Introduction
Motivation is a process that influences and directs behavior to satisfy a need. Maslow developed a theory based on the idea that human behavior is determined by limited fundamental needs that emerge in sequential order. He called his model a hierarchy of needs theory that comprises five dimensions of motivation. Maslow’s hierarchy of wants explains that human beings are constantly motivated by various desires, which are continually satisfied until they reach a level of self-actualization. This paper discusses Maslow’s pyramid of wants and the five basic assumptions concerning motivation.
The Basic Assumptions
Maslow’s theory contains five basic assumptions, which are whole, complex, and continually stimulated by different desires. The first assumption is that wants are holistic and that a person is motivated, not just by one part of the wants but with the entirety of the wants in a certain level (Feist et al., 2018). For example, Maslow believed that a person could not be motivated by one need; food without shelter does not give the full motivation. He showed that people are encouraged if all the basic needs are met.
The second assumption is that motivation is complex, due to underlying motives that stem from several different unconscious behaviors. For instance, an individual’s desire to find love may be inspired by friendship, the need for connection to another person, or intimacy with another individual with similar conditions. Third, the assumption is that wants continually motivate people by stimulating different needs, if one requirement is satisfied. For example, if a person is hungry, they will strive to get food. Still, when this need is satisfied, they move on to other wants such as love and safety. Fourth, those basic needs that motivate individuals are universal across all cultures. Maslow assumed that everyone has similar basic needs of food, shelter, and a sense of connection to others. Finally, that need can be arranged on a hierarchy and met in a specific ranked order (Feist et al., 2018). Maslow believed that the most crucial requirement is physiological conditions: food, water, shelter, and oxygen.
Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow assumed that lower levels wants have prepotency over higher-level desires and should be satisfied first. The needs include physiological needs, safety, love and belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization desires. Physiological conditions are the first basic needs and include oxygen, food, water, and shelter. The second level in the hierarchy of wants comprises safety needs namely stability, physical security, protection, and absence of threat (Lester, 2013). The third level is love and belongingness, including the desire for friendship, and the need to belong through connectedness (Bouzenita & Boulanouar, 2016). The fourth level is esteem needs that arise from the satisfaction of love and nurtures self-esteem, self-confidence, and helps build a good reputation. The fifth and highest level in the pyramid consists of self-actualization. Unlike the other, which are activated conditions, this need embraces aesthetic and cognitive desires when the lower wants are met. The aesthetic needs comprise the desire for beauty and order. The cognitive conditions include the need to know and to understand through curiosity.
Scripture Sample
The Bible motivates the people by encouraging believers to seek God and trust Him, and all their desires will be catered for. For example, in Philippians 4: 19, (American Standard Version, 1901) the scripture says that God will supply every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Besides, the scriptures in Mathew 6:25-27 (American Standard Version, 1901) inform that believers do not have to worry about their food, drinks, or clothing as God shall provide. However, they have to seek first the kingdom of God. The Bible shows that human beings worry about meeting their needs, which acts as a motivation for them to work towards attaining their desires.
References
American Standard Version. (1901). Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:19
Bouzenita, A., & Boulanouar, A. (2016). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: An Islamic critique. Intellectual Discourse, 24(1), 59-81. Web.
Feist, J., Feist, G. J., & Roberts, T. (2018). Theories of personality (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Lester, D. (2013). Measuring Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Psychological Reports, 113(1), 15-17.