6 Transformational Leadership Series: Maslow's Needs Theory

Transformational Leadership Series.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology that Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation,[1] which he subsequently extended to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity.

Maslow studied 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."[2] Maslow also studied the healthiest one percent of the college student population. This subjectivity troubled even Maslow himself. In his book, "The Farther Reaches of Human Nature", Maslow writes, "By ordinary standards of laboratory research...this simply was not research at all. My generalizations grew out of my selection of certain kinds of people. Obviously, other judges are needed."

While Maslow's theory was regarded as an improvement over previous theories of personality and motivation, it had its detractors. For example, in their extensive review of research that is dependent on Maslow's theory, Wahba and Bridgewell [3] found little evidence for the ranking of needs that Maslow described, or even for the existence of a definite hierarchy at all. Chilean economist and philosopher Manfred Max need has also argued that fundamental human needs are non-hierarchical, and are ontologically universal and invariant in nature - part of the condition of being human; poverty, he argues, is the result of any one of these needs being frustrated, denied or unfulfilled. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as being associated with Physiological needs, while the top level is termed growth needs associated with psychological needs. Deficiency needs must be met first. Once these are met, seeking to satisfy growth needs drives personal growth. The higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus when the lower needs in the pyramid are satisfied. Once an individual has moved upwards to the next level, needs in the lower level will no longer be prioritized. If a lower set of needs is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily re-prioritize those needs by focusing attention on the unfulfilled needs, but will not permanently regress to the lower level . For instance, a businessman (at the esteem level) who is diagnosed with cancer will spend a great deal of time concentrating on his health (physiological needs), but will continue to value his work performance (esteem needs) and will likely return to work during periods of remission.
References
A.H. Maslov, A Theory of Human Motivation, Psychological Review 50 (1943):370-96.
Maslow, Abraham (1954). Motivation and Personality.
Wahba, A; Bridgewell, L (1976). "Maslow reconsidered: A review of research on the need hierarchy theory". Organizational Behavior and Human Performance (15): 212-240.

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[Simmy56]

Maslow's theory is so outdated, archaic, and misleading. Heuristically useful, yes. Empirically realistic, no. First, motives aren't organized along a hierarchy. Second, needs are a weak motivator; goal setting theory is the most robust motivation theory. Align needs and goals to maximize employee commitment. Third, Maslow never actually provided research. McClelland's research on need for power, need for achievement, and need for affiliation is more relevant to organizational behavior.

[sgt7]

Personally i think its a good theory. You can also use it as a means of gaining insight on how to help others. For example if i know someone whos' basic needs are not being met i may be in a position to help. If their basic needs and security needs are met they may simply need to be valued. This aspect of helping others tends to be neglected in my opinion. It is common to over look this aspect possibly because of the materialistic paradigm which is prevalent in our culture.

[Modeket]

this theory has a lot of criticisms....infact Clayton Alderfer's ERG Theory tries to straighten it up..makes it more realistic..coz one lower level need dsnt necessarily hav to be met to move to higher needs practically....

[RapperEater303]

Tee Hee,, Nerds Fighting

[Adiga035]

Fuck YOU

a great theory! one of the best

[omidjavidi]

fuck maslo