Maslow's hierarchy of human needs

Maslow states that a healthy personality ( ie fully functioning and self-actualizing) entails the meeting of a hierarchy of needs:

1. Biological needs ( oxygen, food, water, warmth ).

2. Safety needs (no present threats to safety); no pain

3. Love, affection, and 'belongingness' needs.

4. Esteem needs ( self respect, and need for respect from others; being valued for what you can do or bring to your community of family - and, above all, to be valued for who you are.

5. Self - actualization needs (our need to be and do what which we feel born to do - ie his or her calling).  If such needs are unmet, restlessness and anxiety result. To meet this need we might teach ourselves and others:

- to be aware of the inner self and to understand our inner nature,

- to transcend cultural conditioning,

- to transcend the trifling and to grapple with life's serious problems,

- to refresh consciousness by appreciating beauty and all good things,

- to feel joy and the worth of living. ( www.connect. net/georgen/maslow.htm)

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