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Maslow theory: Physical to Spiritual or Body to Soul
What is the stimulant of progress? The continuous progress of mankind happens only when each member of the community collectively and individually improves to higher levels. For such improvements to happen there should be some motivation behind it. So, motivation becomes the most essential element in everyone’s life whoever needs to achieve something in their life.
It was Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist who introduced ‘the theory of Human motivation’ in 1943. It discussed about the real inspiration of humankind and its five different levels. His classification system reflects the universal needs of the society as its base and then proceeding to more acquired emotions.
Maslow used the terms Physiological, Safety, Belonging and Love, Social needs or Esteem and Self-actualization to describe the pattern through which human motivations generally move. To self-motivate for the next level, the individual themselves should be satisfied within each level. These individual levels contain a certain amount of internal sensation. The goal in Maslow’s theory is to attain the fifth level or stage: self-actualization.
He clearly described the stages of human growth on the basis of their needs. Not only the psychologists, but social scientists, the business community and political researchers effectively use his findings to efficiently explain the human nature and the need to address the different stages separately with the most appropriate tools.
Maslow’s theory of motivation is portrayed in the shape of a pyramid; most fundamental needs at the bottom and the need for self-actualization and transcendence at the top. The core of the theory is that individuals’ most basic needs must be met before they are motivated to achieve a higher level of needs.
Physiological needs
Physiological needs are the main physical requirements for human survival. Physiological needs are universal human needs. It is considered as the first step in internal motivation. Humans are compelled to fulfill these physiological needs first in order to pursue their inherent satisfaction on a higher level. If it’s not achieved, it leads to the increase in one’s displeasure.
Safety needs
Once a person’s physiological needs are reasonably satisfied, their safety needs to take precedence and dominate their behavior. This level is more likely to predominate in children as they generally have a greater need to feel safe. Safety and security needs are about keeping us safe from any harm.
Social belonging
After physiological and safety needs are practically fulfilled, the third level of human needs get preference, feeling of belonging. This need is especially strong in childhood and it can override the need for safety as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents. Deficiencies occur in this level can adversely affect the individual’s ability to form and maintain emotionally significant relationships in general.
Self-esteem
Esteem needs are generally requirements related to their status. People develop a concern with getting recognition, status, importance and respect from others. Most humans have a need to feel respected; this includes the need to have self-respect. Esteem presents the typical human desire to be accepted and valued by others. People often engage in a profession or hobby to gain recognition. These activities give the person a sense of contribution or value. Inferiority complex may result from imbalances during this level. People with low self-esteem often need respect from others; they may feel the need to seek fame or glory.
Self-actualization
Self-realization refers to the realization of one’s full potential. Maslow describes this as the desire to achieve everything that one can. Self-actualization can be described as a value-based system when discussing its role in motivation; it is understood as the goal and the previous stages in Maslow’s Hierarchy fall in line to become the step-by-step process by which self-actualization is achievable. A clear motive is the objective of a reward-based system to essentially drive completion of certain values. Individuals who are motivated to pursue this goal seek and understand how their needs, relationships, and sense of self are expressed through their behavior.
Transcendence
Maslow explored a further dimension of motivation while analyzing his original vision of self-actualization called Transcendence, the sixth level we may say. According to this theory, one finds the fullest realization in giving oneself to something beyond oneself—for example, in altruism or spirituality. He equated this with the desire to reach the infinite.
Life is a wonderful experience provided we are constantly motivated. A quantum leap is not possible in Maslow’s motivation pyramid. Every step takes its time to mature and graduate to the next level. Maslow gives us the necessary insight about one’s whole life at an eagle’s eye. It will definitely help us to get motivated and keep us ever thrilled.