Critically Evaluate the Claim That “the Ordering of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Is Accurate”. Refer to Relevant Theoretical and Empirical Evidence to Support Your Argument.
Critically evaluate the claim that “the ordering of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is accurate”. Refer to relevant theoretical and empirical evidence to support your argument.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one of the most important theoretical systems in humanistic psychology. However, the ordering of this system is not accurate and this is evidenced by various criticisms of Maslow’s conception of ‘self-actualisation.’ Individuals do not need to satisfy the lower needs in order to reach self-actualisation, they do not need to conform to Maslow’s idea of self-actualisation, nor do they have to reach it in order to live happy and fulfilled lives. The needs that motivate behaviour cannot be reduced in such a simplistic theoretical system.
Abraham Maslow’s proposed ‘hierarchy of needs’ has far reaching implications for personality research and clinical intervention (Williams & Page 1989). Therefore, it is important that Maslow’s theoretical system be as accurate as possible, otherwise the research and clinical actions related to the system may not be as sufficient. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether the ordering of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is accurate. This will be done by a description of each ‘stage’ in the theory, from the most basic needs to the highest, a presentation of criticisms directed towards Maslow’s conception of self-actualisation, followed by an evaluation of the ordering of these ‘stages.’
First, an explanation of how Maslow’s theory works is essential. Maslow postulated that there are categories of human needs, used to motivate behavior, which are arranged in a hierarchy whereas the needs in a higher category become central to ones motivations as the needs of a lower category are increasingly gratified (Williams & Page 1989). These categorical levels from lower (basic needs) to higher (self-actualising needs) are as follows: ‘physiological needs’ are the lowest, most initial needs, these lead onto ‘safety needs’ which leads to
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one of the most important theoretical systems in humanistic psychology. However, the ordering of this system is not accurate and this is evidenced by various criticisms of Maslow’s conception of ‘self-actualisation.’ Individuals do not need to satisfy the lower needs in order to reach self-actualisation, they do not need to conform to Maslow’s idea of self-actualisation, nor do they have to reach it in order to live happy and fulfilled lives. The needs that motivate behaviour cannot be reduced in such a simplistic theoretical system.
Abraham Maslow’s proposed ‘hierarchy of needs’ has far reaching implications for personality research and clinical intervention (Williams & Page 1989). Therefore, it is important that Maslow’s theoretical system be as accurate as possible, otherwise the research and clinical actions related to the system may not be as sufficient. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether the ordering of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is accurate. This will be done by a description of each ‘stage’ in the theory, from the most basic needs to the highest, a presentation of criticisms directed towards Maslow’s conception of self-actualisation, followed by an evaluation of the ordering of these ‘stages.’
First, an explanation of how Maslow’s theory works is essential. Maslow postulated that there are categories of human needs, used to motivate behavior, which are arranged in a hierarchy whereas the needs in a higher category become central to ones motivations as the needs of a lower category are increasingly gratified (Williams & Page 1989). These categorical levels from lower (basic needs) to higher (self-actualising needs) are as follows: ‘physiological needs’ are the lowest, most initial needs, these lead onto ‘safety needs’ which leads to
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