Comments to: crs@uvm.eduReviewed as of 4/20/98
THIS DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED BY THE NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM. IT IS POSTED BY THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES FOR PUBLIC
USE. THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE CONTENTS.
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THE PYRAMID OF NEEDS
WHY PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY DO
It is interesting and useful to be aware of what and how
researchers view what motivates all of us.
Abraham Maslow, a humanistic psychologist, developed a simple tool
to explain why people do things. He and other researchers found
that people were motivated to do things by their basic human needs.
He put these needs into the shape of a triangle with the basic
human needs at the bottom and the higher human needs at the top.
Self To do what you must to become fully
fulfillment yourself. To develop your own
needs individuality. To become everything
you are capable of becoming.
Ego and Respect and liking for yourself and
esteem needs and others. Strength, competence,
status, achievement, freedom, fame.
Love needs Acceptance, membership, affection,
social needs belonging, feeling loved and wanted.
Safety needs Protection from physical and
psychological threat, fear, and
anxiety. The need for order,
structure, and security.
Physical/ Food, water, shelter, clothing, etc
survival needs
Some of the points made with this pyramid may be useful to members
of groups or boards who are interested in motivating old members
and looking for new ones. First, the most basic needs at the
bottom of the pyramid must be satisfied before people can be
motivated by the higher needs at the top. This becomes especially
important for groups that are being formed in low-income areas. It
gives you some idea of what types of people can be recruited and
maintained for a particular reason. In a way it says that before
people can be expected to work for something that will give them
status or esteem, they have to have jobs and security. They would
probably be much more willing to fight for a decent job, than to be
on a board or a group out to stop the danger of nuclear power.
Note that the basic needs have to be met before people will seek to
fulfill the higher needs; but when these needs have been met they
will no longer be useful as motivators. Improving one's skills in
order to get a job would not motivate someone who already has a
good job. In that case, motivation must fulfill higher needs.
Understanding the different types of needs and how they affect an
organization and its goals is important to anyone interested in
improving a group's effectiveness.
Citizen groups, from mandated citizen boards and councils to
grassroots organizations are made up of people with many needs. To
have these groups function effectively--so they can gain control
over the decisions that affect their lives--they must first learn
how to work together as a group or team to fulfill these needs.
The important thing to remember in developing "people power" is to
accept and respect the fact that every member has a contribution to
make, and that releasing and using those human resources
effectively is the primary ingredient in a successfully functioning
group.
Comments to: crs@uvm.edu
Reviewed as of 4/20/98