MASLOW'S Hierarchy of NEEDS Summary
Guided Reading Questions
"Influence of Needs on Personality"
1. You share human ____________ with all other humans, but you fulfill them in
______________ ways.
2. The ways you fulfill your needs affect your _______________ and _______________
and therefore your personality.
3. In Maslow's system, he arranged needs in order of their _________________.
Physical needs
4. According to Maslow, physical needs have ___________ priority.
5. The physical needs are
_______________ _______________ _______________
_______________ _______________ _______________
6. Persons can think of nothing else until these needs are at least _______________
___________.
Safety and security
7. You need to feel safe from physical _______________.
8. You need to feel secure in daily _______________ so you know what to
______________ from _____________.
9. In addition, you need to know that you are protected against _______________
troubles.
10. When you have satisfied these [safety] needs, you have the ________________ to
experience more of life and to_________________ your personality.
11. If your life centers around protecting yourself, your personality has little chance to
__________________.
Love and acceptance
12. The basis for Maslow's third level of human need is the premise that everyone needs to
be _______________.
13. You need to feel that you are ___________________ by others.
14. You need to feel secure in your relationships with ___________________ and
___________________.
15.________________, __________________, ________________, and
________________________ will help you fulfill these needs.
Esteem
16. In addition to love and acceptance, you need ___________ (respect and
____________________).
17. _________-esteem must be established first.
18. When you have both ___________________ and _____________ of others, you have
the potential for further personality development.
19. You have the confidence to strive for _________________ and
______________________.
Self-actualization
20. Self-actualization is the _____________________ of your full __________________.
21. To reach this level, all other levels must be at least ________________
_______________.
22. At this level, you combine concern for ___________ with concern for _____________,
and for ________________ as a whole.
23. You strive to be the ____________ ____________ you can be.
24. When you reach sef-actualization, you _________________ in yourself.
26. You have the confidence to express your personal _______________ and to reach out
to others and offer your ________________.
27. Your ____________________ is fully developed.
28. However, this does not mean that you quit _____________, nor that your personality
stops _________________.
SELF-CONCEPT and PERSONALITY
29. To develop your personality and become the best you can be, you need a
_________________ self-concept.
30. Self-concept is the way you _______________ and ____________ about
_________________.
31. When you have a positive self-concept, you ___________ yourself and
______________ yourself as you are.
32. Knowing who you are, what you ___________, what you ___________ and
____________, and what you ___________ gives you a feeling of confidence.
33. Once you know yourself, you should be able to ______________ yourself.
34. You should be able to recognize both your ______________ and your
__________________.
35. You have to learn you are __________________ even though you are not perfect. Then
you will be free to try, to make ________________, to _______________, and to grow.
CHARACTER
36. Character is that force that guides your _______________ and _______________ into
___________________ standards of right and wrong.
37. Character begins developing in early __________________.
38. In the early years, children's behavior is often guided by forces ______________ of
their _____________.
39. They try to conform to to the behavior set by their _______________.
40. In later years the standards of the _________ _________ may guide behavior.
41. Your behavior often may be guided by ___________ that have been established by
___________________.
42. A person's character is also molded by his or her own ______________ traits and
_________________.
43. A person with character can be counted on to do what is "_______________" in various
situations.
MASLOW'S NEEDS
Review Worksheet
DIRECTIONS: ANSWERS to this review can be found either on the MASLOW'S NEEDS
PYRAMID worksheet or the MASLOW'S Hierarchy of NEEDS worksheet (the questions
answered from the text book)
I. MATCHING
A. Primary Needs
B. Secondary Needs
C. Physical Safety
D. Emotional Security
E. Love & Acceptance
AB. Self-Esteem
AC. Self-Actualization
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Water _____ 7. Respect for others _____ 13. Reputation
Food _____ 8. Hobby _____ 14. Criticism
Approval _____ 9. Admiration _____ 15. Breathing
Sleep _____ 10. Danger _____ 16. Clothing
Money Problems _____ 11. Constant Change _____ 17. Shelter
Self-confidence _____ 12. Meditation / Prayer _____ 18. Sex
II. OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
19. Humans have levels of needs.
20. The most basic level of human needs is .
21. People cannot be interested in Higher Needs until they have met those which are critical
to their _______
(A) ego (B) survival (C) acceptance
22.
(A)
23.
24.
25.
(A)
Financial trouble is dangerous to human safety because it affects basic human needs.
TRUE (B) FALSE
Daily routines can often be a protection against the stress of constant
A threat to a person's emotional growth is continual
In order for people to feel important, they need to be
accepted (B) perfect (C) intelligent
26. Self-Esteem develops when we have a feeling of being
(A) talented (B) worthwhile (C) clever
27. Self-Actualization means making one's own into reality.
28. In order for a person to be able to concentrate energy on the development of their inner
talents, all of the "lower" needs must have been completely met.
(A) TRUE (B) FALSE
29. Our growth depends on the acceptance and esteem of our friends because we are,
naturally,
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Summary
Abraham Maslow, a noted psychiatrist, devised a system for studying human needs. In his
system, he arranged needs in order of their priorities, as shown in 1-21. His theory can help
explain the influence of human needs on personality.
Physical needs
According to Maslow, physical needs have first priority. These needs include food, water,
shelter, clothing, sleep, and sex. They are necessary for good health, a state of well-being,
and the continuation of life. Persons can think of nothing else until these needs are at least
partially met. For instance, can you imagine trying to decide what movie to see Saturday
night when you are suffering from starvation? No, for physical needs demand your primary
consideration.
Safety and security
Once you have satisfied your physical needs, you begin to recognize other needs. You need
to feel safe from physical danger. You need to feel secure in daily routines so you know
what to expect from life. In addition, you need to know that you are protected against
financial troubles.
When you have satisfied these needs, you have the courage to experience more of life and
to expand your personality. On the other hand, if your life centers around protecting
yourself (whether from wild animals, thieves, bill collectors, or nasty classmates), your
personality has little chance to develop.
Love and acceptance
Everyone needs to be needed. This is the basis for Maslow's third level of human need. You
need to feel that you are accepted by others. You need to feel secure in your relationships
with family members and friends, 1-24. Praise, support, encouragement, and personal
warmth will help you fulfill these needs. Then you will have the chance to develop a healthy
personality. You, in turn, will be able to accept others and to give them praise, support, and
affection.
Esteem
In addition to love and acceptance, you need esteem (respect and admiration). Self-esteem
must be established first. You must respect yourself before you can expect others to respect
you. Family members can help you establish self-esteem. Friends can help too. They can
make you feel that you are a worthy person who adds an important dimension to their lives.
When you have both self-esteem and the esteem of others, you have the potential for
further personality development. You have the confidence to strive for achievement and independence. You become a vital part of your world.
Self-actualization
Self-actualization is the realization of your full potential. To reach this level, all other levels
of need must be at least partially fulfilled. At this level, you combine concern for self with
concern for others, and for society as a whole. You strive to become the very best you can
be, 1-26. If your special talents are related to art, you become the best artist you can be. If
your talents are related to auto mechanics, you become the best mechanic you can be.
When you reach self-actualization, you believe in yourself. You have the confidence to
express your personal beliefs and to reach out to others and offer your support. Your
personality is fully developed. However, this does not mean that you quit learning, nor that
your personality stops changing. On the contrary, you are even more interested in
improving yourself. You continue to strive to become a better person.
YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Many of you may find meaning and motivation for shaping your life on a more personal
level. This may be through guidance provided by your parents or the teachings of your
religious faith. Basic standards of personal behavior are structured within these teachings.
This background gives you a foundation upon which you can base personal and family
choices.
SELF-CONCEPT AND PERSONALITY
To develop your personality and become the best that you can be, you need a positive selfconcept. (Your self-concept is the way you think and feel about yourself.) When you have a
positive self-concept, you know yourself and accept yourself as you are.
Knowing yourself means that you realize there is no one else in the world exactly like you.
Look around and you will never find anyone quite like you. You may have your hair cut as
your friends do, and you may wear the same styles of clothes. But even if you try to look
like others, you will never be like others. You are unique, and you are special.
Knowing who you are, what you feel, what you think and believe, and what you want gives
you a feeling of confidence. You realize that no one can take your beliefs and feelings of self
away from you.
Once you know yourself, you should be able to accept yourself. This means accepting
negative qualities as well as positive qualities. You should be able to recognize both your
strengths and your weaknesses. You may not do some things as well as your friends. You
may do other things better than your friends. The point is that you should be able to feel
good about yourself when you do things, whether or not you are the best. That is how selfacceptance works. You have to learn you are valuable even though you are not perfect.
Then you will be free to try, to make mistakes, to learn, and to grow.
As you continue to learn about yourself and accept yourself, you will gain more and more
confidence. Your self-concept will become more and more positive. You will be able to
accept new challenges and responsibilities in a realistic way. When you can accept your
good and weak points as realistic aspects of your personality, you can pattern your life to
reach meaningful goals. You can make choices which will reflect your personal priorities.
You won't have to let others choose for you.
Remember, you are unique and special. Appreciate your strengths, and help others
appreciate their strengths. Then you will be able to accept who you are and move even
closer to the person you want to be.
CHARACTER
Character is that force which guides your conduct and behavior into acceptable standards of
right and wrong. It is the part of your personality that helps you make choices that are in
line with your personal priorities.
Character development begins early in childhood. As children interact with their parents and
other adults they begin to learn which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. Children
begin to accept these standards as their own. These acquired standards guide their
behavior, and thus their character develops.
In the early years, children's behavior is often guided by forces outside their control. They
try to conform to the behavior guidelines set by their parents in order to receive their
praise. They realize they may be punished if they do something their parents don't approve
of them doing.
In later years the standards of the peer group may guide behavior. "Is everyone doing it?"
But when the controls become a part of you, character is developing. You will be choosing to
do what is morally right because you want to, not because it is "the thing to do" This is the
goal of character formation.
Your behavior often may be guided by rules that have been established by authorities. Selfdiscipline in following these rules protects you in many ways. It also helps maintain order in
our society. Obeying these rules will help you build character. You will be able to control
your own behavior as you meet new situations throughout your life.
A person's character is molded by his or her ethical traits and standards. A person with
character can be counted on to do what is "right" in various situations. If you tell the truth
even under pressure, people learn to trust you. If you attend classes regularly and complete
the assigned work, they learn you are reliable. If you follow through on the commitments
you make, people learn you are responsible. If you show that you can handle various
situations, they feel secure in giving you more responsibilities and greater freedoms.
As a human being, you have the freedom to decide your own fate. Established codes of
conduct and rules can guide you. As you develop character, you will be able to act with the
confidence of your own conscience. Your life will include many new and exciting
experiences. You will meet new friends who will influence you. You will find yourself in many
new environments. Your character will be revealed as you respond to all the new situations
in your life. Your goal should be to develop the strength of character to do what you believe
is right.
SUMMARY
1. Your personality development is dependent on three factors: your heredity, your
environment, and your response to environment.
2. Your peers are persons in your age group. They are part of your environment, and they
influence your personality.
3. According to Erikson, personality development is affected by each of eight stages in the
life cycle.
4. Havighurst has identified eight developmental tasks which influence the personality of
adolescents.
5. Maslow's theory shows how human needs affect personality development.
6. A positive self-concept allows your personality to develop further.
7. Your true character will be revealed as you respond to new situations in your life.