Editing Maslow's hierarchy of needs (section)

== Needs ==
=== Physiological needs ===
Physiological needs are the base of the hierarchy. These needs are the biological component for human survival. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, physiological needs are factored into internal motivation. According to Maslow's theory, humans are compelled to satisfy physiological needs first to pursue higher levels of intrinsic satisfaction.{{sfn|Maslow|1943}} To advance higher-level needs in Maslow's hierarchy, physiological needs must be met first. This means that if a person is struggling to meet their physiological needs, they are unwilling to seek safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization on their own.

Physiological needs include: [[Air]], [[Water]], [[Food]], [[Heat]], [[Clothes]], [[Reproduction]], [[Shelter (building)|Shelter]]{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} and [[Sleep]]. Many of these physiological needs must be met for the human body to remain in [[homeostasis]]. Air, for example, is a physiological need; a human being requires air more urgently than higher-level needs, such as a sense of social belonging. Physiological needs are critical to "meet the very basic essentials of life".<ref name=":1" /> This allows for cravings such as hunger and thirst to be satisfied and not disrupt the regulation of the body.

=== Safety needs ===
Once a person's physiological needs are satisfied, their safety needs take precedence and dominate behavior. In the absence of physical safety – due to war, natural disaster, [[family violence]], [[childhood abuse]], etc. and/or in the absence of economic safety – (due to an economic crisis and lack of work opportunities) these safety needs manifest themselves in ways such as a preference for [[job security]], grievance procedures for protecting the individual from unilateral authority, savings accounts, insurance policies, disability accommodations, etc. This level is more likely to predominate in children as they generally have a greater need to feel safe –  especially children who have disabilities.<ref name="MJC">{{Cite book |last1=Dodge |first1=Diane Trister |url=http://fanconij.faculty.mjc.edu/Theoriest.pdf |title=The Creative Curriculum for Preschool |last2=Colker |first2=Laura J. |last3=Heroman |first3=Cate |date=2002 |publisher=Teaching Strategies |isbn=978-1879537439 |edition=4th |location=Washington, DC |pages=2–3 |chapter=Theory and Research Behind ''The Creative Curriculum'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110075759/http://fanconij.faculty.mjc.edu/Theoriest.pdf |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |via=Jeanette Fanconi, Modesto Junior College}}</ref> Adults are also impacted by this, typically in economic matters; "adults are not immune to the need of safety".<ref name=":1" /> It includes shelter, job security, health, and safe environments. If a person does not feel safe in an environment, they will seek safety before attempting to meet any higher level of survival. This is why the "goal of consistently meeting the need for safety is to have stability in one's life",<ref name=":1" /> stability brings back the concept of homeostasis for humans which our bodies need.

Safety needs include:
* [[Health]]
* [[Personal security]]
* [[Emotional security]]
* [[Economic security|Financial security]]

=== Love and social needs ===
After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third level of human needs is interpersonal and involves feelings of [[belongingness]]. According to Maslow, humans possess an effective need for a sense of belonging and acceptance among social groups, regardless of whether [[Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft|these groups are large or small]]; being a part of a group is crucial, regardless if it is work, sports, friends or family.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} The sense of belongingness is "being comfortable with and connection to others that results from receiving acceptance, respect, and love."<ref name="MJC" /> For example, some large social groups may include clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sports teams, gangs or online communities. Some examples of small social connections include family members, intimate partners, mentors, colleagues, and confidants. Humans need to love and be loved – both sexually and non-sexually – by others according to Maslow.{{sfn|Maslow|1943}} Many people become susceptible to [[loneliness]], [[social anxiety]], and [[clinical depression]] in the absence of this love or belonging element. This need is especially strong in [[childhood]] and it can override the need for safety as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents. Deficiencies due to [[hospitalism]], [[neglect]], [[shunning]], [[ostracism]], etc. can adversely affect the individual's ability to form and maintain emotionally significant [[Interpersonal relationship|relationships]] in general. 
Mental health can be a huge factor when it comes to an individual's needs and development. When an individual's needs are not met, it can cause depression during adolescence. When an individual grows up in a higher-income family, it is much more likely that they will have a lower rate of depression. This is because all of their basic needs are met. Studies have shown that when a family goes through financial stress for a prolonged time, depression rates are higher, not only because their basic needs are not being met, but because this stress strains the parent-child relationship. The parent(s) is stressed about providing for their children, and they are also likely to spend less time at home because they are working more to make more money and provide for their family.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Crandall |first1=Aliceann |last2=Powell |first2=Elizabeth A. |last3=Bradford |first3=Grace C. |last4=Magnusson |first4=Brianna M. |last5=Hanson |first5=Carl L. |last6=Barnes |first6=Michael D. |last7=Novilla |first7=M. Lelinneth B. |last8=Bean |first8=Roy A. |year=2020 |title=Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a Framework for Understanding Adolescent Depressive Symptoms over Time |journal=Journal of Child and Family Studies |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=273–281 |doi=10.1007/s10826-019-01577-4 |s2cid=204353035}}</ref>

Social belonging needs include:
* [[Family]]
* [[Friendship]]
* [[Intimacy]]
*[[Trust (social science)|Trust]]
*[[Acceptance]]
*Receiving and giving love and affection

In certain situations, the need for belonging may overcome the physiological and security needs, depending on the strength of the peer pressure. In contrast, for some individuals, the need for self-esteem is more important than the need for belonging; and for others, the need for creative fulfillment may supersede even the most basic needs.{{sfn|Kenrick|Griskevicius|Neuberg|Schaller|2010}}

=== Esteem needs ===
Esteem is the respect, and admiration of a person, but also "self-respect and respect from others".<ref name="MJC" /> Most people need stable esteem, meaning that which is soundly based on real capacity or achievement. Maslow noted two versions of esteem needs. The "lower" version of esteem is the need for respect from others and may include a need for status, recognition, fame, prestige, and attention. The "higher" version of esteem is the need for self-respect, and can include a need for strength, competence,{{sfn|Deckers|2018}} mastery, [[self-confidence]], independence, and freedom. This "higher" version takes guidelines, the "hierarchies are interrelated rather than sharply separated".{{sfn|Maslow|1954}} This means that esteem and the subsequent levels are not strictly separated; instead, the levels are closely related.

Esteem comes from day-to-day experiences which provide a learning opportunity that allows us to discover ourselves. This is incredibly important for children, which is why giving them "the opportunity to discover they are competent and capable learners"<ref name="MJC" /> is crucial. To boost this, adults must provide opportunities for children to have successful and positive experiences to give children a greater "sense of self".<ref name="MJC" /> Adults, especially parents and educators must create and ensure an environment for children that is supportive and provides them with opportunities that "helps children see themselves as respectable, capable individuals". It can also be found that "Maslow indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most important for children&nbsp;... and precedes real self-esteem or dignity",{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} which reflects the two aspects of esteem: for oneself and others.

=== Cognitive needs ===
{{main|Need for cognition}}

It has been suggested that Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be extended after esteem needs into two more categories: cognitive needs and aesthetic needs.{{sfn|Maslow|1954}}{{page needed|date=March 2025}} Cognitive needs crave meaning, information, comprehension and curiosity – this creates a will to learn and attain knowledge.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} &nbsp;From an educational viewpoint, Maslow wanted humans to have intrinsic motivation to become educated people. People have cognitive needs such as creativity, foresight, curiosity, and meaning. Individuals who enjoy activities that require deliberation and brainstorming have a greater need for cognition. Individuals who are unmotivated to participate in the activity, on the other hand, have a low demand for cognitive abilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Need for Cognition |url=http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628085814/http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/ |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |access-date=August 1, 2021 |website=Research and custom writing services}}</ref>

=== Aesthetic needs ===
After reaching one's cognitive needs, it would progress to aesthetic needs to beautify one's life. This would consist of having the ability to appreciate the beauty within the world around one's self, on a day-to-day basis.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} According to Maslow's theories, to progress toward Self-Actualization, humans require beautiful imagery or novel and aesthetically pleasing experiences. Humans must immerse themselves in nature's splendor while paying close attention to their surroundings and observing them in order to extract the world's beauty. One would accomplish this by making their environment pleasant to look at or be around. They might discover personal style choices that they feel represent them and make their environment a place that they fit well into. This higher level of need to connect with nature results in a sense of intimacy with nature and all that is endearing.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} Aesthetic needs also relate to beautifying oneself. This would consist of improving one's physical appearance to ensure its beauty to balance the rest of the body.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} This is done by making and finding ways one wants to dress and express oneself through personal beauty and grooming standards and ideas.

=== Self-actualization ===
{{Main|Self-actualization}}
"What a man can be, he must be.”{{sfn|Maslow|1954|p=91}} This quotation forms the basis of the perceived need for self-actualization. This level of need refers to the realization of one's full potential. Maslow describes this as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be.{{sfn|Maslow|1954|p=92}} People may have a strong, particular desire to become an ideal parent, succeed athletically, or create paintings, pictures, or inventions.{{sfn|Maslow|1954|p=93}} To understand this level of need, a person must not only succeed in the previous needs but master them. Self-actualization can be described as a value-based system when discussing its role in motivation.  Self-actualization is understood as the goal or explicit motive, and the previous stages in Maslow's hierarchy fall in line to become the step-by-step process by which self-actualization is achievable; an explicit motive is the objective of a reward-based system that is used to intrinsically drive the completion of certain values or goals.{{sfn|Deckers|2018}} Individuals who are motivated to pursue this goal seek and understand how their needs, relationships, and sense of self are expressed through their behavior. Self-actualization needs include:{{sfn|Deckers|2018}}
* Partner acquisition
* Parenting
* Utilizing and developing talents and abilities
* Pursuing goals

=== Transcendence needs ===
{{Main|Transcendence (philosophy)|Transcendence (religion)|Self-transcendence}}

Maslow later subdivided the triangle's top to include self-transcendence, also known as spiritual needs. Spiritual needs differ from other types of needs in that they can be met on multiple levels. When this need is met, it produces feelings of integrity and raises things to a higher plane of existence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2007 |first =Sandeep|  last = Gautum |format = Blog |title=Maslow's eight basic needs and the eight stage developmental model |url=https://the-mouse-trap.com/2007/12/14/maslows-eight-basic-needs-and-the-eight-stage-devlopmental-model/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801051503/https://the-mouse-trap.com/2007/12/14/maslows-eight-basic-needs-and-the-eight-stage-devlopmental-model/ |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |access-date=August 1, 2021 |website=The Mouse Trap}}</ref>  In his later years, Maslow explored a further dimension of motivation, while criticizing his original vision of self-actualization.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maslow |first=Abraham H. |title=Future visions: The unpublished papers of Abraham Maslow |publisher=Sage |year=1996 |isbn=978-0761900511 |editor-last=Hoffman |editor-first=Edward |location=Thousand Oaks, CA |pages=26–32 |chapter=Critique of self-actualization theory}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maslow |first=Abraham H. |year=1969 |title=The farther reaches of human nature |journal=Journal of Transpersonal Psychology |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–9}}</ref>{{sfn|Maslow|1971}}{{sfn|Koltko-Rivera|2006}} Maslow tells us that by transcending you have a set of roots in your current culture but you are able to look over it as well and see other viewpoints and ideas.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maslow |first=Abraham |date=1969 |title=Various Meanings of Transcendence |url=https://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-01-69-01-056.pdf |journal=Journal of Transpersonal Psychology |pages=56–66}}</ref> By these later ideas, one finds the fullest realization in giving oneself to something beyond oneself—for example, in altruism or spirituality. He equated this with the desire to reach the infinite.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Garcia-Romeu |first=Albert |year=2010 |title=Self-transcendence as a measurable transpersonal construct |url=http://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-42-10-01-026.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Journal of Transpersonal Psychology |volume=421 |pages=26–47 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214135428/http://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-42-10-01-026.pdf |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> "Transcendence refers to the very highest and most inclusive or holistic levels of human consciousness, behaving and relating, as ends rather than means, to oneself, to significant others, to human beings in general, to other species, to nature, and to the [[cosmos]]."{{sfn|Maslow|1971|p=269}}