Maslow's Hierarchy
The below triangle and framework has been in place since the 1940's. It was first put forth in 1943 and was later updated, also by Maslow, a little over a decade later in 1954. The triangle or pyramid is constructed in such a way that the more "basic" and major needs are lower down the chain and the lesser but yet still worthy of mention needs are higher up. Indeed, basic needs, like the first two levels mentioned, are going to go get the most attention from any given person. However, the needs that are higher up the pyramid will get attention as well. The idea is that, to one degree or another, all of the needs on the pyramid influence our motivation or actions to one degree or another.
Physiological
There are five different needs when it comes to the Maslow hierarchy. They are depicted in picture form via a triangle. They range from the bottom needs, which are the basic ones, to the higher ones which are, in order, psychological and self-fulfillment. The bottom layer of the pyramid is that of physiological needs. These include the "basic" needs of a person including food, water, warmth and rest. In a modern context, this would refer to having a house or apartment to live in, food and water within that house or apartment and a bed or somewhere else to sleep at night. An example of someone who is lacking when it comes to this need would be someone that is sleeping on the couches or guest beds of other people and that is having to borrow at least somewhat when it comes to food, water or other needs (LT, 2017).
Safety
The second layer of the pyramid is also among the basic needs section of the pyramid and those would be safety needs. The items that would be included in that section are other basic needs like security and safety. This second layer is obviously related to the first one but it is still a bit different. Indeed, there might be places where there is a bed, food and water but are lacking when it comes to safety. An apartment in a high-crime area might technically fulfill the first need but simply not get the job done when it comes to the second level. A different but related example would be if there is an abusive person such as a partner in the home or apartment in question as identified from the first level. Again, a bed, food and water might be present but that might be ruined or compromised by someone that is present that thus endangers the security and safety of the person that is seeking those basic needs. A third and final example...
These include the
intimate relationships and friends of the person involved. One might see the pattern developing that adjacent parts of the triangle are very much related in terms of what make them up and how the absence or
pollution of one may lead to other issues with the adjacent layer. This can very much be seen with belongingness and love. Basic safety and security with the people (if any) that one lives with and that is otherwise around. However, many people are completely focused as well on things like being loved and feeling as if they belong. To see the distinction here, one can compare living with or interacting with a roommate as compared to interacting with a
family member or partner. In the first
scenario, the two happen to live together but the bond beyond that is probably not all that significant. However, with the second example, there is obviously a
blood, love or other firm connection between the two. An important distinction and middle ground between those two levels comes from when one is considering a family or partner relationship is there but the love and belongingness is missing, for whatever reason. For example, if there is a married couple but they are separated, that would be an example where love and belongingness are missing or at least deficient. Another example would be two family members that live apart and that have fallen out of contact. Indeed, having an ostensible bond and seeing that bond be broken or otherwise affected leads to issues that can easily be correlated to motivation and other subjects within the Maslow hierarchy (EPI, 2017).
Esteem
The fourth layer of the triangle is the other half of the psychological needs and that would be esteem needs. These include prestige and feeling of accomplishment, at a high level. TO use the more original and complete definition as originally given by Maslow, this level would include achievement, mastery, independence, status,…
