Hierarchy of Needs – Abraham Maslow

One model of motivation that has gained a lot of attention, but not complete acceptance, has been put forward by Abraham Maslow. Maslow’s theory argues that individuals are motivated to satisfy a number of different kinds of needs, some of which are more powerful than others (or to use the psychological jargon, are more prepotent than others). The term prepotency refers to the idea that some needs are felt as being more pressing than others. Maslow argues that until these most pressing needs are satisfied, other needs have little effect on an individual’s behaviour. In other words, we satisfy the most prepotent needs first and then progress to the less pressing ones. As one need becomes satisfied, and therefore less important to us, other needs loom up and become motivators of our behaviour.

Maslow represents this prepotency of needs as a hierarchy. The most prepotent needs are shown at the bottom of the ladder, with prepotency decreasing as one progresses upwards.

SELF-ACTUALISATION – reaching your maximum potential, doing you own best thing
ESTEEM – respect from others, self-respect, recognition
BELONGING – affiliation, acceptance, being part of something
SAFETY – physical safety, psychological security
PHYSIOLOGICAL – hunger, thirst, sex, rest


47 of 196 Days
August 6, 2010