Organizational Behavior (Stephen Robbins)

motivation-hygiene theory (sometimes called the two-factor theory). We briefly review these
to illustrate the basic properties of needs theories.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory

It is probably safe to say that the best-known theory of motivation is Abraham Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs.^8 He hypothesized that every human being has a hierarchy of five
needs:

• Physiological.Includes hunger, thirst, shelter, sex, and other bodily needs.


• Safety.Includes security and protection from physical and emotional harm.


• Social.Includes affection, belongingness, acceptance, and friendship.


• Esteem.Includes internal esteem factors such as self-respect, autonomy, and
  achievement; and external esteem factors such as status, recognition, and
  attention.


• Self-actualization.Includes growth, achieving one’s potential, and self-fulfill-
  ment. This is the drive to become what one is capable of becoming.
  As each of these needs becomes substantially satisfied, the next need becomes more
  important to fulfill. In terms of Exhibit 4-1, the individual moves up the steps of the
  needs hierarchy. From the perspective of motivation, the theory would say that while no
  need is ever fully satisfied, a substantially satisfied need no longer motivates. So if you
  want to motivate someone, according to Maslow, you need to understand what level of the
  hierarchy that person is currently on and focus on satisfying the needs at or above that level.
  Maslow’s needs theory continues to be widely recognized some 60 years after he
  proposed it, particularly among practising managers. The practical significance of
  Maslow’s theory is widely accepted.^9 The theory is intuitive and easy to understand.
  Unfortunately, research does not generally validate the theory, although research does
  suggest that people have basic needs that are important to them and motivate them to
  get along with others.^10 Maslow himself provided no empirical evidence for his the-
  ory. Several studies that examined the theory found little support for the prediction
  that needs form the hierarchy proposed by Maslow, that unsatisfied needs motivate, or
  that a satisfied need moves a person to seek satisfaction at a new need level.^11

Chapter 4Motivating Self and Others 109

Physiological

Safety

Social

Esteem

Self-

actualization

EXHIBIT 4-1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow

http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/

maslow.html