fei75766_ch09_271-308.indd 301  02/06/20 12:09 PM
Chapter 9    Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory301
should bestrong positive correlations. Twodifferent measures (Lester, 1990; Strong 
&Fiebert, 1987) ofhierarchy ofneeds wereadministered to51college students and
thetwomeasures didnotcorrelate withoneanother. Infact,intwocases (safety and
esteem), theneeds werenegatively correlated between thetwoscales (Lester, 2013). 
Tobefair,thetwomeasures asked participants twodifferent things. Lester’s measure 
asksparticipants howsatisfied eachneed is,whereas Strong andFiebert’s measure 
askshowimportant eachneed istotheparticipant. 
Inaddition totesting thetheory, some haveargued foranupdate, specifically 
anevolutionary psychology update tothehierarchy. Doug Kenrick andcolleagues 
(2010) proposed thefollowing update tothehierarchy: immediate physiological 
needs, self-protection, affiliation, status/esteem, mate acquisition, mate retention, and
parenting. Thebiggest change intheirmodel isreplacing self-actualization withthree 
types ofreproductive goals (acquiring amate, retaining amate, parenting). Inother 
words, from anevolutionary perspective, self-actualization (“becoming what thatScale Sample Items
Physiological Needs
“The quality ofthefoodIeatevery day”
“The amount ofheating Ihavewhen theweather iscold”
“The quality ofsexIamhaving” 
“The amount ofexercise Igettokeepmybody toned”
Safety-Security Needs “The quality ofthehouse/apartment Iamliving in”
“How safeIamfrom being physically attacked”
“How secure Iamfrom disasters”
“Myfinancial security”
Belongingness Needs “The quality oftherelationships Ihavewithmyfriends”
“How welcomed Iaminmycommunity”
“The feeling oftogetherness Ihavewithmyfamily”
“How much Iamcared forbymyspouse/partner”
Esteem Needs “The admiration given tomebyothers”
“The prestige Ihaveintheeyesofother people”
“How much Iliketheperson thatIam”
“Mysense ofself-worth”
Self-Actualization Needs “Iamtotally comfortable withallfacets ofmypersonality”
“IfeelthatIamcompletely self-fulfilled”
“Iamnowbeing theperson Ihavealways wanted tobe”
“Iamliving mylifetothefullest”TABLE 9.2
Sample Items from the Five Need Satisfaction Measures (Taormina & Gao, 2013)
Source:  Taormina, R.J., & Gao, J.H. (2013). Maslow and the motivation hierarchy: Measuring satisfaction of needs. American Journal of 
Psychology, 126,  155-177.Final PDF to printer