Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Where are you?

[Becci]

This is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (the 1970's seven-stage edition):



Maslow believed that there are seven needs in a human being: Physiological needs, security, love, esteem, knowledge, aesthetic needs and self-fulfillment. He also believed that it would be impossible achieve self-actualization (complete contentment and awareness) without satisfying all the 'lower' needs, estimating that only 1% of the population will reach the state of complete contentment.

My questions to you: Where are you in the hierarchy? Do you think you'll ever reach 'self-actualization'? Do you think humans can reach this state?

(Tried to keep this brief for you wall-of-text-phobics.)

[Ashlyed]

I cant go beyond cognitive needs. I thirst for knowledge..

In my class, we debated that Maslow didn't put in each individual's range of needs. Also, we debated that we are able to reach the top for only a short of time and it happens when you accomplised something big -- let's say your lifetime dream.

We didn't reach conclusion that day though..

[Becci]

Yep, there is a lot of criticism for Maslow's hierarchy. As you said, it doesn't take into account each individual's needs (but I think it's pretty damn close, from my own experience). For example, what about the mother who sacrifices her basic needs for her son? It doesn't appear to follow the hierarchy.

Anyway.

I could never imagine myself staying up in the "self-actualization" state for a long time. Life would seem a little dull if you have everything you've ever wanted at your fingertips: where is the challenge?

I would probably only ever achieve self-fulfillment when I'm dead. Right now I'm stuck in between "Love/belongingness" and "Esteem".

I'd say you're pretty high up in the list. Does that mean you're satisfied with your love/friendships, secure in your life, felt like you've achieved something (to the extent that you feel that you've accomplished that need)? Don't you have one foot in one, but another foot somewhere else at all?

[Ashlyed]

I am easily satisfied. My needs are actually smaller than you can imagine.

Let's just say I have all in order for 1 & 2 needs. But the 3rd part, now that's tricky. You see, your needs and my needs are in two different world. My psycho could accept small or almost second to none socialise. In brief, to make someone laughing in a day is enough for me.

Esteem, well this is in very very broad term. What is your term for accomplishment? Something big that involved others to help or something small that you yourself could handle? Also, can we use past year experience for this needs?
This need for is always in swings and sway all the time. For me, I stick to something medium that can be handled by myself.

Although.

Next is the point where I be. My desire to understand the reason why we are here, pushing though the time to future. To understand the flow of fate. To search the meaning of my existance in this world.

But nevertheless, we still young. Our foot probably supported by our parents too for the moment.

Have you ever think about what will you be when your parents aren't your shelter anymore? No, it is about what will you DO ?

[Matt[CV]]

Belongingness and Love needs i reckon.

Friends- Check
Family- Check
GF= Check,no wait.......... ***.

[JinDaYi]

I don't understand the difficulty of this chart.

From the bottom going up:

-I have such things. Minus sex, but my right hand can be pretty sexy.

-I'd like to think I'm inept in the Martial Arts. And I feel as though my words can be used to reason.

-Family, sure. Friends, sure (No friends is good friends. =]). Affection, sure. Work group, definitely.

-Achievement, eh, I feel fine here. If I were to base that from all the opinions I have ever obtained regarding myself from others, I believe I've accomplished quite a bit. I can feel as though I've achieved some great things. I feel as though I can be responsible at any given time. I'm comfortable with my current status. I believe my reputation in anything speaks for itself.

-Knowledge, I only seek what needs to be understood to properly assist others. Otherwise, I'm satisfied. Meaning, I'm in no desire for such nonsense. I'm fully aware of myself.

-Beauty, no concern. Balance, no concern. Form, comfortable.

-Personal growth and fulfillment, no desire.

Perhaps I properly lack the knowledge of this particular "study", but from literal value of the chart, that's all I got. If I don't stand on the bottom 6, and the top is of no concern, where exactly would that place me?

I'll look into this more later.

[Ashlyed]

Then in Maslow theory, you are the impossible one. Congratz Jin, in your current condition, you sure can fly without wing.

[JinDaYi]

As long as I can do it in this chair.

I'm just saying, is it that difficult to simply hold no concern over such aspects?

[Coschered]

Thats the old edition??

The newest one is just 5 levels right?

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs proposes that people are motivated through 5 level of needs-
Physiological primary needs
Safety Needs
Belonging needs
Esteem Needs
Acquired Needs(Theory) which proposes that people are motivated by a need for power, achievements and affiliations-people have all 3 needs but to varying degrees.

I'm not sure about that, correct me if I'm wrong.

I believe that I'm up the Aesthetic Needs in that model though. I don't think I'll ever reach self-actualization anyway. There is just too much in life to ponder about. I'll never be satisfied enough lol.

[Ashlyed]

@ Jin
You are talking about the weakness of the theory.

And yes, it is impossible to proceed without satisfying all aspects in each level.

And personal thinking, it is almost impossible to post 70's theory to 20th century lifestyle.

Edit: Late... Reason: wpm: 42

[Becci]

I think this is the later version, but it was never really stated. The first Maslow Hierarchy was made earlier (I think, 1943?). This is the second edition which was produced in 1970.

@Jin: And yes, Maslow's Hierarchy isn't perfect, nor does it sketch out the needs of all human beings. But I think it's still interesting, how it works.

Ashyled's posts above stating that he only needs to do little things in order to satisfy himself - I think that's great. There are people who will never ever be happy or content with what they've done, but you're a little different.
I'm not sure that Cognitive needs would ever be fulfilled, if you seek answers about the universe, though. ;P

[Coschered]

yeah thats true, lol. So that'll put me back at the cognitive needs level. darn!

[Anga]

Somewhere between cognative and aesthetic.

Everything below that is well satisfied.