Maslow's Heirarchy of Human Needs

Abraham Harold Maslow (1908–1970) was an American psychologist best known for his conceptualization of the theory "The Hierarchy of Human Needs". He is considered the father of humanistic psychology. Maslow asserted that workers have five basic needs which can be ranked in order of ascending importance.


Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs is depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as being associated with physiological needs, while the top level is termed growth needs associated with psychological needs.

According to Maslow, as each need is satisfied, a higher need emerges. When all the other needs have been met, employees will become motivated by self-actualisation. In other words, they will look for meaning and personal growth in their work, and will actively seek new responsibilities. Some meet their self-actualisation needs by producing work of high quality while others develop creative ideas.

Maslow's theory assumes that a satisfied need is not a motivator. It is assumed that people only act to satisfy deprived needs. His theory also assumes that the five need stages follow strictly ordered heirarchy and a need will be motivated if the one below it has been satisfied.