Abraham Maslow developed a mot... free essay sample

Abraham Maslow developed a motivational theory, called the Hierarchy of Needs, and proposed it in his paper A Theory of Human Motivation in 1943. Maslows theory proposes that as humans meet their basic needs, they look for ways to satisfy successively higher needs. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs is often represented as a pyramid consisting of five levels. The four lower-order needs, also called deficiency needs, are considered physiological needs, while the top level of needs is considered growth needs, or being needs. The five levels of needs were identified by Maslow as: physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs states that we must satisfy each need in order. Only when the lower order needs of physical and emotional well-being are satisfied are we concerned with the higher order needs of influence and personal development. While our deficiency needs must be met, our growth needs are continually influencing our behaviour. We will write a custom essay sample on Abraham Maslow developed a mot or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We will not be successful at moving onto higher levels until we have been motivated through the lower levels. If our lower level needs are not met we cannot achieve our higher levels of self-actualization which means we will not be able to reach our full potential. So why does Maslows Hierarchy of Needs matter? Hierarchy of Needs theory is still relevant today for understanding human motivation, management training, and personal development. Maslows ideas surrounding the Hierarchy of Needs, concerning the responsibility of employers to provide a workplace environment that encourages and enables employees to fulfil their own unique potential (self-actualization), are today more relevant than ever. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs is a way to not only understand how learners reach their potential but also what barriers might exist to them getting there. The success of an educational intervention is influenced by the learners experiences, motivations, behaviours and psychology. In his own words, Maslow (as cited in Green, 2000) identifies the variability: The specific form that these needs will take will of course vary greatly from person to person. This contributes to the already hefty task of fostering the want to master a skill in an individual – having to consider not only what is in your immediate power, but other potential barriers outside the immediate environment. The growth of self-actualization (Maslow, 1962) refers to the need for personal growth and discovery that is present throughout a persons life. For Maslow, a person is always becoming and never remains static in these terms. In self-actualization, a person comes to find a meaning to life that is important to them (McLeod, 2017, para. 17) As teachers we can do much to accommodate these things in order to make learning better. In terms of learning environment, we will primarily deal with the four deprivation needs. As a teacher I can make extra effort to ensure I contribute to these needs so that the learners ability to learn and achieve in my learning environment will be greatly improved. I know that if I take time to get to know my learners and understand not only their knowledge level but also their level on Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, I will be in a better position to help learners move up the hierarchy. If I can understand the basic needs of each learner then I will be more successful at removing obstacles from learning so that learning can be enhanced and maximized. I will take into consideration certain strategies that I can use in future training. Some of the easier strategies that I can use include providing a comfortable classroom that includes suitable room temperatures and sufficient bathroom and drink breaks. In addition, I can provide well planned lessons and consistent expectations as well as offer an accepting and non-threatening attitude in the way the lesson is taught. These strategies address the physiological and safety needs. In order to address social needs I can create a classroom environment that requires mutual trust and provides opportunities for sharing through meetings, discussions and peer tutoring. I can ensure that I am listening to my students and being supportive. In order to address esteem needs some of the strategies that I can use include developing new knowledge based on background knowledge to help ensure success, take individual needs and abilities into account when planning lessons, teaching using multiple modes of learning, and ensuring that I am alert to student difficulties so that I can intervene as soon as possible. The last need, the need for self-actualization, is much more challenging to have an impact on. However, I feel that there are some strategies that I can apply to help students achieve this growing need including, giving students freedom to explore and discover on their own, making the learning meaningful by connecting it to their own lives, and allowing students to get involved in creative activities ; projects.