The hierarchy proposed by Abraham Maslow affects people’s lives, their behavior and actions on a daily basis. The idea of hierarchy is that human needs can range from the most basic, necessary for survival, to the higher, related to spirituality (Spielman, 2020). If the needs of the first level are not satisfied, then it is extremely difficult for a person to achieve higher goals. From the point of view of psychology, Maslow’s pyramid allows people to find the causes of dissatisfaction with life.
Maslow’s hierarchy can definitely be the key to understanding human behavior. For example, I often prioritize my own basic needs in determining the course of action. I will never start doing important work if I am hungry or if my comfort is disturbed. Subconsciously, I tend to first satisfy the physical discomfort, and then start learning or communicating with my family or friends. Many of my actions are motivated by the desire for love and understanding. Most likely, I will prefer to spend an evening with my friends to self-development.
Besides the behavior, the pyramid of needs often forms the basis for decision-making, both everyday and global. For me, this definition is most consistent with my budget planning, when I strive to cover basic needs first, and then things related to self-expression and development. Initially, food and housing are on the shopping list, which provides a sense of security and is necessary for my survival. At the very end of the list will be things not so necessary: books for personal reading and goods for hobbies. The original human desire to satisfy basic needs underlies this distribution. When making a decision about a significant purchase, such as a new phone, I will be primarily guided by whether my basic needs are being infringed on for the sake of this purchase.
Reference
Spielman, R.M. (2020). Psychology, 2th edition. Rice University.