Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

(Humanistic Theory of motivation to learn)

Maslow believed that learning is affected by
human needs such as physical needs of the
body (food, safety, sense of belonging, self-
esteem, the need to achieve)
All humans are motivated by the same set of
basic needs
The needs can be arranged in a hierarchy in
order of their importance to survival and the
maintenance of physical and psychological
health
The ones nearer the base of the pyramid are
more critical to our physical and mental
well-being, as can be seen by the larger
space they occupy and form the basis for
other needs on top
When deficiency needs are met, the
motivation for these needs decrease
When being needs are met, the motivation
for them increases
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
Self-
Actualization
Need
Aesthetic Needs
Need to Know & Understand
Esteem Needs
Belongingness and Love Needs
Safety Needs
Physiological Needs
Being (growth)
Needs
Deficiency
Needs
Motivation increases
as needs are met
Motivation
decreases
as needs
are met
Physiological needs food, water, shelter
Safety needs a stable and predictable
environment
Belonging needs the need to form
supportive or cooperative relationships with
other people
Esteem needs the need for status and
positive self-concept
Intellectual needs the need to know and
understand and explain the world
Aesthetic needs the human desire to
experience beauty and to find or create
symmetry and completeness
Self-actualization the need for each
individual to develop his or her own unique
abilities and talents to the highest possible
level
Development of needs through childhood
Hampden-Turner (1981)
In infancy, a child is aware of little else
than immediate needs and the presence of
the primary caregiver
At this age physiological needs are most
important
As the child grows older and become better
able to imagine the future, the stability
and predictability of the environment
become more important - they become more
concerned about safety needs than
physiological needs
As children continue to mature, the social
aspects of life assume greater importance
and belonging needs supersede safety needs
Finally, in young adulthood, esteem needs
become more influential
The growth needs such as self actualization
and cognitive needs become stronger with
each opportunity for gratification
These needs may eventually become so
influential that a person may sacrifice
everything else (esteem, relationships,
safety, health) to achieve self-actualization
or intellectual or aesthetic growth
NEEDS IMPLICATIONS IN TEACHING-LEARNING
Physiological Ensure that students do not feel hungry,
thirsty, sick or uncomfortable physically
before T-L starts
Safety Ensure that students feel safe physically
and psychologically in your class; create a
non-threatening, risk-free environment
Belongingness
and love
Ensure that students feel loved, feel that
they belong in your class and know they are
accepted by peers and by the teacher
Self-esteem Boost students self-esteem through
praise/positive reinforcement, applause,
and opportunities to succeed
Need to
know and
understand
There is a natural tendency in human beings
to try to understand and know the world;
provide opportunities to explore and find out;
impart knowledge and skills so that they are
able to learn
Aesthetic
needs
There is a natural desire to experience beauty
and find ways to create symmetry and
completeness provides opportunities for
expression of these
Self-
actualization
Allow or provide students with the
opportunity to develop their unique abilities
and talents to the highest level possible
When all the deficiency needs are satisfied, students
will be able to focus on achieving the growth needs: