Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory

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When you look at a glass with water in it, is it half empty or half full? Abraham Maslow saw the glass half full when it came to his psychological theory. Maslow conducted his research with focus on the positive possibilities of humans. Maslow also believed that humans have a range of 5 unequal necessities that if not obtained can affect the development and motivation to reach their fullest possibilities. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a major part of his humanistic theory of psychology which is still referred to today in both psychology and human ideals.
Abraham Maslow, the twentieth century psychologist, studied humans with a positive outlook to the range of possibilities they have. Maslow was studied in psychoanalysis and behaviorism theories of psychology but was “repulsed by the negative implications…for human potential” which spurred his “humanistic approach to psychology” (Zalenski & Raspa, 2006). Humanistic psychology is still used today and promotes the idea that human nature is to reach its own potential. Maslow viewed a human as a being with a drive and motivation to reach their full potential by obtaining fundamental necessities required in a human life. From this theory, Maslow created his well-known hierarchy of needs.
Maslow’s most prominent idea about his theory is the hierarchy of needs; a list of five needs that, with a lack of, create the will to live and reach human potential. These five needs, “physiological, safety-security, belongingness, esteem, and…self-actualization”, are all seen as “something that is essential to an organism’s existence or well-being” (Taormina & Gao, 2013). These needs are each ranked. Your most basic needs, physiological, are at the bottom with self-actualization at the top. These ...

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...heory to create what is now called the hierarchy of needs, the structured needs of existence, which are still highly referred to today in research and human views. The humanistic theory is still around today and commonly used in research. Although some oppose the theory, it is a communal enough believed theory currently still in use. Maslow’s theories and psychological pioneering has proven itself useful in the past, present, and will continue too years to come.

Works Cited

Taormina, R. J., & Gao, J. H. (2013). Maslow and the motivation hierarchy: Measuring satisfaction of the needs. The American Journal of Psychology, 126(2), 155-157.
Zalenski, R. J., & Raspa, R. (2006). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: A framework for achieving human potential in hospice. JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, 9(5), 1-3. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.argo.library.okstate.edu

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