Human Motivation

MASLOW

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS

The needs that are usually taken as the starting point for motivation theory are the so-called physiological drives. Two recent lines of research make it necessary to revise our customary notions about these needs, first, the development of the concept of homeostasis, and second, the finding that appetites (preferential choices among foods) are a fairly efficient indication of actual needs or lacks in the body.

Homeostasis refers to the body's automatic efforts to maintain a constant, normal state of the blood stream. Cannon has described this process for a) the water content of the blood, b) salt content, c) sugar content, d) protein content, e) fat content, f) calcium content, g) ogyxen content, h) constant hydrogen-ion level (acid-base balance) and i) constant temperature of the blood. Obviously this list can be extended to include other minerals, the hormones, vitamins, etc.

Young in a recent article has summarized the work on appetite in its relation to body needs. If the body lacks some chemical, the individual will tend to develop a specific appetite or partial hunger for that food element.

Thus it seem impossible as well as useless to make any list of fundamental physiological needs for they can come to almost any number one might wish, depending on the degree of specificity of description. We can not identify all physiological needs as homeostatic. If sexual desire, sleepiness, sheer activity and maternal behavior in animals, are homeostatic, this has not yet been demonstrated. Furthermore, this would not include the various sensory pleasures (tastes, smells, tickling, stroking) which are probably physiological and which may become the goals of motivated behavior....

 

 If all the needs are unsatisfied, and the organism is then dominated by the physiological needs, all other needs become simply non-existent or are pushed into the background. It is then fair, for instance, to characterize the whole organism by saying simply that it is hungry, for consciousness is almost completely preempted by hunger, all capacities are put into the service of hungersatisfaction, and the organization of these capacities is almost entirely determined by the one purpose of satisfying hunger. The receptors and effectors, the intelligence, memory, habits, all may now be defined as hunger-gratifying tools.¹ Capacities that are not useful for this purpose lie dormant, or are pushed into the background. The urge to write poetry, the desire to acquire an automobile, the interest in American history, the desire for a new pair of shoes are, in the extreme case, all forgotten or pushed into the background. For the man who is extremely and dangerously hungry, no other interests exist but food. He dreams food, he remembers food, he thinks about food, he emotes only about food, he perceives only food and he wants only food.

Comments

[Robin]

We all do have basic like food, shelter, clothing, touch, etc.. Unfortunately, even though I believe everyone is entitled purely because they are alive to these needs …needs often go unmet that creates crime, developmental delays in children, disease, unplanned pregnancies and mental illness. Until this country values human life, peoples needs will not be met and children will suffer

[Becky Fisher]

I've used a diagram of Maslow's hierarchy of needs in presentations I've made to illustrate the necessity of taking care of the basics if one would build toward the highest level of existence the natural human can reach. Here's a copy-and-paste internet address to a diagram/visual of this concept for anyone who might appreciate a refresher:
http://igplotzk.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/maslows_hierarchy_of_needs1.png

[Carla Crombie]

It is interesting to consider how my priorities have changed in light of today's economy. In the past, I wanted to earn a B.A. for no other reason than to prove to myself that I could do it. Now, I am motivated to earn a master's level degree in order to not only get a good job, but also maintain one in the future. I am now focusing my attention and energy in the "Safety" tier of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which focuses on "security of employment, resources and property," rather than in the "Self-actualization" tier.