Application of Maslow's Theory of Needs to Mobilize a Community
INTRODUCTION
Community development involves assisting communities and empowering them to attain well-being. This is done through advocacy, organizing communities and mobilizing resources. Other than theories of economics, development and politics, community development is also influenced by contributions from the field of psychology. Different branches of psychology help us to understand community needs, their cultural dispositions, and how communities form social cohesion and participate in community initiatives. The concept of psychological sense of community was initially propagated by the psychologist Seymour Sarason (1974). The Sense of Community describes the sentiment of belonging, trust and cooperation that people of a community feel toward each other. With this sense of community, members are able to feel empowered enough to participate in the community 's activities. This is important for community workers and organizers. By acknowledging the community 's contribution to development, understanding their values and opinions, community development workers are able to get more cooperation from an empowered community. Disempowering a community means disregarding people 's values and needs and thus making them feel disconnected from the larger community.
Maslow’s theory of Hierarchy of needs is particularly useful in understanding how change agents mobilize communities into action and eventually get their all important buy-in, in developmental projects they propose and implement. Participation in community development is successfully attained when an analysis of the community 's needs is undertaken. Lack of support for community initiatives may be because community members are still striving to meet their primary needs and as such the community cannot be involved in meeting secondary needs.
Overview of Maslow 's Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow, an American professor of psychology, identified a hierarchy that represents the priorities that individuals
Community development involves assisting communities and empowering them to attain well-being. This is done through advocacy, organizing communities and mobilizing resources. Other than theories of economics, development and politics, community development is also influenced by contributions from the field of psychology. Different branches of psychology help us to understand community needs, their cultural dispositions, and how communities form social cohesion and participate in community initiatives. The concept of psychological sense of community was initially propagated by the psychologist Seymour Sarason (1974). The Sense of Community describes the sentiment of belonging, trust and cooperation that people of a community feel toward each other. With this sense of community, members are able to feel empowered enough to participate in the community 's activities. This is important for community workers and organizers. By acknowledging the community 's contribution to development, understanding their values and opinions, community development workers are able to get more cooperation from an empowered community. Disempowering a community means disregarding people 's values and needs and thus making them feel disconnected from the larger community.
Maslow’s theory of Hierarchy of needs is particularly useful in understanding how change agents mobilize communities into action and eventually get their all important buy-in, in developmental projects they propose and implement. Participation in community development is successfully attained when an analysis of the community 's needs is undertaken. Lack of support for community initiatives may be because community members are still striving to meet their primary needs and as such the community cannot be involved in meeting secondary needs.
Overview of Maslow 's Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow, an American professor of psychology, identified a hierarchy that represents the priorities that individuals