Maslow's Hierarchy of Need

Have you been asked to research 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Need'?

Let me help you.

Back in the day, and way back when in 1943, Abraham Maslow looked closely at the

human race and discovered that we all had needs. Good one! No surprises yet. But

where did Maslow get his ideas from? What influenced his thoughts?   

May I encourage you to find out about Abraham Maslow before you quote his

hierarchy of needs. In this was you will understand more than just the triangular

diagram that Maslow has become known for.

Q. Where and when was Maslow born? 

Q. Can you find a photograph of Abraham Maslow?

Q. What do we know about Maslow's family background? 

You can form your own opinion on how Maslow developed his Hierarchy of Needs.

However, you do not necessarily have to agree with him :-)

Maslow labeled our fundamental needs and prioritised them in order of 

importance - beginning with the most basic needs health, food and sleep. 

How well can you function when you are unwell, hungry or over-tired.

Maslows first label then is PHYSIOLOGICAL needs.

Maslow places physiological needs at the base of the Hierarchy of Need model HTTP://changing minds.orgy/explanations/needs/Maslow.HTML.

Maslow also recognised that the human

race tends to like to live in SAFETY.

Yep! Sounds fair to me. Early Years and

Childcare practitioners know all about

making the environment safe for young

children, they also like to be safe

themselves.

   ProCEEd

   Consulting with People who

     Work with Children

Next Maslow seems to think that we all want to belong.

When our PHYSIOLOGICAL needs have been met and we live in SAFETY,

we have time to think about BELONGING.  

What happens when we don't feel that sense of BELONGING at work?

Left out, undervalued, lonely? We see it in children at play - adult life is no different.

A sense of BELONGING is important to most of us.

Okay, our PHYSIOLOGICAL needs,

our need for SAFETY and

BELONGING are all met, and we are

merrily giving and receiving ESTEEM,

after all, we all want to feel good about

ourselves and our work don't we?

What is next?

According to Abraham Maslow

we are now ready for

SELF- ACTUALISATION.

SELF- ACTUALISATION

is about becoming what

we are capable of becoming. 

Remember those old school reports? 

 "...is capable of more." 

"... has achieved her full potential."

So there we have it! Maslow's opinion on our 5 five basic needs.

Since Maslow's early observations he, and others, have added more layers

to the 'hierarchy of needs' model; indeed many more models have been developed

based on Maslow's model. 

Maslow seems to make a lot of sense, but personally I feel slightly uncomfortable

about the motivation behind his hierarchy.

Of course we all need good health, food, sleep, safety and esteem as we strive to

fulfill our goals in life. But if being powerful and rich is about esteeming others just so

that I can get to the top you can count me out!  There are higher ways of living.

Early Years and Childcare professionals who work with children of all ages and their

families will benefit when colleagues genuinely put the needs of others before their

own needs, when they encourage one another just because they can, and not for any

ulterior motive.

Early Years and Childcare practitioners (nursery nurses) who feel undervalued will

notice a difference when their basic need for encouragement is met.

Take the lead in your setting today -

encourage someone