Question

Abraham Maslow’s theory offers a convenient way to categorize needs, suggesting that those on the lower levels of the hierarchy must be satisfied before higher-level needs can be addressed. Please describe Maslow’s theory. Do you think this model can be supported empirically?

Answer 1

Maslow theory is certainly bone of the important theories that offers a way to categorize the needs in a very convenient way. It provides a hierarchy of needs that should be followed during the fulfilling these needs. The Maslow theory includes

Psychological needs - these are biological requirements for human survival.

It includes air food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, sex, sleep.

These needs are considered as the most important as all the other needs become secondary until these needs are met.

Safety needs - after the psychological needs the next need in the hierarchy is safety needs.People want to experience order, predictability and control in their lives. There are various tools in business which can be used to satisfy these needs.

Love and belongingness needs - the third need is love or belongingness after physiological and safety needs have been fulfilled.

Examples :- trust, and acceptance, receiving and giving affection and love.

Esteem needs :- the fourth need of the the hierarchy are esteem needs. It includes

esteem for oneself like dignity, mastery, independence and (the desire for reputation or respect from others.

Self-actualization needs:- the highest need in the Maslow's theory are self actualization needs that refer to the realization of a person's potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.

Although this theory has a very important place in management theories but it has various demerits.

One the many disadvantages or shortcomings one is its lack of emperical validity and it considers very narrow segments of population.The problem with Maslow's hierarchy-of-needs theory is that it cannot be verified empirically, because there is no proper method to measure accurately how satisfied one level of need must be before the next higher need becomes operative. There is also issues related to hierarchy. So I think it can not be supported empirically.