Maslow's Hierarchy of

Needs

In 1943, Abraham Maslow's article

A Theory of Human Motivation
appeared in Psychological Review,
which were further expanded upon in
his book: Toward a Psychology of
Being  In this article, Abraham
Maslow attempted to formulate a
needs-based framework of human
motivation and based upon his
clinical experiences with humans,
rather than prior pyschology theories
of his day from leaders in the field of
psychology such as Freud and B.F.
Skinner, which were largely
theoretical or based upon animal behavior.  From Maslow's theory of motivation, modern leaders and
executive managers find means of employee motivation for the purposes of employee and
workforce management.

The basis of Maslow's theory of motivation is that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs,
and that certain lower needs need to be satisfied before higher needs can be addressed. Per the
teachings of Abraham Maslow, there are general needs (physiological, safety, love, and esteem) which
have to be fulfilled before a person is able to act unselfishly. These needs were dubbed "deficiency
needs." While a person is motivated to fulfill these basal desires, they continue to move toward
growth, and eventually self-actualization. The satisfaction of these needs is quite healthy. while
preventing their gratification makes us ill or act evilly.

As a result, for adequate workplace motivation, it is important that leadship understands which needs

are active for individual employee motivation. In this regard, Abraham Maslow's model indicates that
basic, low-level needs such as physiological requirements and safety must be satisfied before higher-
level needs such as self-fulfillment are pursued. As depicted in this hierarchical diagram, sometimes
called 'Maslow's Needs Pyramid' or 'Maslow's Needs Triangle', when a need is satisfied it no longer
motivates and the next higher need takes its place.