There is a theory in psychology called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It deals with five levels of needs that influence and motivate human behaviour. In Maslow’s theory, individuals must meet the needs at the bottom of the hierarchy before meeting the needs at the top. From bottom to top, the needs are Physiological, Safety, Belonging and Love, Esteem, and Self-actualization. Once a need is met, it will go away, and our actions will focus on the next step of the ladder.

Physiological needs, the first step on the ladder, refers to a person’s biological or bodily needs (Mcleod, 2018, p. 4). Food, sleep, shelter, warmth, air and anything the body needs to function properly fits into this category. It is the first step because without meeting these needs, nothing else would be possible.

Safety needs, the second step, refers to our need for security (Mcleod, 2018, p. 4). This step includes order, law, housing, and freedom from fear. These needs must be met so that we feel free to be ourselves and exist safely in our environment.

Third on the list is Belonging and Love (Mcleod, 2018, p. 4). This deals with our need to be social and have interpersonal relationships. This can be anything from romance to work relationships as long as it involves being part of a group. In this step, it is essential to trust others and form close relationships.

Esteem needs are the fourth step, and they pair with safety to form the basis for a person’s psychological needs (Mcleod, 2018, p. 1). Maslow classified this step as having confidence in yourself and the desire for respect from others. A person’s confidence level may come from different sources, including independence and achievements.

Finally, Self-actualization deals with realizing personal potential and growth; it often involves creativity (Mcleod, 2018, p. 4). It is based on the idea of becoming everything that you can become. To Maslow, personal growth and challenging yourself was the final step to becoming a fully realized individual. He specified that the need for personal growth and discovery is always present in a person’s life. It reaches its peak, however, when a person finds a meaning in their life that is important to them (Maslow 1962).

Maslow first created his hierarchy in 1943, although he adjusted it many times throughout his life. As he grew older, he realized the order of steps was flexible. He explained that the order of the steps was not rigid because one need must not be 100% met before we move on to the next need (Maslow, 1987, p. 69). For example, he noted that some people may need self-esteem more than love. For others, creativity may be more important than basic needs. In recent years, people have criticized Maslow’s hierarchy. He did not base his theory on sufficient scientific research or data; instead, it was based mostly on his assumptions. In any case, Maslow made important contributions to the field of psychology. His hierarchy of needs gave us an important theory to help us understand people’s needs and motivations.