Pre-College Psychology                                                                        See p. 293 in text

11/12/01

Motivation Part 3

                                                                            Self-

                                                                       Actualization               

 

                                                                         Esteem

 

                                                         Love and

                                                     Belongingness

 

                                                            Safety

 

 

                                                   Physiological Needs

 

 

                                       Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

 

 

So here’s what I taught today in Psychology.  It’s an absolutely fabulous topic to discuss.  I really looked forward to it and the class didn’t let me down.  It’s such a brilliant concept that fits not only with how people behave and with humanistic therapy, but also with my general philosophical view as well.  So being able to teach this is kind of like being able to teach a lesson in spirituality and have a group therapy lesson all at the same time.  I feel like this is one discussion after which one or two students might say “Wow, that makes so much sense… I think I’m going to try to be a better person to myself and those around me”

 

For those of you who don’t know, Maslow came up with this “hierarchy of human needs.”  Basically, it just says that before a person can work on the needs at one level, He/She must totally satisfy the needs at all of the levels below it.  So before you care about being loved and fitting in, you have to be sure that you are going to stay alive.  Then before you can start to work on self-esteem, you have to find love and belonging, etc.

 

In this country, at least, most of us pretty much start out in the “love and belongingness” stage, but it’s a rocky one.  To satisfy it, you need people in your life that you know will accept you the way you really are, no matter what you do.  You know, unconditional love.  Humanistic therapy is based on this concept.  If a person can be unconditionally accepted – even by one person – they can finally start to love themselves!  A good lover or a best friend does the same thing!!  (Or a group of friends who still loves you even though you move away!!!)

 

Of course, other factors come into it too.  Family, religion, any group you feel like you belong to with no questions asked.  Nationalism is a big one these days.  And of course we all try every shortcut we can.  We try to fake it.  We try to be what we think people want so that they will accept and love us.   We try to not be the people we really are.  We try to hide things.  And yeah, it can even work a little sometimes, but if you stop and think about it – if you’re spending a good deal of your energy worrying about what people think of you, then you’re stuck here.  (I know I am sometimes!)

 

Then finally if you find love and belongingness, when you know you are loved by others, then you can start loving yourself.  And again, it’s pretty slow going.    You have to face all of the doubts and the fears and the little voices that make you feel like you’re not good enough.  And then, as if it wasn’t hard enough already, sometimes difficulties with self-esteem cause damage to your foundation of love and belongingness.  You start to think you’re not good enough, and then you doubt the love and acceptance of those around you.  And so you have to go back and work on that again.

 

And finally you reach that magical, undefinable state of self-actualization where you are being all you can be (without shooting anybody, of course) and doing what really makes you happy (and not what you think will make you happy because it’s an attempt to fulfill your need for love or esteem).  And life is free and fun and exciting and perfect.  Oh but wait. Your pyramid can still crumble.  Then second you think “Damn, I’m so cool for having achieved this state!  I’m sure glad I’m not one of those people who hasn’t” – well, then you haven’t.

 

 

So, be sure to review this material carefully.  And look at page 293 in the text.  There will be a test on it in a few weeks!!  Oh and wonderful news!!!  My Thanksgiving break starts this Friday (instead of next Tuesday!!!)  So when I go to Ithaca this weekend I’ll be in no hurry to leave.  Horrayyy!!   I was dancing around in the halls at work today I was so excited. 

 

So…………………   Bye,