Abraham Maslow’s Core Needs
Maslow argued that we all share a set of core needs. For example:
Transcendence needs
Actualization needs
Esteem needs
Love needs
Safety needs
Physical needs
Abraham Maslow & Personality
The needs above share strong links to the development of our personality.
Physical needs
Temperament: Wants, desires, base needs.
Safety needs
Character: Your ability towards control.
Love needs
Persona: What do you do to fit in?
Esteem needs
Identity: What do you do to stand out?
Actualization needs
Completeness: Having a unique purpose in your community.
Transcendence needs
Interconnectedness: Seeing everyone’s unique purpose(s) in the community.
Physical Needs
A lack of sleep, rest, or physical touch can make a person express strong emotions such as sadness, anger, or exhaustion. Similarly, we can express intense joy and euphoria when resting or enjoying a good meal. This becomes our base temperament.
Openness to experience: Is your child a picky eater or open to trying new foods? Is your child sensitive to changes in routines and habits or are they more adaptable? Is your child shy around new people or more outgoing?
Security Needs
Our need for security can drive us to control or discipline ourselves and others. It can make us behave in a way that is more controlled, repressed, or guarded.
Conscientiousness.
Love/Belonging Needs
Our desire to connect with other people can drive us to seek to fit in. We may develop a socially constructed persona or we adopt certain norms or traditions that make us more well-liked by other people.
Esteem Needs
Our desire to have a basic sense of self-worth drives us to seek to develop a unique personality or set of skills. We hope these skills will make us stand apart from others. It can come down to wanting to feel needed or appreciated by others.
Self-Actualization Needs
When moving to stand apart, we can feel lonely or estranged from our community. When moving to fit in or be loved, we can feel forced to compromise vital aspects of ourselves. Our need for self-actualization drives us to feel like we can connect with other people because we have essential qualities they need.
Transcendence Needs
Transcendence needs are conversely about letting other people in because you recognize how they can contribute to or enrich your life. It means feeling awe and recognizing beauty and value in the people and the world around you. It also means feeling interconnected with the world and at one with others.
