Psychological Needs Essay

Submitted By soellegant
Words: 830
Pages: 4
Open Document
Psychological Needs
Danielle Selby
PSY 211
November 5, 2013
Aria Higgins
Psychological Needs
Abram Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is based on the principle that humans cannot move forward unless basic needs are met. This system is based on a pyramid, “the lower levels of the pyramid before they can successfully be motivated to tackle the next levels. The lowest four levels represent deficiency needs, and the upper three levels represent growth needs” (Martin & Joomis, 2007, Pg. 72-75).
Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be seen most in the shape of a pyramid. Whereas the pyramid has become the average way to represent the hierarchy, Maslow himself never used a pyramid to describe these levels in any of his writings on the subject. The concept of the pyramid is that the biggest section or level is at the bottom. Being the biggest it also makes the most important. It is the most fundamental level. At the top of the pyramid is the need for self-actualization at the top.
The most fundamental and basic four layers of the pyramid contain what Maslow called "deprivation needs" or "d-needs". These needs are physiological needs, safety and security needs, social needs, and esteem needs. Physiological needs being at the bottom of the pyramid followed by the rest in that order. If these standard needs are not met it creates tension and stress on an individual. Maslow's theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be met before the individual will strongly desire or focus motivation upon the secondary level needs. At the top of the pyramid is a level that is known as “growth needs”. “The highest level is self-actualization, or the self-fulfillment. Behavior in this case is not driven or motivated by deficiencies but rather one’s desire for personal growth and the need to become all the things that a person is capable of becoming” (Maslow, 1970).
Level one, which is the lowest, is physiological needs; these are our basic needs that we need to survive such as food, sleep, housing, and air. Once these physiological needs are met then we can focus on the next level. Most Americans have this need met. Safety and security comes after on the pyramid. We must feel like we are in a safe environment, as a result we are secure because we feel nothing will happen to use and cause stress, anxiety, or even mental breakdowns. The next on the hierarchy of needs is level three. This is where we seek out developing meaningful relationships with the opposite sex such as girlfriend/boyfriend, begin to date, have friendships with peers, teachers, and family. Once those three levels are met an individual can focus on the last level of basic needs which is esteem. This level includes confidence, self-esteem, achievement, and respect. After all basic needs of the pyramid are met, then an individual has room for growth needs. Growth in one’s morality, creativeness, and problem solving.
Yes the hierarchy makes sense to me because when you think about this and apply it to your life, you can clearly understand that you cannot focus on needs to better yourself (growth needs) unless your most basic needs are met. Look at it this way, if you want to go to college you cannot focus on getting a higher
Show More

Related Documents: Psychological Needs Essay

Psychological Needs Paper

Psychological Needs Paper Michael Hermosillo PSY211 January 9, 2014 Instructor Daniel Jette Psychological Needs Paper In psychology it is important to understand what motivates individuals to think and act the way they do. Whether it is conditioned or motivated internally or externally psychologist need to explore the reasons and stimulus behind the actions their subjects make. One theory is humanistic in which the importance of psychological and cognitive factors are motivated by the realization…

Words 663 - Pages 3

Psychological Needs Paper

Psychological Needs Paper Danielle Church PSY/211 April 09, 2014 Claudia Daniel Psychological Needs Paper Maslow proposed that there are five levels of needs, the pyramid often used to explain his concept is to show that you must progress through the basic primary needs before you can reach the top, which leads ultimately to self actualization. This is called Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The needs are the following Physiological needs, Security needs, Social needs, Esteem needs, and Self actualizing…

Words 951 - Pages 4

Psychological Needs Of A 3 Year Old

Explain what constitutes the physical and psychological needs of a three year old child. Explain how these needs can ideally be met in a childcare settingDefine physical needs * Briefly define what is meant by physical needs, including exercise and rest, diet, health and safety * Identify the specific physical needs of a three year old.Give a full explanation of the steps carers should ideally take to fulfil these physical needs. * Consider for example, how you could provide…

Words 2458 - Pages 10

Physical and Psychological Needs of a 3 Year Old Essay

physically, emotionally and psychologically healthy childcare centres or parents/carers should fulfil their child’s physical needs together with psychological needs. We are going to point out and discuss on a three year old child’s physical and psychological needs and how they can affect the child’s physical, emotional and psychological health. A three year old child needs to be well fed, given ample of rest and should be encouraged doing physical exercise. They should also be given precautions of…

Words 2032 - Pages 9

A comprehensive review of the mental health problems and needs that are characteristic of patients who suffer behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia Essay

A comprehensive review of the mental health problems and needs that are characteristic of patients who suffer behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Alois Alzheimer’s 1901 case report decribes a woman who presented with ideas of jealousy toward her husband as her first apparent sign of illness. Soon, rapidly worsening cognitive deficits were noticeable; she was profoundly disorientated, showed signs of purposeless hyperactivity, demonstrated hoarding behaviour ,at times she had paranoid…

Words 9240 - Pages 37

Arousal Behavior Stress and Affect W Essay

in length. What are the differences between physiological and psychological needs? Provide examples of each in your response. A physiological need can be more concerned with maintaining the condition inside of the body, while psychological needs is when the body is pushed into movement when the body is not doing what it needs to be doing. Physiological needs are more effective towards the mind and the body, and the psychological needs are more concerned with having/finding shelter, satisfying hunger…

Words 559 - Pages 3

UNIT 8 Essay

UNIT 8; PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE Description of Unit The aim of this Unit is to introduce the learner to the different psychological perspectives and to encourage the application of these approaches to the study of health and social care. The value of psychological studies to the understanding of health and social care will be examined. You will consider the meaning of the term ‘theories’ in the context of psychology and begin to appreciate the diversity of…

Words 1061 - Pages 5

Long Essay Cindy

The Key Factors Affecting Change In the Psychological Contract Introduction Psychological Contract (PC) was original applied in the workplace in 1960. “Psychological Contract is an individual’s belief regarding the terms and conditions of a reciprocal exchange agreement between the focal person and another party” (Rousseau, 1989). It’s basically a belief about mutual expectations between employers and employees resulting in how they will behave at work and what they will get in return. However…

Words 832 - Pages 4

Essay on Sources of Motivation

“biological variables refer to the characteristics of the body and brain that serve to motivate behavior” (p. 8). Physiological needs include oxygen, food, water, sex, sleep, and physical stimulation. It also includes the need to avoid harm, toxic stimuli, heat, and cold. For example, a person is driven to eat by hunger in order to satisfy their body’s physiological need for sustenance. As a general rule, when the feelings of hunger increase, coincidentally the motivation to eat will also increase…

Words 753 - Pages 4

Social Factor Poverty

structural factors and social psychological factors that influence the occurrence of poverty. People describe social issues as something that is wrong and affects many people and is changeable. In our society today, poverty is a serious issue that brings many hardships to individuals, families and communities. Poverty is a condition where people are struggling to meet their basic needs of food, housing, clothing, etc. Both social structural factors and social psychological factors impact the perpetuation…

Words 1937 - Pages 8