Sunday, June 8, 2008

Abraham Maslow: (Focusing on human needs]

Abraham Maslow: (Focusing on human needs)- AH Maslow, a Brandies University psychologist, theorized that people were motivated by a hierarchy of needs. His theory rested on three assumptions:

(i) All of us have needs, which are never completely fulfilled.
(ii) Through our actions we try to fulfill our unsatisfied needs.
(iii) Human needs occur in the following hierarchical manner:

§ Physiological needs.
§ Safety of Security needs.
§ Belongingness or social needs.
§ Esteem or status needs.
§ Self-actualization or self-fulfillment needs.



Self-
Actualization
Needs
(Freedom to be
Creative and innovative)


Esteem Needs
(Respect & recognition)


Social needs
(Love & Affection)


Safety & Security needs
(To be free from the fear of physical,
Psychological & financial harm)


Physiological needs
(Food, Clothing, Shelter)



An individual joins a job to satisfy his basic physiological needs for food, clothing and shelter. Once these needs are fulfilled, he seeks job security to fulfill his safety needs. He may join the social organization or a club to satisfy his social needs. Once social needs are satisfied, fulfilling higher levels of needs- Esteem & Self-actualization- becomes his goals.

Physiological needs: These needs are the basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. According to Maslow, until these needs are satisfied to the degree necessary to maintain life, other needs will not motivate an individual. Further, once these basic needs are fulfilled, they no longer motivate the individual.

Safety & Security needs: Once the Physiological needs of the individual are made, he aims to satisfy his safety & security needs. These needs include the need to be free from the fear of physical, psychological or financial harm. Once the individual feels reasonably safe and secure, he turns his attention to developing relationships with others.

Social needs: These are also called belongingness needs or need for love. They involve the desires to affiliate with and be accepted by others. Managers can satisfy this need of employees by allowing social interaction between them by means of appropriate office lay-out, coffee breaks, and buy providing them lunch and recreational facilities.

Esteem Needs: This level represents the higher needs of humans. They include the desires to have a positive self-image and obtain respect and recognition from others. An organization may appreciate an employee’s performance by rewarding him with a pay hike, a promotion, a well-furnished office, a car, a Personal assistant and other benefits such as stock options, club-memberships etc. Such measures on the pert of an organization to satisfy the esteem needs of its employees.


Self-actualization needs: These comprise the highest level needs in Maslow’s needs hierarchy theory. Self-actualizations needs are an individual’s need to realize his full potential through continuous growth and self-development. Here, the individual is concerns with matters such as the freedom to express his creativity and translate innovative ideas into reality, pursue knowledge and develop his talents in enchanter directions. Most management experts feel that allowing them to participate in decision-making and giving them the power to shape their jobs can satisfy employee’s needs for self-actualization.

1 comment:

Orthomentor said...

And if the highest needs aren't met (B-needs) then there is social sickness--anomie. Deprivation of Truth leads to paranoia. Deprivation of B-needs, in general, leads to anomie. This is where we are...