Personality Theory: Abraham Maslow Essay

Of every the psychologists and their theories, the one I find most enkindle and believe the most in is Abraham Maslow. I believe his hierarchy of look ats is real and that multitude do f solely in one of the directs of his bene fitting. Most of us start at a fucking take in life and strive to reach a higher level of financial and educational constancy along with a satisfying c areer. We all devote basic needs in life and one time we postulate these we climb the ladder to higher achievements in life.Abraham Maslow was an Ameri rear psychologist who studied the Humanistic aspects of psychology. He became raise in psychology after learning about John Watson and his contributions to the behavioral theory. In 1943, Maslow created a gain he called the Hierarchy of Needs. This pyramid was based on a persons basic humiliate needs to the higher needs in ones life.Maslow disapproved of behaviorism and later on took a similar direction as Freud and his writings. He accepted the e xistence of the unconscious but, he opposed Freuds conviction that the great part of who we are is hidden past our consciousness. Maslow thought that for the most part we are aware of our actions and that without impediments in our life that we all could become psychologically fit mess with a greater understanding of whom we are and better adequate to(p) to accept the world we live in. In areas that Freud saw pessimism or negative behavior in a persons life, Maslow looked for more positives in mankind.Maslow believed that we are all born with certain needs and without meeting these needs a person was sure to die. The first and bottom level of his hierarchy was physiological needs much(prenominal) as warmth, shelter, and food. Physiological needs were concerned with a biological balance and homeostasis or equilibrium. Without these basic needs a person would not be able to thrive.The second levels of the pyramid were for security needs. These included living in a untroubled area past from any danger or physical threats. This is most often found in children who need the breastplate of their parents from any harm. These two bottom levels of the pyramid are also where in the workplacemost people start out at. Most people need to find work to create a safe loving home with food and warmth to keep themselves and their children from harm. The third level deals with social needs such as issue, friendship and family needs. Many people spend a lifetime looking for belonging and love in their life. This third level focuses on a desire to be accepted by others and to fit in and feel like we have a place in this world. Many young people struggle through this period of time trying to find them and not really knowing who they can trust and not trust. The fourth level of the pyramid deals with Ego needs and self respect.It focuses on the need for self-esteem and respect from others. A person likes to feel like he or she has made something of them and have achieved suc cess in all they do. We all like to strive for higher careers and increase our knowledge in the world while at the same time seeking autonomy in life. The fifth level of Maslows hierarchy is self-actualization. This level deals with the person and knowing they have used their full potential in life. At this level people become fully functional and act purely on their avouch volition and at the same time have a healthy personality.The fifth level is the hardest of all levels to achieve. To honestly be self-actualized means to really know who we are, where we belong in society, and to feel like we have accomplished all that we have set out to achieve. Self-actualization means to no longer feel demean or remorse, or even hatred, but to believe in the world and see human disposition as naturally good. Many people in their lifetime do not reach this net level of Maslows hierarchy.Each level of Maslows hierarchy can be attributed to stages in a persons working life. I see employees wh o are struggling to make ends meet and keep a pileus over their heads and feed their families. I see other employees who are beyond this level and are straining for a higher education to climb the ladder in their careers. I also see the elapse leaders of my workplace on the highest levels of Maslows hierarchy. They know who they are and have all they need in life. Many of the retirees I have seen have reached the self-actualization that Maslow created on his pyramid while others remained at the fourth level of autonomy and self-worth. I have also seen those that have reached a certain level on the pyramid and taken one or two steps backward. I have seen others that have one fanny on one level and the otheron the next level trying to reach and roll themselves up. Maslow was a great psychologist and I would like to someday see someone further his research.ReferencesAllPsych Online The Virtual psychology Classroom retrieved on September 15, 2005 from http//allpsych.comDeeperMInd retrieved on September 15, 2005 from http//www.deepermind.com/maslow.htmLahey 2003 Introduction to Psychology Eighth Edition UOPHX schoolbookMischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Smith, R. (2004). Introduction to personality Toward an integration (7th ed.). New York John Wiley and Sons.