Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Attach the model of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the top of page 6 in your Dystopia Unit. Leave space for notes on the bottom of the page.

Who was Maslow? Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist (studied human behavior) He believed that there was order to the motivation of people and that all people want to grow. All basic needs must be met for a person to transcend to the higher levels of the pyramid and reach self-actualization, or in other words, to become all that they can be. Source:

Look at the pyramid on your paper Label the bottom layer level one Physiological- how living things function & survive (physical) The most basic needs for survival

Safety Label safety level two People must have everything they need to survive, then they must feel safe & secure

Belonging & Love Label belonging & love level 3 After a person has achieved the necessities to survive, and feels safe in their environment, they will seek to feel accepted

Self-esteem Label self-esteem level four The last of the basic needs, esteem means that the person not only is loved and accepted, but also respected for their achievements & success

Self-Actualization Label self-actualization level 5 Self-actualization means that a person has all basic needs met, and now pursues intellectual and creative pursuits that satisfy their need for growth. Here a person seeks to fulfill their personal potential.

Practice applying the needs to real life scenarios

AS TYRONE STUDIED IN SMALLER CHUNKS OF TIME, REPEATEDLY OVER A FEW WEEKS, HIS QUIZ GRADES IMPROVED. HE BEGAN TO SEE HIMSELF AS A GOOD STUDENT AS DID HIS TEACHERS. What level would this apply to? (random selection)

Answer! Level Four: Self-esteem Having his teachers give him respect would mean that they are recognizing his success.

FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT AL GORE’S FILM, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, IS NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR AND WINS. THEN, AL GORE WINS THE 2007 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE! What level of the hierarchy would this be?

Answer! Level 5: Self-actualization While the former VP does have respect from his community, he has also reached his potential in a creative endeavor that pursues his inner talent.

AS THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT AND LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM (L.T.T.E.) ESCALATED, WOMEN AND CHILDREN RAN THROUGH A RIVER TO ESCAPE BEING SHELLED FROM BOTH SIDES. What level of the hierarchy would this be?

Answer! Level 2: Safety These families were afraid for their safety, and probably not very worried about their self- esteem

LIAM’S STOMACH WAS GRUMBLING DURING CLASS. HE WATCHED THE HANDS ON THE CLOCK TICK TOWARD THE END OF CLASS AND LUNCH TIME, NOT REALLY HEARING MR. MCNEELY’S LECTURE. What level of the hierarchy would this be?

Answer! Level 1: Physiology The most basic of needs requires that before Liam can worry about anything else (safety or esteem) he needs to not be starving.

THE PERPETRATORS AT COLUMBINE H.S. FELT ISOLATED AND ALIENATED FROM THEIR PEERS, LASHING OUT IN A HATE-FILLED MURDEROUS RAMPAGE. What level of the hierarchy would this be?

Answer! Level 3: The students lashed out because they were constantly frustrated in their need for belonging and were isolated.

Writing Response Respond to the following prompt on the provided exit ticket: What would happen to a person if they could not get past level three on the hierarchy? What might they do in response? Give a specific example. Adapted from: