Maslow Essay 1
Essay 2: Maslow
Essay 2: Maslow
Larissa Krueger
Liberty University School of Behavioral Sciences
Maslow Essay 2
Essay 2: Maslow
Abraham Maslow cited five basic assumptions that define human motivation and
perpetuate everything humans do; Maslow cited that there is a holistic approach to what
motivates us, our motivation is usually quite complex, we are constantly motivated by one need
if not multiple needs at one time, there is a set of basic needs that motivate all people
everywhere, and these universal needs can be organized into what is known today as Maslow’s
Hierarchy of Needs (Feist, 2018).
When Maslow touches on his first assumption, the assumption in which there is a holistic
approach to motivation, he speaks about the whole person and the idea that no individual part or
function of a person is solely motivated without the rest of said person (Feist, 2018). To related
this to the hierarchy of needs, Maslow theorized that one must progress through the various
categories of needs before being satisfied as the whole person, that in which he referred to as
self-actualization (Feist, 2018).
Secondly, Maslow explains that motivation is seldom simple, but rather complex.
Humans are generally not simple, nor is what motivates them. The text cited the example of a
primal needs for sexual interaction between two partners, and what motivates this may not
simply be that of a genital nature and the innate human sex drive, but more complex in the sense
that humans can be sexually motivated from a genital drive, a drive for companionship, love, and
so many other basic instinctual needs (Feist, 2018). To cite my own example of a complex
motivation, the most important need according to Maslow is that of a physiological nature,
specifically the need for food; while we are partially motivated to seek food for survival and
satiation of hunger, we are also often motivated to seek certain foods that contain flavors in
which bring us joy or comfort, or remind us of happier times (perhaps during our childhood, a
Maslow Essay 3
meal our mothers prepared for us that now reminds us of those simpler times. For me, “Spanish
Rice” is a dish that brings me comfort in tough times as an adult, and I can happily thank my
mother for that).
We are continually motivated, at least by something. Maslow teaches us that just because
we satisfy one need, that doesn’t mean we are satisfied as whole person. When we are hungry
and we satiate that hunger with a meal, that doesn’t mean that all of our needs are satisfied and
we are no longer motivated; satisfying one need simply frees our attention to focus on other
needs that motivate us. If you look at Maslow’s hierarchy again, once we have satisfied our
physiological needs for food, water, oxygen, etc., we can then move forward and focus our
attention on the safety needs that motivate us (Feist, 2018). We continue to progress through the
needs which motivate us until we reach the point of self-actualization, which also refers to our
sense of self-fulfillment.
Regardless of what country you live in, socioeconomic class you belong to, or lifestyle
you live, Maslow theorizes in his fourth assumption that all people are motivated by the same
basic needs (Feist, 2018). All people are motivated by the needs for food, water, oxygen, safety,
stability, a sense of belonging, confidence, competence, and ultimately self-fulfillment (Feist,
2018). While our varying cultures and backgrounds may alter how these needs are presented and
how we seek to fulfill these needs, the principle remains that we are all motivated by the same
set of desires.
Maslow’s final assumption was that all of these motivating needs can be organized into a
hierarchy, affectionately referred to in the psychological world as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
(Feist, 2018). The hierarchy begins with the most important needs, that of the physiological
aspect of human nature. Humans, much like plants, need food, water, and oxygen to survive on
Maslow Essay 4
the most primal level. Once one’s physiological needs are satisfied on even the most basic level,
the needs for safety come into play; humans are motivated by their needs to feel secure and
stable in their environments, and essentially free from threats (Feist, 2018). When the first two
tiers are handled, we seek to satisfy our needs for love and belongingness; basic human nature
dictates that we seek companionship in multiple forms: friendship, familial, and in a romantic
partnership. We want to feel as though we belong, as though we are a beloved part of something
(Feist, 2018). The next need is that of esteem; we need to foster health self-respect, confidence,
and feel as though we are competent on many levels. In our appearance, we strive to feel
confident, in our talents we thrive when we feel as though we are competent. Finally, when all of
the previous levels are satisfied and we have progressed properly, we reach self-actualization;
self-actualization is the ultimate sense of self-fulfillment and the realization of just how much we
are capable of (Feist, 2018).
Maslow was really onto something and this can pair with Matthew 6:33, where we read
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided
for you.” While Maslow theorized that humans are motivated on the most basic and complex
levels to satisfy these needs and ultimately reach self-actualization, we know that through God
we are loved and provided for and these motivations and needs will be met if we just seek His
kingdom and live a life in His guiding light.
Maslow Essay 5
References
Feist, J., Feist, G. J., Roberts, T. A. (2018). Theories of Personality (9th ed.). Dubuque, IA:
McGraw-Hill Education.
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Appendix
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Footnotes
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Table 1
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Figure Captions
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