fei75766_ch09_271-308.indd 278  02/06/20 12:09 PM
Part III    Humanistic/Existential Theories278
Another assumption isthatall people everywhere are motivated by the same basic 
needs. Themanner inwhich people indifferent cultures obtain food, build shelters, 
express friendship, andsoforth mayvarywidely, butthefundamental needs forfood, 
safety, andfriendship arecommon totheentire species.
Afinalassumption concerning motivation isthatneeds can be arranged on a 
hierarchy (Maslow, 1943, 1970). Although themost common visual representation of
thehierarchy isapyramid, itisworth noting thatMaslow himself never created or
argued forapyramid (Bridgeman etal.,2019). Itwasfirstproposed byaconsulting 
psychologist inabusiness journal nearly 20years afterMaslow proposed thehierar -
chy(McDermid, 1960; cf.Bridgman etal.,2019).
Hierarchy of Needs 
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs concept assumes thatlower levelneeds must besatis-
fiedoratleastrelatively satisfied before higher levelneeds become motivators. The
fiveneeds composing thishierarchy areconative needs, meaning thattheyhavea
striving ormotivational character. These needs, which Maslow often referred toas
basic needs, canbearranged onahierarchy orstaircase, witheachascending step
representing ahigher need butonelessbasic tosurvival (seeFigure 9.1).Lower 
levelneeds haveprepotency overhigher levelneeds; thatis,theymust besatisfied or
mostly satisfied before higher levelneeds become activated. Forexample, anyone 
motivated byesteem orself-actualization must havepreviously satisfied needs for
foodandsafety. Hunger andsafety, therefore, haveprepotency overbothesteem and
self-actualization.
Maslow (1970) listed thefollowing needs inorder oftheirprepotency: physi -
ological, safety, loveandbelongingness, esteem, andself-actualization.
Physiological Needs
Themost basic needs ofanyperson arephysiological needs, including food, water, 
oxygen, maintenance ofbody temperature, andsoon.Physiological needs arethe
most prepotent ofall.Perpetually hungry people aremotivated toeat—not tomake 
friends orgainself-esteem. They donotseebeyond food, andaslongasthisneed 
remains unsatisfied, theirprimary motivation istoobtain something toeat.
Inaffluent societies, most people satisfy theirhunger needs asamatter of
course. They usually haveenough toeat,sowhen theysaytheyarehungry, theyare
really speaking ofappetites, nothunger. Atrulyhungry person willnotbeoverly par-
ticular about taste, smell, temperature, ortexture ofthefood.
Maslow (1970) said:“Itisquite truethatmanlivesbybread alone—when there 
isnobread” (p.38).When people donothavetheirphysiological needs satisfied, they
liveprimarily forthose needs andstrive constantly tosatisfy them. Starving people 
become preoccupied withfoodandarewilling todonearly anything toobtain it
(Keys, Brozek, Henschel, Mickelsen, &Taylor, 1950).
Physiological needs differ from other needs inatleasttwoimportant respects. 
First, theyaretheonlyneeds thatcanbecompletely satisfied orevenoverly satisfied. 
People cangetenough toeatsothatfoodcompletely loses itsmotivational power. For
someone whohasjustfinished alarge meal, thethought ofmore foodcanevenhave
anauseating effect. Asecond characteristic peculiar tophysiological needs istheirFinal PDF to printer