Maslow classification of motivation

Maslow has classified the human needs in five categories and arranges these categories of needs in a hierarchical order. When lower needs are satisfied, the individual attempts to satisfy the higher needs.

An organism remains in tension if needs are not satisfied. The organism makes efforts to release his tension. Thus, ‘need’ is a factor of motivation- Every behaviour of an organism is rooted by his need. The psychological force which encourages individual to emit a specific behaviour is known as need.

There are two types of needs:

1. Physiological needs, and

2. Mental or psychological needs.

The nature of motivation is psycho-physical and this physiological needs are satisfied, the behaviour change is known as satisfaction, but psychological needs plays an important role in determining the behaviour, because such needs are never satisfied. Most of the human behaviour is controlled and determined by the psychological needs.

Murry’s Need Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchical Theory of Motivation have explained the nature and functions of psychological needs, but Maslow’s theory is most useful and meaningful in this regard.

Maslow’s classification of Human Needs Theory:

Maslow has classified the human needs in five categories and arranges these categories of needs in a hierarchical order. When lower needs are satisfied, the individual attempts to satisfy the higher needs.

Maslow’s Theory of Motivation:

It is the basic assumption regarding this theory:

1. Physiological Needs:

This is an initial stage of human needs, e.g., hunger, thirst and sex. When these needs are not satisfied, total behaviour is governed by these needs. Until and unless physiological needs are not satisfied, the higher needs are not created. It is the lowest level of human needs but they should be satisfied then higher needs can be generated.

2. Safety Needs:

After satisfying physiological needs, the safety needs are created in an individual. The children have more safety needs than the adults, for example- need of life safety, all organism want to have live long safety. It is also lower level of need.

3. Needs of Belongingness:

When the first two needs are satisfied, the needs of belongingness are generated. Every person wants to make his friends and requires identification in the group. He maslow hierarchy  shows affection and love to others and wants that other should also love him.

5 levels of maslow hierarchy of needs

The needs this type are satisfied in this family and society-e.g., make friends, give recognition and love any one, etc.

4. Esteem Needs:

It is higher level need, because it involves the self-respect. An individual maslow hierarchy wants power and commend respect. He provides leadership and wants to live freely. Such needs are created when all earlier needs have been satisfied. The examples of esteem needs are—success, self-respect, self-confidences, etc. The needs develop the feeling of inferiority, if they are not satisfied.

5. Need of Self-Actualization:

This is the highest level of need according to Maslow’s theory. It is created in an maslow pyramid individual when his earlier four needs are fully satisfied.

According to Maslow Self-Actualization Means:

“A musician must make music, an artist must paint and a poet must write poem, if he is ultimately to be at peace with himself. What can a man be, or must be?”