. I Have Always Been Down on Myself Because I Have

The basic assumption behind Maslow's hierarchy of needs is the idea that there is some kind of a correspondence between stages of personality development and fundamental human needs.

1. Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.

2. Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc.

3. Belongingness and Love needs - work group, family, affection, relationships, etc.

4. Esteem needs - self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility, etc.

5. Cognitive needs - knowledge, meaning, etc.

6. Aesthetic needs - appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc.

7. Self-Actualization needs - realising personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.

Abraham Maslow defined his theory of the hirarchy of needs as a pyrimid with five levels. The bottom 4 levels he considered physiological, while the top level would be psychological need. The lowest level moves to the higher level, and they begin. The first level represents the "physical" level and it encompasses air, water, food, sleep, sex, homeostatis and excretion. The second level represents "safety" of home, employment, resources, family, morality and health. The third represents love/belonging, and encompasses friendship, family and sexual intimacy. The fourth represents "esteem" or confidence, self-esteem, accomplishment, respect for self and others. The fifth, again the psychological, represents the highest need, but only can be achieved after the others (deficienty needs) are met. The fifth is called self-actualization, and consists of morality, creativity, spontenaeity, prolem solving and lack of prejudice.

There is a 6th level which is not on the pyramid as it is not considered a need, but a state of mind. When one h as become self-actualized, this state of being is where one can perceive reality effectively and be comfortable...