Week of August 27-September 2 - Question 3

A concept in the book that I found interesting was Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I’ve learned about it in three other classes: Career Exploration, Intro to Psychology, and Intro to Business. There are five levels in Maslow’s pyramid ranging from basic to abstract needs. The first level is physical needs for survival which includes very basic needs such as air, water, and food. The next level is safety needs such as shelter. Shelter is one of the most basic needs because it protects us from danger and harm. The next level is belonging needs including interaction, acceptance, and affirmation. We need others to enjoy life and being social is the middle need. The second to last level is self-esteem needs which involves having self respect and being valued by others. Lastly, the most abstract need is self-actualization. What this means is to fully develop our talents and abilities. According to my psychology professor, a very small percentage of people achieve this level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. In order to achieve this, one must refine talents that they have already developed.