Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Summary
Abraham Maslow, a noted psychiatrist, devised a system for studying human needs. In his system, he arranged needs in order of their priorities, as shown in the above graph. His theory can help explain the influence of human needs on personality.
Physical needs
According to Maslow, physical needs have first priority. These needs include food, water, shelter, clothing, sleep, and sex. They are necessary for good health, a state of well-being, and the continuation of life. Persons can think of nothing else until these needs are at least partially met. For instance, can you imagine trying to decide what movie to see Saturday night when you are suffering from starvation? No, for physical needs demand your primary consideration.
Safety and security
Once you have satisfied your physical needs, you begin to recognize other needs. You need to feel safe from physical danger. You need to feel secure in daily routines so you know what to expect from life. In addition, you need to know that you are protected against financial troubles.
When you have satisfied these needs, you have the courage to experience more of life and to expand your personality. On the other hand, if your life centers around protecting yourself (whether from wild animals, thieves, bill collectors, or nasty classmates), your personality has little chance to develop.
Love and acceptance
Everyone needs to be needed. This is the basis for Maslow's third level of human need. You need to feel that you are accepted by others. You need to feel secure in your relationships with family members and friends. Praise, support, encouragement, and personal warmth will help you fulfill these needs. Then you will have the chance to develop a healthy personality. You, in turn, will be able to accept others and to give them praise, support, and affection.
Esteem
In addition to love and acceptance, you need esteem (respect and admiration). Self-esteem must be established first. You must respect yourself before you can expect others to respect you. Family members can help you establish self-esteem. Friends can help too. They can make you feel that you are a worthy person who adds an important dimension to their lives.
When you have both self-esteem and the esteem of others, you have the potential for further personality development. You have the confidence to strive for achievement and in-dependence. You become a vital part of your world.
Self-actualization
Self-actualization is the realization of your full potential. To reach this level, all other levels of need must be at least partially fulfilled. At this level, you combine concern for self with concern for others, and for society as a whole. You strive to become the very best you can be. If your special talents are related to art, you become the best artist you can be. If your talents are related to auto mechanics, you become the best mechanic you can be.
When you reach self-actualization, you believe in yourself. You have the confidence to express your personal beliefs and to reach out to others and offer your support. Your personality is fully developed. However, this does not mean that you quit learning, nor that your personality stops changing. On the contrary, you are even more interested in improving yourself. You continue to strive to become a better person.
YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Many of you may find meaning and motivation for shaping your life on a more personal level. This may be through guidance provided by your parents or the teachings of your religious faith. Basic standards of personal behavior are structured within these teachings. This background gives you a foundation upon which you can base personal and family choices.
SELF-CONCEPT AND PERSONALITY
To develop your personality and become the best that you can be, you need a positive self-concept. (Your self-concept is the way you think and feel about yourself.) When you have a positive self-concept, you know yourself and accept yourself as you are.
CHARACTER
Character is that force which guides your conduct and behavior into acceptable standards of right and wrong. It is the part of your personality that helps you make choices that are in line with your personal priorities.
Character development begins early in childhood. As children interact with their parents and other adults they begin to learn which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. Children begin to accept these standards as their own. These acquired standards guide their behavior, and thus their character develops.
In the early years, children's behavior is often guided by forces outside their control. They try to conform to the behavior guidelines set by their parents in order to receive their praise. They realize they may be punished if they do something their parents don't approve of them doing.
In later years the standards of the peer group may guide behavior. "Is everyone doing it?" But when the controls become a part of you, character is developing. You will be choosing to do what is morally right because you want to, not because it is "the thing to do" This is the goal of character formation.