Abraham Maslow one of the most influential Behavioural Thinker gave the most popular Behavioural theory-Needs Hierarchy Theory which offers the comprehensive explanation of human motivation.
2)A Push For Actualisation.
This Theory became popular after the publication of Maslow's 1954 classic "Motivation and Personality"
1.Doubts about the need categorisation-
various crtics challenged the five need categorisation adopted by Maslow because it was according to them unnecessary and unrealistic for example -Wabha and Bird-well argued that "Human needs follow two princple clusters" namely the needs to avoid deficiency and the need to gain growth. Need Categories-Why 5?
2.Doubts about the need of Sequence-
However ,if go out of 100 people's motivation can be understood and strategised through Maslow's representative need hierarchy it should be valued as a good theory ,exceptions can always be addressed individually.
3.Doubts about the sequential nature of Needs-
Sequential Nature ?-Why? one at a time ? why in sequence not parallel/simultaneous.
The real,serious criticism against Maslow theory is that it describes or presumes activation of human needs in "one at a time" pattern ie...as long as need one is active ,need 2 cannot arise and they moment Need 2 has arisen ,Need 1 must become dormant.technically proposition no. 3 and 4 are challenged which collectively propose that"satisfaction of lower need is a necessary as well as a sufficient condition for activation of a higher order need."In reality it may neither be necessary no sufficient ie..
A)In reality An employee may desire even love,dignity and Power when his survival or economic needs are still not fully addressed.Thus,more than one needs may be simultaneously active.This possibility has enormous empirical eveidence in contemporary times when even a first time job seeker say a graduate from a decent university aspires everything and aspires now.
B)Critics have aslo pointed out that even satisfied wants can motivate ie..even after say N3 has become active N1 can still remain active.In this context -Clayton Alderfer have observed "Wnats never in toatlity" similarly Fredrick Hertz-berg -"Human wants may need frequent replenishment"
Thus more than one needs can be simultaneously be active , infact there has been recent eveidence about money being a prime universal motivator ie its motivational role may be much stronger and varied than was initially thought and it can address physiological , economic ,sociological and psychological needs simultaneously.
However,despite this limitation Maslow's need hierarchy theory remains one of the most acce[ted and respected theory about the dynamics of human motivation.
- Under this theory human needs are described as the factor governing human motivation and human needs are unlimited,plural ,dynamic and sequential according to Maslow Theory.
- This Explanation was based on the core premise of Maslow that human beings have two strong urges
2)A Push For Actualisation.
This Theory became popular after the publication of Maslow's 1954 classic "Motivation and Personality"
Propositions of Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory
- Human wants are unlimited.They differ in terms of importance/potency therefore can be arranged in an order of importance called the Needs Hierarchy ranging from the most potent need at present at the base of hierarchy to the least potent at present at the vertex.
- A higher level need will arise (ie..will emerge as most potent) only upon a reasonable satisfaction of the lower level need is a necessary condition for activation of a higher level need.
- "Satisfied wants/need are no longer motivators ie satisfaction of a lower need is sufficient condition for activation of a next level higher need because the most potent need earlier has now become weak,having already been satisfied and it no-longer gives an urge to the man."
- The lower level needs (typically relating to push for physiological survival)are finite as compared to higher level needs (typically related to push for Psychological survival)which are infinite.The message is motivation is a perpetual/perennial possibility.
The Five Categories
1.Physiological Needs-
These are the most basic human needs pertaining to the basic human instincts addressing physiological survival.According to Maslow ,every human being has an inbuilt urge for survival and he pushes hard for it,that's the initial strongest urge before more evolved urges emerge in an organisation setting,the stimulus to address this need comes in the form of monetary remuneration productivity incentives and physiological working conditions.
2.Security Needs-
These are the logical extension of physiological needs because they pertain to tomorrow's survival,typically there is an urge among human beings to secure tomorrow once they feel that their today has been secured.In organisation setting the stimuli to address are in the form of Job Permanence and retirement Benefits.
3.Social Needs-
Human beings are typically a social entity and therefore its natural for having urges for love,affection ,interaction ,association with and from others.In an organisation setting ,this need category is addressed by offer of interactive opportunity.Informal association,supportive and sympathetic superiors and an informal work culture.
4.Esteem Needs-
This category is often Split into two sub categories namely-
- Esteem from Others
- Self Esteem
Esteem from others can almost be conceived as an extension of social needs because an employee would not only desire love,affection,association from others but also praise,recognition or esteem from others.These needs are addressed through stimuli like Job Designation/Tittles,Status Symbol,Perks,Awards/Rewards,Recognition etc.Self Esteem.
On the other hand is the respect that a person enjoys in his own eyes for himself.Thus its more a Psychological desire than a social desire.The Stimuli which address this need are challenges ,autonomy,leadership role that the job brings so that the person feels worthwhile pr has a perception of self worth.
5.Self Actualisation-
is a psychological or cognitive concept which conveys a hidden desire among human beings to fully actualise or realise their latent potentials or desires.The Term was first used by Psychologists KURT GOLD-STEIN as a desire for doing extraordinary things and realising one's inner potential to the fullest in an organisation setting,the stimuli for addressing this need are highest level of responsibilities,these needs are highest level of responsibilities, a sense of power,a feeling of indispensability ,a leadership of visionary role which allows someone to put into action his dreams or innovative ideas.
Critical Appraisal of Malsow's Theory
1.Doubts about the need categorisation-
various crtics challenged the five need categorisation adopted by Maslow because it was according to them unnecessary and unrealistic for example -Wabha and Bird-well argued that "Human needs follow two princple clusters" namely the needs to avoid deficiency and the need to gain growth. Need Categories-Why 5?
In-fact There is an empirical evidence for this proposition in the form of a later theory namely two factor theory of motivation given by Fredrick Hertz-berg which has been gaining acceptance however in defence of Maslow it still can be said that a 5 need categorisation offers a more comprehensive or exhaustive explanation of diverse human beings.
2.Doubts about the need of Sequence-
Need Sequence-why 1-2-3-4-5
and why not 3-1-5-42 etc.
Critics have observed that Maslow theory prescribes or presumes a rigid need sequence whereas in reality there can be people whose need potency doesn't confirmed to this sequence.for Ex-for some social needs may be most potent and for some security need may not be a potent need at all.
In this context Lawler And Suttle have observed "Human needs don't confirm to any rigid pattern of fixed sequence",they can arise in any sequence.
In defence of Maslow,it needs to be observed that Mas-low's needs hierarchy is a representative hierarchy ie..it represents the pre-dominant majority or common possibility while exceptions can always be there.
In-fact Maslow had himself described the possibility that there can be people whose initial dominant need is actualisation or Love,and such rare hierarchies can be depicted as under-
and why not 3-1-5-42 etc.
Critics have observed that Maslow theory prescribes or presumes a rigid need sequence whereas in reality there can be people whose need potency doesn't confirmed to this sequence.for Ex-for some social needs may be most potent and for some security need may not be a potent need at all.
In this context Lawler And Suttle have observed "Human needs don't confirm to any rigid pattern of fixed sequence",they can arise in any sequence.
In defence of Maslow,it needs to be observed that Mas-low's needs hierarchy is a representative hierarchy ie..it represents the pre-dominant majority or common possibility while exceptions can always be there.
In-fact Maslow had himself described the possibility that there can be people whose initial dominant need is actualisation or Love,and such rare hierarchies can be depicted as under-
However ,if go out of 100 people's motivation can be understood and strategised through Maslow's representative need hierarchy it should be valued as a good theory ,exceptions can always be addressed individually.
3.Doubts about the sequential nature of Needs-
Sequential Nature ?-Why? one at a time ? why in sequence not parallel/simultaneous.
The real,serious criticism against Maslow theory is that it describes or presumes activation of human needs in "one at a time" pattern ie...as long as need one is active ,need 2 cannot arise and they moment Need 2 has arisen ,Need 1 must become dormant.technically proposition no. 3 and 4 are challenged which collectively propose that"satisfaction of lower need is a necessary as well as a sufficient condition for activation of a higher order need."In reality it may neither be necessary no sufficient ie..
A)In reality An employee may desire even love,dignity and Power when his survival or economic needs are still not fully addressed.Thus,more than one needs may be simultaneously active.This possibility has enormous empirical eveidence in contemporary times when even a first time job seeker say a graduate from a decent university aspires everything and aspires now.
B)Critics have aslo pointed out that even satisfied wants can motivate ie..even after say N3 has become active N1 can still remain active.In this context -Clayton Alderfer have observed "Wnats never in toatlity" similarly Fredrick Hertz-berg -"Human wants may need frequent replenishment"
Thus more than one needs can be simultaneously be active , infact there has been recent eveidence about money being a prime universal motivator ie its motivational role may be much stronger and varied than was initially thought and it can address physiological , economic ,sociological and psychological needs simultaneously.
However,despite this limitation Maslow's need hierarchy theory remains one of the most acce[ted and respected theory about the dynamics of human motivation.
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