Pyramid of Maslow

UNDERSTANDING THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE WORKPLACE

“Comment upon the claim that Maslow’s Theory of Motivation, whilst heuristically powerful, is empirically weak”

Martim Megre, 33534926

Lancaster University

Introduction:

Nowadays, people’s behaviour in an organization is extremely complex. This depends on internal factors such as characteristics of personality, emotions and values and external factors such as political and social factors. Human motivation has been one of the biggest challenges in organizational management for many psychologists, managers and executives. Numerous researches have been developed and several theories have attempted to explain the workings of this seemingly mysterious force, or unknown, which leads people to act towards the achievement of objectives. In recent decades, many researchers have been studying what motivates an individual, giving rise to different theories of motivation.

One of the most important theories of motivation in the management and organizational behaviour literature is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This theory was presented in his book “Motivation and Personality” in 1954. Although it is currently being questioned in terms of its validity, especially for being supported by very limited evidence from empirical research, this theory is still one of the best-known theories of motivation. “Hierarchy of needs is an important tool that a person can use to assess the point at which a person's life has reached. This is important in guiding an individual to the path of happiness and satisfaction since a person will be able to assess the needs that are most important at each level” (Valdez, 1998).

Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, consultant and considered a leading expert on human motivation, states that human behaviour is explained by the needs. These are a stimulus to act forcefully on individuals, leading them to action. Maslow argued that human needs are arranged in a pyramid of importance...