Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory taught in A Level Psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow, which outlines a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid (like in the picture I legally borrowed from wikipedia). The heirarcy in order is: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. We are going to look at the different emotions that can be associated with each level as individuals strive to fulfill these needs, and the emotions that are reliably unlocked.
Physiological Needs (Basic Needs):
- Negative Emotions: Hunger, Thirst, Discomfort, Distress
- Emotions When Filled: Relief, Satisfaction, Comfort
- Explanation: When basic needs like food, water, and shelter are met, individuals often feel a sense of relief and comfort.
Safety Needs (Basic Needs):
- Negative Emotions: Fear, Anxiety, Insecurity, Loneliness
- Emotions When Filled: Security, Stability
- Explanation: Meeting safety needs, such as personal security, financial security, and health, can lead to feelings of security and stability.
Love and Belongingness Needs (Psychological Needs):
- Negative Emotions: Loneliness, Isolation, Rejection
- Emotions When Met: Love, Belonging, Acceptance
- Explanation: When individuals have strong social connections and feel loved and accepted, they experience emotions of love and belonging. Conversely, a lack of these connections can lead to feelings of loneliness and social anxiety.
Esteem Needs (Psychological Needs):
- Negative Emotions: Inferiority, Inadequacy, Worthlessness
- Emotions When Met: Confidence, Pride, Achievement
- Explanation: Meeting esteem needs, such as self-esteem and the respect of others, can lead to feelings of confidence, pride, and a sense of achievement. When these needs are unmet, individuals may feel inferior, weak, or worthless.
Self-Actualization Needs (Self-Fulfillment Needs):
- Negative Emotions: Frustration, Unfulfillment, Stagnation
- Emotions When Met: Fulfillment, Creativity, Purpose
- Explanation: At the self-actualization level, individuals seek personal growth and fulfillment. Emotions associated with this level include a sense of purpose, creativity, and fulfillment. If these needs are not met, individuals may feel frustrated or unfulfilled.
Self-Transcendence (Beyond the original hierarchy, sometimes considered an extension):
- Negative Emotions: Emptyness, Disconnection, Alienation, Existential Anxiety, Hoplessness, Despondance
- Emotions: Transcendence, Connection to a Higher Purpose, Compassion
- Explanation: This level involves transcending the self and connecting to something greater, such as altruism, spirituality, or a higher purpose. Emotions here include a profound sense of connection, compassion, and transcendence.
Each level of Maslow’s hierarchy builds on the previous one, meaning that as lower-level needs (those at the top of this list, but the bottom of the pyramid) are satisfied, individuals can feel better and focus more on higher-level needs and the emotions associated with them stay with them in their life reliably while the need is truly met.