Maslow's Theory of Human Action

Maslow’s Theory of Human Action

Psychologist Abraham Maslow studied human motivation. He asked, Why do people behave as they do? According to Maslow’s theory, human action is motivated by unsatisfied needs. Maslow’s theory was hierarchical: he believed that certain lower needs must be satisfied before higher needs can be met. Maslow’s approach was radically different from the two theories that dominated the field of psychology in this time, the theories of psychologists Freud and Skinner.

            Sigmund Freud, the “grandfather” of modern psychoanalysis, believed that we are motivated by deep irrational drives, specifically sex and anger. Because these drives are unconscious, our choices are not really free. We act through compulsion, not choice. This dark view of human nature, Maslow believed, was the result of Freud’s method of study: Freud’s theory was based on his work with mentally ill people. Maslow wrote, “The study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy” (Motivation and Personality). Maslow believed that psychology should not be based on the study of mentally ill people, but rather on healthy individuals.

            Another psychologist, B. F. Skinner, is considered the “grandfather” of the branch of psychology called behaviorism. His studies of behavior were experimental. He did laboratory studies of learning in pigeons and white rats. According to his theory, motivation is based on simple rewards such as food and water, sex, and avoidance of pain. For example, you can train a dog by rewarding it with treats. Skinner believed that humans, similarly, are motivated by rewards and punishments.

            Thus, both Freud and Skinner saw human action as driven rather than freely chosen. For Freud, it was sex and anger that drove people’s actions; for Skinner, it was rewards and punishments. This belief that actions are determined rather than chosen is known as determinism. In such an understanding, genuine generosity and unselfishness are not possible because Maslow studied exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglas rather than mentally ill or neurotic people.

            Unlike Freud and Skinner, Maslow understood people as basically trustworthy and tending toward growth and love. Although he acknowledged that human history is full of wars, murder, deceit, and betrayal, he believed that violence and other evils occur when human needs are not met, but that they are not the deepest truth of human nature. For example, people may defend themselves violently when their basic need for safety is not met. In other words, they may defend themselves by violent means. Maslow did not believe that humans are violent because they enjoy violence, or that they lie, cheat, and steal because they enjoy doing so. They behave in these ways because their basic needs are unmet.

            According to Maslow, there are four types of basic needs – physiological, safety, love, and esteem needs – that must be satisfied before a person can act freely and unselfishly. He called these needs “deficiency needs.” Moving towards growth and self-fulfillment becomes possible as these needs are met. Satisfying need is healthy; if our basic needs are not met, we become sick and destructive.

            Maslow believes that needs are prepotent. At any given moment, the need that is prepotent is the one that has the greatest influence over our actions. For each of us, each moment has its own particular prepotent need. For example, teenagers have a need to feel that they are accepted by a group; during adolescence, that need may take precedence over all others. For a heroin addict, on the other hand, being accepted by other people is meaningless compared to the need to satisfy the craving for heroin. According to Maslow, when the deficiency needs are met, higher needs can emerge. When these are satisfied, new – and higher – needs emerge. As one desire is satisfied, another arises to take its place.

Maslow’s hierarchical analysis of human needs begins with physiological needs, which he considered to be the lowest. The progressively higher needs are safety, belonging, and esteem, leading finally to self-actualization, which Maslow considered to be the highest need. He explained those needs as follows:

Physiological Needs           

Physiological needs are the very basic necessities such as air, water, food, sleep, and sex. When these are not satisfied we may feel sickness, irritation, pain, or discomfort. These feelings motivate us to alleviate them as soon as possible. Once they are alleviated, we may think about other things.

Safety Needs            

Safety needs have to do with establishing stability and consistency in a chaotic world. These needs may be both physical and psychological in nature. Many in our society cry out for law and order because they do not feel safe enough to go for a walk in their neighborhood. Many people, particularly those in dangerous neighborhoods in our cities, unfortunately, are stuck at this level. We need the security of a home and family. However, if a family is dysfunctional, i.e., an abusive husband, the wife cannot move to the next level because she is constantly concerned for her safety. Love and belongingness have to wait until she is no longer cringing in fear. Maslow believed that safety needs sometimes motivate people to be religious. Religions comfort us with the promise of a safe secure place after we die and leave the insecurity of this world.

Belonging Needs     Belongingness and love are next on the ladder. Humans have a desire to belong to groups such as clubs, work groups, religious groups, family, and gangs. We need to be loved by others, to be accepted by others. Performers appreciate applause. We need to be needed. Advertisers know this: Beer commercials, in addition to playing on sex, also portray beer drinking as the context for companionship. When was the last time you saw a beer commercial with someone drinking alone?

Esteem Needs           

There are two types of esteem needs. First is the attention and recognition that comes from others. Second, there is the self-esteem which results from competence or mastery of a task. Thus, esteem needs are related both to belongingness needs and to self-actualization.

Self-Actualization   

Once the needs for physiological, safety, belonging, and esteem are satisfied, people are able to think about questions like, “Who do I really want to be in the world?” and “What do I want to accomplish with my life?” Maslow called that stage “self-actualization.” The need for self-actualization is the desire to become “everything that you can be.” People whose basic needs are met have the freedom to make choices about how they want to live. Because they are not driven by survival needs, they have the freedom to choose their path of development. Self-actualization may take a variety of forms. A self-actualized person may learn to make music, dance, or write poems; volunteer at a homeless shelter; climb a mountain; or adopt a child. These activities are free choices. Because the individual’s basic needs are met, he or she has the freedom to make choices for the sake of fulfillment rather than being driven by the demands of basic survival.

Your own words:    

1. State (a) one way that Maslow disagreed with Freud and (b) one way that he disagreed with Skinner. (2 – 4 sentences)
2. Summarize Maslow’s theory in your own words. (2 – 5 sentences) 

Your own thoughts:

3. State one way that you agree or disagree with Maslow’s theory. (2 – 5 sentences)

                         (adapted from http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM)