Human Growth and Development Maslows Hierarchy of Human

Human Growth and Development Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs

Human Needs • Needs=a lack of something that is required or desired • Needs motivate a person to behave or act so that these needs will be meet • Certain needs have priority over other needs • Example: need for food can take priority over need for social approval so if someone has been without food for a period of time, they may steal knowing that it may cause a loss of social respect

Human Needs • Psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs where the lower needs should be met before higher ones • Only when needs have been obtained at one level is a person motivated toward meeting needs at a higher one • Levels of needs: physiological needs, safety, affection (belonging), esteem, self-actualization

Physiological Needs • Physiological needs are often called physical, biological, or basic needs • Include food, water, oxygen, elimination of waste, sleep, & protection from extreme temperatures • These needs must be met for life to continue • If any of these go unmet, death will occur • Among these needs, there is a priority (oxygen higher than food)

Physiological Needs • Pts who are NPO for tests or anxious about an illness and can’t sleep have difficulty meeting their physiological needs • HCW should provide understanding and support to the pt and make every effort to meet their needs

Safety • The need to be free from anxiety and fear • The need to feel secure in the environment • The need for order and routine • New environments, a change in routine, marital problems, job loss, injury, & disease can threaten an individual’s safety

Safety • Illness is a major threat to a person’s security • Pts can be frightened by lab tests, surgeries, meds, & treatments • If HCW explain the reasons for these procedures, the pt’s anxieties can be alleviated

Love and Affection • The need for social acceptance, friendship, and to be loved • The need to belong, to relate to others, and to win approval of others • Feel sense of belonging, can give and receive friendship and love

Esteem • Feeling important and worthwhile • When others show respect, approval, & appreciation, an individual begins to feel esteem and gains self-respect • When esteem needs are met, individuals gain confidence in themselves & begin to direct their actions toward becoming what they want to be • When self-reliant individuals are in a health care facility & are dependent on HCW for basic care (eating, bathing) they can experience a severe loss of esteem

Self-Actualization • Self-actualization=people have obtained their full potentials, or that they are what they want to be • Also called self-realization • All other needs must be at least partially met before this level can occur • People at this level are confident, willing to express their beliefs & to reach out to others to provide assistance & support

What would your Hierarchy of Needs look like?