Theories of Motivation

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 Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a charted set of human requirements that are important for an individual to achieve complete development and self-actualization. This is a theory of psychologist Abraham Maslow.

Abraham Maslow was a 20th century psychologist who developed a humanistic approach to psychology. He is best known for his hierarchy of needs.

The hierarchy is diagramed as a pyramid starting at the bottom with basic needs that must be satisfied for an individual to be able to progress to addressing more secondary needs.(A Science Odyssey, 2015).

Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization (McLeod.S. 2018).

The original hierarchy of needs five stage model includes:

1.    Physiological needs

These are the things that most, if not all, organisms need to survive, such as the ability to breathe, stay warm enough or cool enough get sleep when we need it, and have enough food and water to survive. (Huntington.C) 

2.    Safety needs

 Protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, freedom from fear. McLeod.S (2018). This means having a reliable caregiver that keeps human healthy and provides for their physiological needs.(Huntington.C) 

3.    Love and belongingness needs

Once safety and security are established, the third level of human needs is social and involves feelings of belongingness. McLeod.S (2018). We focus on feeling connected to others, such as having a romantic partner and friends in our lives. (Huntington.C).

4.     Esteem needs

Are we recognized and respected for our contributions? Do people seem to like us for who we are or what we’re good at? (Huntington.C) Which Maslow classified into two categories: (i) esteem for oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery, independence) and (ii) the desire for reputation or respect from others (e.g., status, prestige). McLeod.S (2018)

5.    Self-actualization needs

This level is the highest level of the pyramid of needs. It refers to the realization of a person's potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth, and peak experiences. McLeod.S (2018) says realizing, personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. A desire “to become everything one is capable of becoming” (Maslow, 1987, p. 64).

Figure 1: Maslow’s classic hierarchy of needs

Advantages of Maslow Theory of Motivation

Ø  Simple to Understand

-          Very simple to understand and even layman can understand and relate to this theory because we all go through one or other stage of needs pyramid during our lifetime.

Ø  It takes into account Human Nature

-          It gives consideration to basic human nature that is demanding more as lower level needs are satisfied.

Ø  Relevant in All Fields

-          Relevant in almost all fields of life because whether you are home or at office you start with basic need only. Then next come security of your home and once security and food aspect is taken care of you move to social affection by calling your relatives and friends at you home and then come the self-esteem when you decorate your house with expensive furniture and showpieces to show off the society.

Disadvantages of Maslow Theory of Motivation

Ø  Not all Individuals Think in the same way.

-          Not all individuals think in the same way hence for some individuals social affection and respect is more important than safety needs.

Ø  Culture Differences

-          There are bound to be cultural differences when this theory is applied to different nations as each nation or country has different culture.

Ø  Difficult to Measure

-          It is very difficult to measure the satisfaction which one gets after satisfying each level of need as it is subjective in nature because it deals with human mind which cannot be predicted by any machine or method.

                               

 

List of References

-          Abraham Maslow 1908-1970. (n.d.). A Science Odyssey; People and Discoveries. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bhmasl.html

-          (Huntington.C) Are we recognized and respected for our contributions? Do people seem to like us for who we are or what we’re good at? https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs.html

-          LetsLearn Finance,(2009) Advantages and Disadvantages of Maslow Theory of Motivation https://www.letslearnfinance.com/advantages-disadvantages-maslow-theory-motivation.html

-          McLeod.S (2018) Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs https://canadacollege.edu/dreamers/docs/Maslows-Hierarchy-of-Needs.pdf

Comments

  1. Zacky HassanNovember 28, 2022 at 7:11 AM

    Very clearly explain about Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Herzberg's two-factor theory is another influential theory of employee motivation. Organizations in the contemporary digital world can still successfully apply it to foster an environment where people are highly driven. please consider that too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shermila W.December 6, 2022 at 8:45 PM

      Hi Zacky Thank you for the comment. Agreed with your point and I have create separate blog, explaining Herzberg's Two-factor theory. you can give comments to that also.

      Delete
  2. Ranga JDecember 3, 2022 at 8:48 PM

    Agreed. There are two categories of needs in this five-stage model: deficiency needs and growth needs.
    Deficit needs (D-needs) are frequently used to describe the first four levels, whereas growth or being needs are used to describe the highest level (B-needs).
    Deprivation-induced deficiencies demands are considered to motivate people when they go unsatisfied. Additionally, the longer these wants go unmet, the more motivation there will be to satisfy them. An individual will become more hungry, for instance, the longer they go without food
    (McLeod, 2018).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shermila W.December 6, 2022 at 9:27 PM

      Hi Ranga good point agreed with you and also This five stages model has been expanded by adding cognitive needs- knowledge & understanding, curiosity/ aesthetic needs- appreciation & transcendence needs- person is motivated by values which transcend beyond the personal self (McLeod,S 2018).

      Delete
  3. Sachini NagahawattaDecember 6, 2022 at 9:30 PM

    Agreed with content Nadeeshani and adding furthermore, While there has been a number of supportive views and studies on the hierarchy of needs that have long been important, the theory has been criticized too. Hanley and Abell (2002) have stated that Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has a tendency to Western thought and that the theory was criticized by feminist thinkers, existential philosophers, environmentalists, and others. They also criticize that theory is entirely personal development oriented (Tezcan et al, 2017).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shermila W.December 6, 2022 at 10:37 PM

      Hi Sachini agreed with you, Maslow puts forward his own needs in the hierarchy, he also acknowledges that satisfying each need is not a complete or no phenomenon. Therefore, people do not need to fully meet the next requirement in the hierarchy(Goyal, 2012).

      Delete
  4. Dileka RanawakaDecember 9, 2022 at 11:09 PM

    It is noteworthy Maslow’s hierarchy of needs carries advantages and disadvantages too, the value of the theory is that one can set as the guide of living. early life stages that it should focus on physiological need and then safety. After accomplishing the same then self actualization. This is in deed the reflection of human development (Mathes, E.W., 1981)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shermila W.December 9, 2022 at 11:41 PM

      Hi Dileka, thank you for your comment, Agreed what you have mentioned, The theory assumes that all people experience these needs in the same order, failing to recognize cultural and individual differences. In collectivist societies, for example, social needs may be considered more important than physiological needs.

      Delete
  5. Manodya PereraDecember 10, 2022 at 3:23 AM

    Good blog Shermila. According to Pinder (1998 in Ambrose & Kulik, 1999) work motivation may be regarded as a set of internal and external forces that initiate work-related behavior, and determine its form, direction, intensity and duration. The concept relates to the work context specifically, and includes the influence on work behavior of both environmental forces, and those inherent in the person. In the workplace, work motivation presents as an invisible, personal and hypothetical construct that manifests itself in the form of observable, and therefore measurable, behaviors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shermila W.December 10, 2022 at 3:45 AM

      Agreed with you Manodya, Thank you for commenting ,Monetary Reword and Non-monetary Reword are key points.some times Non-monetary Reword affects immediately to the employees performance but Monetary Reword also affects to the employees performance and organizations goals.

      Delete
  6. Safiya AmeenDecember 13, 2022 at 12:09 PM

    Shermila, nice content, in addition it is stated that Maslow's hierarchy of need theory has made a significant contribution in the field of organizational behavior and management especially in the area of employee motivation and remains attractive to both managers and the organizations alike (Kaur, 2013).

    ReplyDelete
  7. shashika PriyanthaDecember 13, 2022 at 12:13 PM

    Good content Shermila, Furthermore, Motivation is a process which may lead to job satisfaction .it has been suggested that the usual approach to the study of motivation is through an understanding of internal cognitive processes, that is, what people feel and how they think. These different cognitive processes or theories of motivation are usually divided into two contrasting approaches: content theories and process theories (Millins1988).

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