization, fostering a sense of community and interconnectedness. It involves experiences that surpass ordinary limits, like profound moments of love, understanding, happiness, or even encounters with the spiritual or divine.
In the transcendence stage, the focus shifts away from self-centered needs, propelling individuals toward broader human concerns and universal welfare. People at this level are motivated by values that surpass personal interests, aiming for the collective good and the realization of a purpose that transcends personal boundaries and limitations. This promotes a sense of unity, interconnectedness, and a broader understanding and appreciation of life's experiences.
Examples of the Need for Transcendence
- Spiritual Enlightenment: The ancient pursuit of enlightenment is a classic example of the human need for transcendence. Enlightenment is about pursuing a connection to a higher power, often through meditation, prayer, or spiritual practices.
- Altruism: The deep desire to relieve the suffering of others and help them to achieve their full potential is another example of the need for transcending the obligations and pressures of a busy daily life.
- The Desire to ‘Be Part of Something Greater’: The desire to contribute to something greater than yourself is an example of the human need to transcend the daily trials of life and abide in a deep sense of interconnectedness.
Tips for Meeting Your Need for Transcendence
- Practice daily acts of kindness towards others.
- Explore your spirituality with practices like meditation, prayer, or yoga to foster a connection with a higher consciousness or power.
- Open yourself up to profound experiences through spiritual study and mindfulness practice.
How To Use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a Tool for Motivation
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a powerful tool that you can easily integrate into your daily outlook. It makes the complicated aspects of our lives seem simple while highlighting the exact behaviors we can incorporate into our lives that will help us along the path to self-actualization.
Oftentimes, people get stuck when they rely heavily on others to motivate them.
If you’re having a hard time with one area of your needs, look to the level just below it to see how you can strengthen your foundation.
But if you learn how to follow this hierarchical system, then you can easily identify what aspects of your life require your attention and what aspects of your life you are absolutely killing.
Because according to Maslow, you can never really move forward until your basic needs are met.
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