7 Key Features of Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory

Maslow’s need priority model is one of the most widely referred theories of motivation. Maslow’s theory has been criticized on several counts: Human needs cannot be classified into clear unspecified categories, i.e., their hierarchy cannot be specified.

features of maslow's need hierarchy theory
features of Maslow’s need hierarchy theory

Maslow, thought that a person’s motivational needs could be arranged in a hierarchical manner, Starting in ascending order from the lowest to the highest needs, and concluding the ones a given level of needs (set of needs) was satisfied, It ceased to be a motivator the Next Higher level of need to be, activated in order to motivate the individual.

Although the hierarchical aspects of Maslow’s theory are subject to question and after not accepted, His identification of basic needs has been fairly popular.

Features of Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs

There are some key characteristics of Maslow’s need hierarchy theory:

1. Human Needs

Human needs form A particular ‘hierarchy or priority’ structure in the order of importance.

It defines all work operations from priority to less priority.

2. Employee Demands

The urge to fulfill needs is a prime factor of motivation for people at work.

Human beings strive to fulfill a wide range of needs.

Human needs are multiple, complex, and interrelated.

3. Individual Discoverings

As soon as one need is satisfied, the individual discovers another need that is still unfulfilled.

4. Motivation

A satisfied need ceases to be a motivator, I.e., They do not influence human behavior.

Unsatisfied needs are our motivators, I.e., they influence human behavior.

5. Lower Order Needs

Lower-live needs must be at least partially satisfied before higher-level needs emerge.

In other words, a higher-level need does not become an active motivating force until the preceding lower-order needs are satisfied or needs are not felt at die same time.

6. High-Level Needs

Each high-level need Emerges for the low-level need is completely satisfied.

Thus, All people to a greater or lesser extent, have the identified needs.

7. Effective Decision Maker

A motivated employee also becomes an effective decision-maker in an enterprise.

So he can use this skill to take an ideal decision at right time.

Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs Theory

Maslow identified 5 levels in his need hierarchical in ascending order of importance which may be described as follows:

maslow's hierarchy of needs levels chart
maslow’s hierarchy of needs levels chart

1. Physiological Needs

These are the basic needs for sustaining human life itself such as needs for food, drink, shelter, clothing, sleep, and others.

Man can live by bread alone if there is no butter.

B7 Key Features of Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory once these basic needs are satisfied, they are no longer motivated.

2. Safety Needs

Safety or securing needs are concerned with freedom from physical or physiological harm.

Danger, deprivation, or threat such as loss of a job, Property, food, clothing, and shelter.

Ideal planning also saves safety terms.

3. Social or Affiliation or Acceptance Needs

These are belongingness needs emanating from the human Instinct of affiliation or association with others.

These include Owners, love, and affection, needs of mutual relations, and identification with some group.

These are the needs more of mind and spirit than of Physique.

4. Esteem Needs

The set of higher-order needs concerns reaching one’s potential as a total human being. It is the desire to become what one is capable of becoming.

For Example, to maximize one’s capacity and abilities in order to accomplish something appreciable and self-fulfilling.

Thus, It is a need for being creative or innovative for transforming the self into reality.

5. Self-Actualization Needs

Self-actualization needs to represent the growth of an individual toward the fulfillment of the highest needs.

Self-actualizing people can be concerned with themselves but also are free to recognize the needs and desires of others.

Also capable of responding to the uniqueness of people and situations rather than responding to the demands of reality.

Critical Evolution of Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs Theory

The determination of higher and lower levels is dependent on people’s cultural values, personalities, and desires.

For example, The high-level need of an Indian worker may be at the lower-level need of an American worker.

It is not necessary that at a time only one need is satisfied. In other words, the needs of more than one level may be fulfilled jointly.

For example, physical and esteem needs. Maslow’s model does not explain this multi-motivational fact.

Some of the assumptions of Maslow’s theory are not always found in practice.

It has been found by some Scholars like Lawler and shuttle that physical and safety needs may be probably satisfied. but high-level needs do not appear to be rather satisfiable.

Thus, Maslow may not be the final answer in motivation, yet his model does make a significant contribution in terms of making management aware of the diverse needs of human beings at work, Their diverse motives.

Needs may not be the only determinants of human behavior but they are definitely important for understanding such behavior.

Differences between Maslow’s and Herzberg’s Theory of Motivation

Herzberg’s theory is closely related to Maslow’s need hierarchy.

Both of them are based on human needs for motives that are which motivate an individual the hygiene or maintenance factors of Herzberg are roughly equivalent to Maslow’s lower-level needs as shown in the following figure.

The motivating factors are roughly equivalent to Maslow’s higher-level needs as shown in the following figure:

There are some differences between the two theories:

  1. Maslow has given hierarchical on the sequential arrangement of human needs suggesting that any unsatisfied need whether of lower order or higher order will motivate individuals. Thus, Herzberg has suggested the use of motivators to improve motivation and job performance and to depend on hygiene or maintenance factors of motivation factors.
  2. Herzberg has attempted to refine and reinforce the need priority in the model and has thrown new light on the content of work motivation. Thus, Maslow’s theory has been considerably modified by Herzberg, especially by identifying two factors of human needs.
  3. Maslow is silent on the job content aspect, Where Herzberg has emphasized job enrichment which is sent the deliberate upgrading of responsibility, scope, and challenging work.

15 thoughts on “7 Key Features of Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory

  1. I’m exfremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the
    llayout on your blog. Is this a aid theme orr did you modify it yourself?
    Either way keep upp the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nie blog like this one these days.

  2. Nice weblog here! Additionally your web site lots up very fast!
    What webb host are you using? Can I get your aftiliate link to yoour host?
    I desire my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  3. Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but
    after looking at some of the posts I realized it’s new to me.Nonetheless, I’m certaihly
    pleased I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

  4. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on tthe eyes
    which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit mire often. Did you hire out
    a designer too creare your theme? Fantastic work!

  5. My brother suggested I may like this web site. He was once entirely right.
    This ppost adtually mawde my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent ffor
    this information! Thank you!

  6. I will immediately seize your rss as I can’t to find your
    e-mail subscription hypoerlink or newsletter service.
    Do you have any? Kindly permit me know so that I coud subscribe.
    Thanks.

  7. I think what you wrote made a great deal of sense. However, think about this, what if you were
    to create a killer headline? I am not suggesting your content is not solid,
    but what if you added a post title that makes people desire more?
    I mean Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: 5 Levels, Features, Evolution – Googlesir is kinda vanilla.
    You ought to peek at Yahoo’s front page and watch how they create news headlines to get people to click.
    You might addd a video or a related picture or two tto get readers interested about everything’ve written. Just my opinion, it might make your website a little livelier.

  8. It is the best time to maje some plans for the future and it’s
    time too be happy. I have read this post and if I could I
    want to suggest you some interesting things or tips.
    Maybe yoou could write next articles referring
    to this article. I want to read more things about it!

  9. Amazing! Thiis blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a completely different topic
    but it has pretty much the same page lagout and design. Excellent choice of colors!

  10. magnificent submit, very informative. I’m wondering why
    the other experts of this sector do not notice this.
    Yoou should proceed your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!

  11. Very great post. I simply syumbled upon your blog andd wanbted tto saay tht I’ve really loved surfing around your blog posts.
    In any case I will be subscribijg for your feed and I am hoping
    yoou wrte once more soon!

  12. It’s actually very complex inn this full of activity life to listen news on TV, thus
    I just use world widxe web for that reason, and get
    the newest information.

  13. I am now not certain where you’re getting your info,
    however great topic. I must spend some time learning more or figurin out more.

    Thanks for excellent info I used to be inn search of this info for
    mmy mission.

  14. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to tjis site before but after
    checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
    Nonetheless, I’m definitely glad I found iit and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *