Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

self-actualization
A state of self- 
fulfi llment in which people realize 
their highest potential in their own 
unique way.
FIGURE 3
Maslow’s hierarchy shows 
how our motivation progresses up the 
pyramid from the broadest, most 
fundamental biological needs to 
higher-order ones. Do you agree that 
lower-order needs must be satisfi ed 
before higher-order needs? Do hermits 
and monks who attempt to fulfi ll 
spiritual needs while denying basic 
physical needs contradict Maslow’s 
hierarchy? 
(After Maslow, 1970.)
Physiological needs 
The primary drives: needs for water, food, sleep, and sex 
Safety needs 
The need for a safe and secure environment 
Love and belongingness 
The need to obtain and give affection 
Esteem 
The need to develop a sense 
of self-worth

Self-
actualization
A state of
self-fulfillment
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Module 29 
Explaining Motivation 
315
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has also spawned other approaches to motivation. 
For example, Edward Deci and Richard Ryan (2008) have considered human needs 
in terms of psychological well-being. They suggest in their self-determination theory
that people have the three basic needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. 
Competence is the need to produce desired outcomes, while autonomy is the percep-
tion that we have control over our own lives. Finally, relatedness is the need to be 
involved in close, warm relationships with others. In the view of self-determination 
theory, these three psychological needs are innate and universal across cultures, and 
they are essential as basic biological needs (Jang et al., 2009).
Applying the Diff erent 
Approaches to Motivation
The various theories of motivation (summarized in Figure 4) give several different 
perspectives on it. Which provides the fullest account of motivation? Actually, many 
of the approaches are complementary rather than contradictory. In fact, employing 
more than one approach can help us understand motivation in a particular instance. 
Consider, for example, Aron Ralston’s accident while hiking (described earlier). 
His interest in climbing in an isolated and potentially dangerous area may be 
explained by arousal approaches to motivation. From the perspective of instinct 
approaches, we realize that Aron had an overwhelming instinct to preserve his life