Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

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Content

Intro to A. Maslow

Imp of the theory

Maslow’s hierarchy of need (description)

Recommendations

Criticism

Conclusion

Bibliography

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ABRAHAM MASLOW : Life &

works • Nationality – American

• Fields – Psychology

• Father of Humanistic psychology

• Belongs to Humanistic school of thought

• Received BA(1930), MA (1931), PhD (1934)

all from University of Wisconsin

• Professor at Brooklyn college(1937-51) &

Brandies University (1951-61)

• Popular name in management field – Hierarchy of needs

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IMPORTANCE OF THEORY

• Human beings have wants & desire which

influence their behavior.

• Only unsatisfied needs influence on behavior

satisfied do not act as a motivator

• Since needs are many therefore they are

arranged in the order of importance from basic

to complex

• The person advances to the nxt level of

hierarchy or from basic to complex only when

the lower level need is at least minimally

satisfied

• People do not stop wanting after physiological

needs are fulfilled the begin to want in

succession of safety , social, esteem &

actualization.

SELF-

ACTUALI

ZATION

SELF ESTEEM

SOCIAL NEEDS

LOVE & BELONGINGNESS

SAFETY NEED

PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS

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i) PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS

Physiological need means the biological need or the basic need

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PHYSIOLOGICAL NEED

Physiology aims to understand the mechanisms of living - how

living things work.

Basic needs is like

o Water,

o Shelter,

o Food ,

o Sleep..etc

are person must have fulfill the basic needs.

Maslow believed that this needs are the most primary needs

because all needs become secondary until this needs are met

So much dominating that it can disrupted the process of human

body.

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How Physiological need is achieved in work place?

1. Good working conditions;

2. Attractive salary;

3. Subsidized housing;

4. Free catering. (specially Tea break)

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ii) Safety needs

In the theory, Maslow suggested that the safety needs are mostly

observed in infants and young children due to their dependence on an

adult & lack of knowledge.

Also, safety or security needs in an organizational context correlate to

such factor.

1. Job security

2. Safe working condition

3. Physical safety

4. Salary increase

5. Unity

6. Protective legislation

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Need for safety occurs in the time of real emergencies like war,

crime, floods, earthquake, or all natural calamities or similar

conditions.

Managerial practices to satisfy the safety needs of employees

includes;

1. Pension scheme

2. group insurance scheme

3. Provident Fund

In short , we are associated with safety naturally also for example

whenever a child takes birth ,safety plays a major role during the

delivery of the child & it continues till death.

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How Safety need is achieved in work place?

• Private healthcare;

• Pension;

• Safe working conditions;

• Job security.

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iii) SOCIAL NEEDS

Living together or enjoying life in communities or organized groups

“None of these needs — starting with basic survival on up — are

possible without social connection and collaboration…. Without

collaboration, there is no survival.”

“Our reliance on each other grows as societies became more complex,

interconnected, and specialized. Connection is a prerequisite for

survival, physically and emotionally.”

Belonging to a community provides the sense of security and agency

that makes our brains happy and helps keep us safe.”

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• Long for affectionate relationship

• Relations which include…………respect , admirations and trust.

Not being love leads to feeling of futility , emptiness & hostility

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How to achieve Social need in work place?

1. Good relationships;

2. Team spirit;

3. Company sports;

4. Office parties;

5. Informal activities;

6. Open communication.

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SELF-ESTEEM

Self-Esteem is a combination of self -image, ideal self, and

Pygmalion-self

Self Image: what we perceive ourselves to be

Ideal-self: how we want to be

Pygmalion-self: our perception of what we believe other people think

of us.

I am not what I think I am

I am not what you think I am

I am what I think you think I am

Maslow was classified these needs into the two subsidiary sets.

1) self respects

2) esteem from others

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High self-esteem needs:

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EFFECTS OF HIGH SEL ESTEEM

• People with high self-esteem possess the following characteristics:

• They like to meet new people.

• They don’t worry about how others will judge them.

• They have the courage to express themselves.

• Their lives are enriched with each new encounter.

• They are nicer to be around.

• Their ideas are met with interest because others want to hear what

they have to say.

• They are magnets to positive opportunities!

• People with high self-esteem have an “I think I can” attitude! 20

Low self-esteem:

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THE EFFECTS OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM

• They don’t believe in themselves.

• They see themselves failing before they begin.

• They have a hard time forgiving their mistakes and make themselves

pay the price forever.

• They believe they can never be as good as they should be or as others.

• They are afraid to show their creativity because they will be ridiculed.

• They are dissatisfied with their lives & they spend most of their time

alone.

• They worry about everything and do nothing. People with low self-

esteem have an “I can’t do it” attitude.

• They complain and criticize.

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How is Self-esteem need achieved in work place?

1. Regular positive feedback;

2. Prestige job titles;

3. Write-up in company news sheets;

4. Promotion & rewards

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STEPS TO HIGH YOUR SELF-ESTEEM

Forgive yourself for

past mistakes.

Focus on your positive

attributes.

Follow the example of successful

people.

Become a self talker.

Exhibit a good attitude.

Get plenty of rest.

Practice your talents

Become physically fit.

Learn new things.

Improve your personal

relationships. Dress well!

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SELF ACTUALISATION

This level refers to one reaching their highest potential without

expecting any reward to come out of it. The process of fully developing

your personal potential.

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SELF ACTUALISATION

Characteristics of self-actualizers:

• Visionary

• Peak Experiences

• Self Directed

• Accepting Imperfection

• Comfortable With Being Alone

• Social Interest

• Able to look at life objectively with Democratic attitudes

• Spontaneous and Highly creative

• Strong moral/ethical standards.

• lack artificiality

• Unusual sense of humor

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Behavior leading to self-actualization:

• Experiencing life like a child, with full absorption and concentration

• Trying new things instead of sticking to safe paths

• Listening to your own feelings in evaluating experiences instead of

the voice of tradition, authority or the majority

• Avoiding pretense ('game playing') and being honest

• Being prepared to be unpopular if your views do not coincide with

those of the majority

• Taking responsibility and working hard

• Trying to identify your defenses and having the courage to give them

up.

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How is Self-actualization achieved in the workplace?

1. Challenging jobs;

2. Discretion over work activity;

3. Promotion on opportunities;

4. Encouraging creativity;

5. Autonomy & Responsibility.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

(a)Create a unique culture.

(b)Link organizational culture to HRM practice

(c) Ensure that organizational culture aims to enhance employees’

performance.

(d)Leaders must adequately mentor their staff on organizational

culture.

(e)Align reward and recognition consistently with individual

contribution.

(f) Ensure equity in the distribution of rewards and that rewards meet

the expectations of employees.

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CRITICISM

• It is essential to note that not all employees are governed by

same set of needs. Different individuals may be driven by

different needs at same point of time. It is always the most

powerful unsatisfied need that motivates an individual.

• The theory is not empirically supported.

• The theory is not applicable in case of starving artist as even if

the artist’s basic needs are not satisfied, he will still strive for

recognition and achievement.

• Maslow created his hierarchy of needs from an

INDIVIDUALISTIC PERSPECTIVE, being that he was from the United States, a highly individualistic nation.

• “Needs are not hierarchical. Life is messier than that

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CRITICISM (cont…)

• His theory was based upon healthy persons. Study of exemplary

people such as Albert Einstein, etc. No anticipation of mentally

crippled or mentally ill.

• Classic approach. No room for spirituals like Sufi, poets etc.

• Focused on the entirety of human psychological needs rather

than on individual psychological problems.

• Wahba and Bridwell reported that Rather than focusing

on abnormal behavior and development, Maslow's humanistic

psychology was focused on the development of healthy

individuals here was little evidence for Maslow's ranking of these

needs and even less evidence that these needs are in a

hierarchical order.

• definition of self-actualization is difficult to test scientifically.

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CRITICISM (cont…)

• In a study published in 2011, researchers from the University of

Illinois set out to put the hierarchy to the test. What they

discovered is that while fulfillment of the needs was strongly

correlated with happiness, people from cultures all over the

reported that self-actualization and social needs were

important even when many of the most basic needs were

unfulfilled.

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Physiological

Safety

Social Self-esteem

Self-

actualization

Proposal of new model

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CONCLUSION

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory is still important

and relevant in today’s business organizations, for every

organization that seek to obtain success and excellence, any

attempt to shy away from practical application of the hierarchy

of needs theory, will affect negatively the organizational culture,

human resource management and the employee’s

performance, to achieve organizational excellence and create

good atmosphere, better work environment and achieve target

at the right time then a drive and application of the theory is

paramount.

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BIBLOGRAPHY

• http://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol(2)3/Version-2/G233945.pdf

• http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

• http://www.mindstructures.com/maslow-about-self-actualizing-

people/ • http://www.scancapture.co.uk/how-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-

influences-employee-engagement/

IMAGES

• http://www.presentermedia.com/index.php?target=category&maincat=animsp&id=115

BOOKS :

• K. Aswathapa : Organisational Behaviour

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Thank you

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