Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation." It suggests that human needs are arranged in a hierarchy, with basic needs at the bottom and more complex needs at the top. Individuals are motivated to fulfill lower-level needs before pursuing higher-level ones.

The hierarchy is typically depicted as a pyramid with five levels, from bottom to top:

1. Physiological Needs: Basic survival needs like air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, reproduction (often included).
2. Safety Needs: Security of the body, employment, resources, morality, family, health, property.
3. Love and Belonging Needs: Friendship, intimacy, family, sense of connection.
4. Esteem Needs: Respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength, freedom.
5. Self-Actualization Needs: Becoming the most one can be; includes morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem-solving, acceptance of facts. (Maslow later added Self-Transcendence above this).

The core idea is that human motivation is driven by a desire to fulfill needs in a progressive order. Lower, more basic needs (like hunger and safety) must be reasonably satisfied before higher, more complex needs (like belonging and self-esteem) become significant motivators. The ultimate goal is often seen as reaching self-actualization, the realization of one's full potential.

While widely influential in psychology, education, and business, Maslow's strict hierarchical model has faced criticism. Research doesn't always support the idea that needs must be met in a fixed, rigid order. People can pursue higher needs even when lower ones aren't fully satisfied, and cultural differences can influence the importance and order of needs. However, the core concept that certain basic needs are fundamental before higher needs become prominent remains valuable.

The original pyramid has Self-Actualization at the top. This level is about achieving one's full potential and seeking personal growth and peak experiences. Later in his life, Maslow explored a level beyond self-actualization called Self-Transcendence, which involves helping others achieve self-actualization or pursuing goals beyond oneself (e.g., altruism, spirituality, connection to something larger).

Abraham Maslow first introduced his concept of the hierarchy of needs in his 1943 paper titled "A Theory of Human Motivation", published in the journal *Psychological Review*. He further elaborated on it in his 1954 book *Motivation and Personality*.

Profit isn't a direct level in the hierarchy for an individual, but it relates to the needs in several ways, particularly in a business or economic context:

• For individuals, the income earned (from which profit might be derived, like owning a business or earning a bonus) helps satisfy Physiological (buying food, shelter) and Safety (financial security, job security) needs.
• For a business, profitability is essential for survival (Physiological/Safety for the organization) and provides resources for growth and stability, which can then help employees meet their own needs at various levels.
• Achieving significant profit might contribute to a business owner's Esteem (success, recognition) or potentially fuel activities related to Self-Actualization (pursuing innovative projects, contributing to society).

So, profit is more of a means to satisfy various levels of needs rather than a need itself within the individual-focused hierarchy.