Introduction
Psychology is one of the disciplines aimed at studying and understanding the mental aspect of human beings. Many models have been developed to explain and describe all aspects of one’s psyche. One might say that Maslow’s pyramid, his magnum opus, is a universal model that perfectly describes human needs. This concept will be applied to a social group such as patients in this paper.
Physicality
Maslow’s physical level encapsulates a person’s most essential and primal needs. Failure to satisfy these leads the human body to fail to function normally and even to death. Burton (2012) mentions that these necessities include “eating, drinking, and sleeping” and similar physiological activities (para. 3). A patient needing more oxygen in the blood while under anesthesia and undergoing surgery is an example of physical need. When the medical team provides invasive mechanical ventilation, they fulfill it for them.
Safety and Security
Once physically satisfied, they want to feel safe and socialized, at least on a minimum level. It can be said that the safety and security level is where necessities become less physiological and unconscious and more conscious. This category comprises everyday concepts such as stability, health, and a place to rest and live (Burton, 2012). When an individual sees a physician for a cold, they are not just coming for medicine, instructions, and recommendations. They want their health and normal lifestyle back so they can be happy.
Socio-Intimacy
Maslow’s third level can be called the socio-intimate one. When one is healthy and confident in their future regarding finances and housing, they begin to feel the need for love and inclusion (Burton, 2012). Most people consider having a partner, friends, family, and relatives necessary. A patient dependent on a nurse or caregiver or wishing to see a family member or spouse is experiencing Maslow’s third category of needs. The essence of the discussed group of needs is similar; these are close, private, vast, and reliable connections.
Ego and Self-esteem
It is true that when a person is satisfied, they want even more; it is human nature discovered by psychologists. The fourth element of the pyramid is made of socio-political concepts such as prestige, recognition, and power (Burton, 2012). An individual who has received a disability feels it is necessary to be recognized as a disabled person and receive appropriate social assistance. They use their medical records to make a claim to the appropriate authorities and obtain the needed status.
Self-Actualization
It is natural for people not only to want to consume but also to desire to create. This need constitutes Maslow’s final fifth level, it’s very top. Maslow believes that people with access to all the necessary physical, social, emotional, and mental resources must find their destiny and meaning to create their life’s work (Burton, 2012). According to Santhosh (2023), a suicide survivor trying to find an interest in a new hobby with the help of nurses during recovery would be an example of a self-actualizing patient. Maslow’s need for self-actualization is about finding a life path or extending oneself into reality artistically.
Conclusion
In the 20th century, many prominent psychologists made significant progress in understanding the human psyche, one of them being Abraham Maslow. Although schematic, his pyramid of needs is universal enough to be effectively applied to a community of patients. This experience allows nurses to see patients from a new perspective, improve their understanding of people in need, and develop more efficient caring practices.
References
Burton, N. (2012). Our hierarchy of needs. Psychology Today. Web.
Santhosh, R. (2023). Patient care and needs through the lens of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. LinkedIn. Web.