Feist−Feist: Theories of
Personality, Seventh
EditionIII. Humanistic/Existential
Theories- Maslow: Holistic
Dynamic Theory
(^286) © The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2009
then replaced by another need. For example, as long as people’s hunger needs are
frustrated, they will strive for food; but when they do have enough to eat, they move
on to other needs such as safety, friendship, and self-worth.
Another assumption is that all people everywhere are motivated by the same
basic needs.The mannerin which people in different cultures obtain food, build
shelters, express friendship, and so forth may vary widely, but the fundamental needs
for food, safety, and friendship are common to the entire species.
A final assumption concerning motivation is that needs can be arranged on a
hierarchy(Maslow, 1943, 1970).
Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s hierarchy of needsconcept assumes that lower level needs must be satis-
fied or at least relatively satisfied before higher level needs become motivators. The
five needs composing this hierarchy are conative needs,meaning that they have a
striving or motivational character. These needs, which Maslow often referred to as
basic needs,can be arranged on a hierarchy or staircase, with each ascending step
representing a higher need but one less basic to survival (see Figure 10.1). Lower
level needs have prepotencyover higher level needs; that is, they must be satisfied or
mostly satisfied before higher level needs become activated. For example, anyone
motivated by esteem or self-actualization must have previously satisfied needs for
food and safety. Hunger and safety, therefore, have prepotency over both esteem and
self-actualization.
Maslow (1970) listed the following needs in order of their prepotency: physi-
ological, safety, love and belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization.
280 Part III Humanistic/Existential Theories
FIGURE 10.1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. One Must Reach Self-actualization One
Step at a Time.
Esteem
Self-actualization
Physiolo
gical
Safety
Love and
belongingness