Psych question on the Maslow hierarchy

[moimeme]

Perhaps one of the denizens of LS who have purused more formal psych study than have I might point me towards a Cole's notes version of an answer to this:

 

Is there a recommended course of action for someone who's been up the ladder and back and who has one foot stuck on one of the rungs? Is it critical to get a need met or is one theoretically able to function well without?

In short; ought one focus on getting that need met or on learning to manage without?

[UCFKevin]

Well, I majored in psych, and I Have no idea what the hell you're talking about, but here's what I think on the subject.

 

You have to try to get that need met first, no point in just saying, "screw it" right off the bat, at least try, and if nothing happens after a while, with your best trying behind you, move on and do without.

[bark]

I'm going back but I always understood Abe's hierarchy of needs to be cumulative --culminating in "self-actualization."

 

This means that if one is always plagued by lack of food, shelter and safety --self-actualization (whatever that means) ain't happening.

 

I'm trying to remember if affiliation needs are in the progression. In any event, I always understood that satisfaction of the "lesser" needs is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to achieve self-actualization.

 

I suspect Abe would not let one skip a step.

 

But I'm not a psychologist. Do folks still read Maslow? Very, very 60's.

[moimeme]

I'm trying to remember if affiliation needs are in the progression

 

oh yes

 

Do folks still read Maslow? Very, very 60's.

 

Old discoveries do not necessarily equal outdated discoveries!

[Clancy]

Moimeme I don't pretend to know a great deal of psychology. But your questions prompted me to respond because it brings to my mind something I've been trying to deal with that has to do with one of Maslow's needs and that is self-esteem.

 

Not that long ago I went through a period of great success at work a while back and became someone who wielded authority and hence received respect including increased attentions from women,. I also began to drink heavily and to take drugs , something I always did anyway but really increased with the stress of the job. I had a great deal of self esteem and confidence then.

 

After realizing that I couldn't handle the stress of the job nor the booze and associated lifestyle I dried myself out and have accepted a more sedate job in the same organization that grants me no real authority. It's amazing how fast you lose the respect a position or title can give you. It took me a while to get used to not being respected until I learned that "I" hadn't really been respected at all rather the guy with the position was respected. So, in relation to Maslow and self-esteem I've been trying to learn what authentic self-esteem is and wondering if I've found it yet. I find my confidence levels to be much lower now though. Perhaps they are just at normal post-booze levels.

 

And once again, although not qualified to answer your question I'll say that in my opinion one really would have to become fully realized at all levels in order to be truly, truly happy and at peace with the world. Those people are probably as rare as double rainbows though.

[bark]

"Old discoveries do not necessarily equal outdated discoveries!"

 

So true. I've rediscovered the Grateful Dead!

 

I got this from a web site:http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM

 

According to Maslow, there are general types of needs (physiological, safety, love, and esteem) that must be satisfied before a person can act unselfishly. He called these needs "deficiency needs." As long as we are motivated to satisfy these cravings, we are moving towards growth, toward self-actualization. Satisfying needs is healthy, blocking gratification makes us sick or evil. In other words, we are all "needs junkies" with cravings that must be satisfied and should be satisfied. Else, we become sick.

 

 

This sounds right if I remember my freshman psych course.

[HokeyReligions]

There’s a blast from the cobwebby past! Maslow.

 

From what I can faintly remember, function at the basic level is possible but limited, making it critical to have needs met. How’s that for a twisted answer?! LOL

 

I seem to remember a circular discussion in my psych class back in the ‘70s right after Maslow died. In Maslow’s growth needs, Self Actualization; Aesthetics; Understanding and Knowledge; Esteem -- function is possible but severely handicapped until all basic needs are realized. Self-actualization cannot be reached until all basic needs are realized.

 

Basic Needs are:

*Physiological: need for sleep and rest , food, drink, shelter, sex , oxygen

*Safety: need to be safe from harm, for a predictable world with consistency, fairness, routine, for sense of stability and security (something we seriously lack nowadays ~Hoke)

 

Some components of our basic needs – consistency and predictability, fairness and routine, stability and security cover personal and professional lives. I have NO consistency in my career, and I can’t predict what will happen if/when I find a job. Even when I do – there is no stability or security for me or my family. So that may be one reason I am not reaching my growth needs. I’m always starting over and no longer trust that things will be okay. Hmm… I’ll have to think on this a bit.

 

Growth Needs:

*Love and Belonging: need for love and affectionate relationships, belonging to a group

*Esteem: two components

(1) self-respect: desire for confidence, competence, adequacy, achievement, mastery

(2) respect of others: desire for acceptance, recognition, reputation, appreciation, status, prestige

*Understanding and Knowledge: need to satisfy curiosity, explore, discover, find solutions, look for relationships and meaning, and seek intellectual challenges

*Aesthetics: need for beauty in surroundings

*Self-actualization: need for growth, development and utilization of potential, becoming all that one can be, self-fulfillment

 

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~denmartin/maslow.html

Here is a good chart for this.

 

My response to your question of focusing on getting needs met or learning to manage without.

 

Both. It’s a matter of knowing when to proceed and when to stop.

 

Peter Principle

NOUN: The theory that employees within an organization will advance to their highest level of competence and then be promoted to and remain at a level at which they are incompetent.

 

ETYMOLOGY: After Laurence Johnston Peter (1919–1990).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

 

 

I know, not a Cole’s answer - sorry. As for a course of action – that depends on what level the person is stuck.

Level 1: Improve diet, get exercise, visit the doctor, and make sure you are healthy

Level 2: Go to school, get a job and save money, take responsibility for oneself

Level 3: Join the community, be active and involved with other people, meet lots of people and contribute to society.

Level 4: Use what you learned in school, show off talents or skills by helping others and by teaching, improve self-confidence and learn to recognize and respect these same efforts from others, instead of competing with them.

Level 5: Self-Actualization. Be creative. Be a leader for yourself, work for accomplishments and not a trophy, and enjoy challenges

 

Sounds easy doesn’t it!?!

 

 

Wow, Moimeme – you really made me think today!

[moimeme]

Self-actualization cannot be reached until all basic needs are realized.

 

Basic Needs are:

*Physiological: need for sleep and rest , food, drink, shelter, sex , oxygen

 

Damn! Hooped before I even make it to the next set

[cindy0039]

Originally posted by moimeme

Damn! Hooped before I even make it to the next set

Somehow I THOUGHT that's where you were going with all this.

[moimeme]

Nope. It wasn't at all. I was wondering about one of the levels quite a bit farther up, actually. This is a setback LOL.