Adult Learning

Adult Learning

Written Assignment #2

Loyalist College

September 25, 2013

Theory, an ancient Greek word meaning “a looking at, viewing, beholding”. Theories are created through observations and contemplative/abstract thinking. They are used to help explain and provide deeper understanding of a given subject matter. The three theories I have chosen for this reflective analysis are: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Bloom’s Taxonomy and Bandura’s Social, and how they can be incorporated into the success of the adult learner.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow developed Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in the early 1940’s. It is a motivational theory that helps to explain why people do what they do, and/or behave how they do. It identifies human beings as having certain needs, which all of us share, and these needs are what motivates us to do the things we do. “In a 1943 paper called A Theory of Human Motivation, Maslow presented the idea that human actions are directed toward goal attainment.” (Maslow 1943) Which is the same for the goal oriented adult learner, who is directed by his own personal motivations/goals. Maslow’s model of the hierarchy of needs is best represented in his 5 level pyramid diagram with the most basic of human needs at the bottom, evolving into more higher order needs at the top. The basic needs are: biological, safety, sense of belonging and self-esteem, developing further to include the need for self-actualization. The bottom four levels he considered physiological, while the top level would be a psychological need. The lowest level moves on to the higher level and so on. The first level describes the physical level and it includes basic survival needs such as air, water, food, and sleep,. The second level identifies a need for safety; of self, home, employment, resources, family, morality and health. The third a need for love/belonging, and includes friendship, family and...