Maslow's Heirachy Of Needs Theoy

2.1 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory

Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory identifies higher order needs (self-actualization and esteem) and lower order needs (social, safety, and physiological requirements). Wood (2004), states, that some needs are assumed more important than others are and must be satisfied before the other needs can serve as motivators. Thus, the physiological needs must be satisfied before the other needs can serve as motivators.

It is evident through questionnaires conducted that eight out of eight people agreed that the prospect of a secure, stable job in the future was a very important reason for studying at university. It is also seen that five out of eight people agreed that increased status, prestige, and recognition was a somewhat important reason for studying at university. This research suggests that there is a tendency for lower order needs to be more important than higher order needs. For example, the safety needs (prospect of a secure, stable job in the future) must be fulfilled before the esteem needs (increased status, prestige and recognition) acts as a motivator.

Although on the contrary it was also found that six out of eight people stated that the ability to grow as a person was a very important reason for studying at university while only four out of eight agreed that it was very important to makes friends and have a good time. This shows that self-actualisation needs (ability to grow as a person) was a more important need than social needs (to makes friends and have a good time), therefore must be fulfilled first. Wood (2004) states, that in many developing countries and nations the satisfaction of lower order needs such as basic subsistence and survival needs consumes the entire lifetimes of many millions of individuals, with little opportunity to progress to higher-level need satisfaction. However, in societies where regular employment is available, basic