We will look at Maslow’s 5 levels of human need. Maslow’s 5 levels of human need describe the various types of needs that humans have, listing them in the order that they need to be addressed. The 5 levels are physiological needs, safety and security needs, love and belonging needs, esteem and respect needs, and self-actualization needs, typically requiring the fulfillment of lower-level needs before moving on to the next level.
1. What is Maslow’s 5 levels of human need?
We will find out who Abraham Maslow was and how Maslow’s 5 levels of human need were developed.
1) Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist active from 1908 to 1970.
Maslow focused on self-actualization and the growth and development of individuals, reflecting the values and principles of Humanism.
Humanism is an ideology that values human dignity as the highest value, starting in the West during the Renaissance as a movement that spread widely by liberating humans from the authority of the Catholic Church and a God-centric worldview.
Before Maslow, psychoanalysts and scientific behaviorists dominated psychology, but Maslow enabled the creation of humanistic psychology.
2) Origin of Maslow’s 5 levels of human need
Abraham Maslow presented various levels of human needs in his 1943 paper (A Theory of Human Motivation).
He argued that human needs can be classified into stages, with humans tending to satisfy them according to their priority.
After the publication of his paper, Maslow’s 5 levels of human need continue to be widely used as a basis in various theories.
2. Understanding Maslow’s 5 levels of human need
Let’s take a detailed look at Maslow’s 5 levels of human need.
1) Level 1: Physiological Needs
The first level, Physiological Needs, includes basic needs such as food, water, air, sleep, exercise, excretion, shelter, and sexual expression.
According to Maslow’s theory, if the first level is not met, one cannot move to the next level, and these are considered the most basic and biologically essential needs.
Example) Having no breathing problems, eating basic meals daily, excreting regularly, and having reproductive instincts.
2) Level 2: Safety and Security Needs
The second level, Safety and Security Needs, includes avoiding harm, maintaining well-being, order, structure, physical safety, freedom from fear, and protection.
The needs of the second stage can be met through a stable residence, job, and safe environment.
Example) Living in a safe house without problems, not getting hurt while engaging in activities, and seeking physical, emotional, and economic protection.
3) Level 3: Love and Belonging Needs
The third stage, Love and Belonging Needs, also called social needs, involves desires for affection, friendship, satisfying interpersonal relationships, and homogeneity within a group.
Relationships with family and friends and social activities can fulfill the needs of the third stage.
Example) Loving or being loved by someone you like, wanting to belong to a group, and maintaining good relationships with friends and family.
4) Level 4: Esteem and Respect Needs
The fourth stage, Esteem and Respect Needs, includes self-respect, respect from others, efforts to achieve work success and recognition, and a desire for accomplishment.
Success in one’s job or work, resulting in recognition of one’s abilities from others, can fulfill the needs of the fourth stage.
Example) Having honor or gaining power, receiving respect from others, and wanting high confidence, mastery, and self-esteem.
5) Level 5: Self-Actualization Needs
The fifth stage, Self-Actualization Needs, is the final stage of needs, where an individual wants to realize their maximum potential and feel fulfilled.
Finding personal values and meaning in life, and realizing personal development and abilities can fulfill the needs of the fifth stage.
Example) Drawing out and maximizing one’s potential to express creativity or enhancing a sense of mission and problem-solving skills.
6) Maslow’s Movement Hypothesis
The Movement Hypothesis is a concept from Maslow’s 5 levels of human need theory, stating that the needs of lower stages must be satisfied before the needs of higher stages can emerge and lead to corresponding behaviors.
Maslow described the 5 levels of human need as having a hierarchical structure, but emphasized that it’s not merely moving from lower to higher levels; rather, the needs at each stage interact with each other.
To put the Movement Hypothesis simply, even if the first level of physiological needs is not met, other needs may take priority depending on an individual’s experience and state.
3. What does Maslow say about self-actualization?
Maslow described self-actualization as being ‘psychologically healthy, fully human, highly developed, and sufficiently mature.’
He observed the characteristics of ‘healthy’, ‘self-actualized’ individuals as follows:
– Appropriate perception of reality
– The ability to accept oneself, others, and the nature of humans
– The capacity to express spontaneity
– The ability to focus on problem-solving
– A desire for privacy
– Independence, autonomy, and resistance to acculturation
– Intensity of emotional reactions
– Frequent ‘peak’ experiences demonstrating worth, richness, and beauty of life
– Empathy for humans
– The ability to form satisfying interpersonal relationships
– A democratic character structure and a strong sense of ethics
– Creativity
– A degree of nonconformity
4. Author’s Thoughts
Looking at Maslow’s 5 levels of human need reminds me of the concept of schema therapy developed by Jeffrey Young in the late 1980s.
A schema is a belief about oneself, others, and the world, formed from experiences with parents and various environments based on one’s personality from birth.
Schema therapy theory suggests that dysfunctional beliefs, called schemas, form from unmet needs during childhood.
There are various types of schemas based on the nature of the belief, including beliefs about oneself, others, and relationships.
For those interested in exploring deeper needs and beliefs beyond Maslow’s 5 levels of human need, I recommend looking into schema theory.
5. Conclusion and Q&A
We have explored what Maslow’s 5 levels of human need entail and what Maslow considers the ideal state of human self-actualization. Below, we’ll look at frequently asked questions and their key points.
1) What are Maslow’s 5 levels of human need?
Maslow’s 5 levels of human need represent various forms of needs that humans fundamentally have, existing in stages from 1 to 5. Needs at a lower stage must be satisfied before higher-stage needs can emerge.
2) What are the contents of each stage of Maslow’s needs?
Level 1 includes physiological needs, Level 2 includes needs for safety and security, Level 3 includes needs for love and belonging, Level 4 includes needs for esteem and recognition from others, and Level 5 includes needs for self-actualization.
3) What does Maslow consider the state of self-actualization to be?
Maslow describes the ideal state of a self-actualized person as being psychologically healthy, fully human, highly developed, and sufficiently mature.
This description implies having a realistic sense of reality, independence, and autonomy, leading a rich and valuable life, maintaining appropriate interpersonal relationships, and living a creative life.
► Source and reference information
[Book] Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 9th edition, part on the history of psychiatric nursing / Co-authored by Mary C. Townsend and Karyn I. Morgan / Hakjisa Medical Publishing
[Interview] Content from an interview with a psychiatric ward nurse at OO University Hospital.
– Be the Titan Brain
