Maslows Hierarchy of Needs is a theory in psychology that was first presented by Abraham Maslow in a paper entitled A Theory of Human Motivation in 943. The theory includes five hierarchy levels of needs and is usually displayed as a pyramid. An individuals needs are prioritized by the position in the hierarchy, whereby certain needs cannot be achieved until the needs in the lower level of the hierarchy are fulfilled. The five levels (from bottom to top) are physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, self-esteem needs, and self-actualization. The physiological needs that one has are elements such as food, shelter, clothing, and other most basic necessities. The safety needs include protection from physical and emotional harm, and the elimination of conflict. The self-esteem needs include elements like job status, respect, promotion, and recognition. The self-actualization level is when you have reached the top
and have full understanding of yourself but this is not a permanent state is only for a moment this is called peak experience. Peak experiences are those moments when you suddenly feel that everything is beautiful, that theres a tremendous oneness to being, or that love suffuses the world.
Maslows Hierarchy is directly related to learning through motivation. In order for us students to succeed in the classroom, they must be motivated to learn. When all levels of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs are met, students are at their full potential for learning. For example, I would not be able to enter a classroom with an empty stomach and the fear of dying from starvation and successfully learn. Each student has needs that must be met in order to maximize learning. The higher up in the hierarchy a student is, the more levels that are met, the better the motivation and therefore the more learning that the student will experience.