Abraham Maslow: Hierarchy of Needs

1. Abraham Maslow: Hierarchy of Needs Ref: Abraham H. Maslow (1968) Toward a Psychology of Being. • Satisfaction of certain needs are a driving force in peoples' lives ("drive theory")

3. 1.Physiological Needs. • Biological needs such as oxygen, food, water, warmth / coolness, protection from the elements and sleep. • These needs are the strongest because if deprived, the child could or would die.

4. 2.Safety Needs. • Felt frequently by children who feel threatened or insecure and also adults during emergencies and periods of disorganisation in the social structure.

5. 3.Love, Affection and Belongingness Needs. • The needs to escape loneliness and alienation and give (and receive) love, affection and the sense of belonging.

6. 4.Esteem Needs. • Need for a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, and respect from others in order to feel satisfied, self confident and valuable. • If these needs are not met, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless.

7. 5.Self-actualisation Needs. • An ongoing process. • Self-actualising people are... involved in a cause outside their own skin. They are devoted to something very precious to them - some calling or vocation.

9. Taking ‘Maslow’ further… • Progress for some people through the levels to to self-actualisation is thwarted. • This frustrates the person's need to be and do that which the person was born to do. If these needs are not met, the person feels restlessness, on edge, tense, and lacking something.

10. Taking ‘Maslow’ further…(2) • Lower needs may also produce a restless feeling, but here it is much easier to find the cause... • If a person is hungry, unsafe, not loved or accepted, or lacking self-esteem the cause is apparent. • It is not always clear what a person wants when there is a need for self-actualisation.

11. By imposing ideas education can hinder personal growth… • Respectful teaching promotes personal growth. 1.Teach kids to be aware of their inner selves and to hear their inner-feeling voices. 2. Teach kids to develop a wider picture.

12. promote personal growth 3.Help kids discover what they are good at. Focus upon the right job and the right mate. 4.Teach kids that life is precious, that there is joy to be experienced in life. 5.Accept the person and help him or her learn their inner nature. 6.Check that basic needs are satisfied inc. safety, belongingness and esteem needs.

13. promote personal growth 7. Teach that control is good, and complete abandon is bad. It takes control to improve the quality of life in all areas. Control feels good. 8.Teach to transcend the trifling problems and grapple with the serious problems in life. 9.Teach to be good ‘choosers.’ Kids must be given practice in making choices, first between one goody and another.

14. Relevance of Maslow • Humanistic psychology sees ‘personal growth’ as a key element. • SEU : Juvenile crime  EY misconduct DfEE : QCA / ACCAC  Personal and Social Edn

15. Personal and Social Edn : Aims • Equip pupils to be personally / socially effective • develop self esteem / personal responsibility • prepare pupils for challenges and choices • empower pupils to participate in their community • assist pupils to live healthy and fulfilled lives • foster positive attitudes and behaviour

16. Existing legislation Ed Act 1996, Section 351: • Each pupil should receive a broad and balanced curriculum which: • promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society and prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

17. PSE Framework • To be part of the NC by 2002 ?