PSY 505 Lecture 9: 9. Needs-Hierarchy Theory

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 505
• Professor: Paul Brunet

Document Summary

Humanism: a system of thought in which human interests and values are of primary importance. Humanistic psychologists proposed to study our strengths and virtues. The theories emphasize human strengths and aspirations, conscious free will, and the fulfillment of human potential. Maslow is considered the founder and spiritual leader of the humanistic psychology movement. Hierarchy of five innate needs: an arrangement of innate needs, from strongest to weakest, that activates and directs behaviour. Instinctoid needs: term for the innate needs in the needs-hierarchy. The needs are instinctoid, and therefore have a hereditary component. Although we come equipped with these needs at birth, the behaviours we use to satisfy them are learned and, therefore, subject to variation from one person to another. Lower needs must be at least partially satisfied before higher needs become influential. We are not driven by all the needs at the same time. Only one need will dominate our personality.