Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory that considers motivation in humans; it states that the conduct of a person is classified under five categories which are human needs. These categories include; needs that are psychological, survival needs, needs for love and belonging, esteem needs and needs for self-actualization.
Based on the theory devised by Maslow, I find that my needs are encompassed in all 5 categories. For instance; the needs of owning a car, having enough food in store, love needs, esteem needs and acquiring the highest level of education. According to McLeod (2007), food is categorized under physiological needs. Additionally, needs that are biological, such as; energy, food, air, shelter, water, clothing, sleep, and others needed in order to sustain human life. Maslow termed these the most critical physiological requirements that were primary to all others. It is a basic requirement of a human body, without which the normal functioning of a person is hampered. In my personal needs I find food as mandatory. It’s my desire to have enough food in store so that I can spend money on other commodities.
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According to Lester (2013), another category in Maslow’s hierarchy is security, security needs relate to the need for defense and security. My second need is safety, our protection needs tend to control our actions until our certain physiological needs for water and food are met. Our natural need for a universe that is both ordered and predictable is out of our control and is related to these needs. I feel safe and protected if I have sufficient funds to go about my daily duties.
Love and intimacy is among my needs. Love has been characterized by differing degrees of desire, attachment, intimacy, and devotion as the mental and physiological connection we feel with others. Belonging needs are our need to be welcomed by others and to feel a sense of belonging to a culture. I desire to get married and get loved by my partner. In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, love needs come third (Pinkus, 2020). Maslow categorizes this under belongingness and love needs.
Self-esteem is one of the needs I have been eager to attain. This level in the hierarchy includes; believing in one’s self, being courageous, personal and social recognition, and receiving respect from other people. These are some of the needs that are found in the category of contentment or self-actualization (McLeod, 2007). At this point, people respect you and you have the audacity to speak before people confidently, it also gives one the ability to convince others using one’s ideas. It’s one need that everyone will want to achieve and I hope to attain.
As a scholar, I have always wanted to attain the highest level of education possible. This according to Maslow is self-actualization. Self-actualization is right at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and it is applied to the recognizing the capacity of an individual, pursuing of spiritual development, self-fulfillment and peak experiences. This degree is defined by Maslow as the determination one has in order to do everything they can, so as to become the best version of themselves.
I am often motivated by my friends who through hard work have achieved these goals. I’m also driven by desire to be competent, autonomous and have relatedness. I therefore classify them as intrinsic motivation since they involve searching for and participating in tasks that we find difficult, exciting and satisfying internally without the possibility of any potential reward. Intrinsic inspiration applies to behavior that is led by acquiring intrinsic gains. In other words, the desire to participate in a behavior comes from inside the individual, since you are naturally happy with it.
References
Lester, D. (2013). Measuring Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Psychological reports, 113(1), 15-17.
McLeod, S. (2007). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Simply psychology, 1, 1-8.
Pinkus, R. T. (2020). Love and Belongingness Needs. Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences, 2694-2697.
