preview

Abraham Maslow Theory Of Motivation

Good Essays

Abraham Maslow, the son of Jewish immigrants from Russia, graduated from the City College of New York in 1928. Soon after, he obtained a graduate degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin. (Hoffman 32). In 1943, while the world waged war, Maslow published a paper that tried to explain the ways in which humans are motivated. The paper would go on to influence a variety of fields of study. It was entitled A Theory of Human Motivation, and was published in the scientific journal Psychological Review. Maslow’s paper can be summed up when he writes, “There are at least five sets of goals, which we may call basic needs. These are briefly physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization” (29). Maslow makes the case that humans must have certain needs fulfilled before they can seek after higher goals. According to Maslow, a man must first have food, water, shelter, sleep, and sex before he can think about protecting himself or his property. If he is starving, how can he care about any material that doesn’t immediately benefit him? If, however, he does find food, water, and shelter, then he can begin to protect himself, and perhaps even his property. Once he has some security and is able to relax, he will find himself wanting friends, maybe even a family. After he gets some good friends and starts a family, he will desire respect. Once he achieves this, he can finally be creative and moral. He will be unprejudiced, and will have a feeling of fulfillment and

Get Access