One of the most important theories that human service professionals utilize
while working with their clients is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The
theoretical framework was proposed by Abraham Maslow, a well-known
American psychologist, in the year 1943. It fundamentally breaks down
human needs into five categories. The psychological needs of humans include
food, clothing, shelter, air and water. The safety needs of individuals include
personal security, resources, employment and health. The needs relating to
love and belonginess include friendship, intimacy, and family. The esteem
needs of individuals include self-esteem, status, respect, freedom and
recognition. a a The self-actualization needs basically deal with a person’s desire
to maximize his or her potential (Maslow & Lewis, 1987). The application of
the theory is considered to be of paramount importance in the human services
professional setting since it gives an insight into psychology relating to
‘human motivation.’ By using the theoretical model, it is possible to identify
what might motivate a person to showcase specific kinds of behavior.
An example where a human services professional can apply Maslow’s
Hierarchy of Needs theory involves a child abuse situation in a family setting.
When such an abuse exists, the needs of the victim (child) get compromised.
For instance, the safety needs get affected as the child may be physically,
mentally or emotionally abused. In such a delicate situation, the use of the
specific theory can help the professional to adopt a logical structure to identify
the exact needs of the child that have been affected due to his traumatic
experience in the family setting. After identifying the specific needs, suitable
interventions can be adopted so that effective strategies and interventions can
be adopted for offering support and help to the individual at a comprehensive
level. The theory can influence the effectiveness of the intervention that is
adopted by a human services professional.
References
Maslow, A., & Lewis, K. J. (1987). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Salenger
Incorporated, 14(17), 987-990.
