Kono 1

Allison J. Kono
Mrs. Henry
ELA/Reading 2/5
7 December 2016
The Outsiders Final Essay
Psychology is the endlessly fascinating science of the human mind and behavior (Gillespie
1). Psychological criticism is used to enhance the knowledge of literature by analyzing the
behaviors and motives of dynamic characters throughout several theories. Abraham Maslows
Hierarchy of Needs is one of many theories. This concept has five stages: physiological needs,
safety needs, belongingness and love needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization. The stages are
arranged in a triangle, with the fundamental needs at the bottom. Maslow wanted to understand
what motivates people and their actions, and this is shown through his pyramid. First, people are
motivated to meet their basic survival needs including food and water. Once those are met, they
move on to be motivated by the next stage up, such as esteem or belonging needs. Eventually,
when all their needs are satisfied, they may move on to the self-fulfillment stage. In S. E.
Hintons The Outsiders, Johnny Cades motives and actions, over time, can be categorized into
all the different stages of Maslows theory.
Safety and love needs are closely related for Johnny. First, he reached his safety needs. His
father was always beating him up, and his mother ignored him He would have run away a
million times if we hadnt been there (14). Although he did not feel safe at home, he felt safe
with the gang. Also, he had his love and belonging needs met along with the physical needs. If

it hadnt been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are (14).
The other
Kono 2
greasers gave him a sense of belonging, especially considering his rough life at home. They
loved and cared for him even if his parents did not. This also caused his shy and timid actions at
the time since he struggled with his safety, love, and belonging at home. He was motivated to
reach a feeling of belongingness or safety, and once he got there his motives affected his further
actions.
As Johnny started to move past the basic needs, he eventually reached the stages of esteem
needs and self-actualization. After he saved the children from the burning church, he was
praised and respected. Their lives are worth more than mine, they have more to live for. Some
of their parents came by to thank me and I knew it was worth it (154). He knew that
endangering his life for them was the right choice to make, and he was content with it. He had
earned the respect of other people, even though he was a greaser. After he satisfied the esteem
needs, he reached the self-actualization stage before death. He told Pony, Stay gold, Ponyboy.
Stay gold (130). He fulfilled his life, and knew that dying was worth it to save the children.
He also realized the meaning of the poem, and how it related to him and Ponys lives. Youre
gold when youre a kid, like green. When youre a kid everythings new, dawn. Its just when
you get used to everything that its day (154). He wanted to tell Ponyboy to stay young and
innocent, and not to make the wrong choices in life. Johnny made his way through all the stages,
because once he met his physical needs, he moved on to satisfy his emotional and psychological
needs.

In conclusion, Johnnys actions over time can be categorized into the five stages of Maslows
Hierarchy of Needs. He was motivated to meet his safety and belongingness needs, and these
were provided by the gang. Afterwards, he saved the children and was praised and respected,
which fulfilled his self-esteem needs. Finally, at his death, he reached the self-actualization stage
when he realized all of his choices were worth it. He realized that everything he did was worth
his life,
Kono 3
and he advised Ponyboy to stay young and innocent. Johnny shows that, even with rough
conflicts and struggles in his life, he was able to move past them and was motivated to reach
self-actualization.

Kono 4
Works Cited
Gillespie, Tim. Doing Literary Criticism: Helping Students Engage with Challenging Texts.
Portland, ME.: Stenhouse, 2010. Accessed 12 Dec. 2016.
Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. Dell Publishers, 1967.
McLeod, Saul. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. Simple Psychology, 16 Sept. 2013,
www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html. Accessed 8 Dec. 2016.