Humans, and teenagers especially, have unlimited wants. All the big businesses in the world exist to satisfy these consumer needs. To satisfy the worlds wants, these companies, big or small, need to produce. And what encourages the workforce to produce? Motivation.

Motivation applies to all aspects of life and consequently it has been the topic of many studies and many psychological theorists have dedicated time and effort to try and find out exactly why we do the things we do. In 1943, American psychologist Abraham Maslow contended that everyone is in search of self-actualization. We have to gradually step up a pyramid of needs, achieving each step of existence before moving on to the next, and that motivation comes from the desire to reach each step along the way. His working has become commonly known as his Theory of Hierarchical Needs.

First and foremost...survival needs, or physiological needs, are those that are essential for living such as air, sleep, water etc. Without the basics for living, Maslow concluded that

the greater things in life would be insignificant. He also recognized that for most people who do not even have life's essentials, that motivation would come from the desire to achieve the physiological needs.

Maslow's theory has been acknowledged as the most well-known and recognized theory of motivation. Although not perfect, and flaws can always be found, it is certainly a fair summary of motivation. I certainly appreciate his insight into why we do the things we do. Finally! I know why I get up in the morning!

Once this first higher need has been met, and a person feels he/she belongs, the need to feel important arises. Esteem needs such as having attention and your efforts being recognized contribute to motivation. Having a high self-esteem is also very important because confidence and feeling good about you is a major factor in being happy and motivated to achieve personal goals.

Maslow later identified the possibility of having an additional layer in between esteem and self-actualization. He contemplated the quest for knowledge and aesthetics as being important aspects of life and a path many seek on their way to fulfillment.

Although the vast majority settle for security, sociability and self-esteem, Maslow recognized that a small percentage of the population want to achieve ultimate being and self-actualization. Ma

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Theory Hierarchical, , Abraham Maslow, Motivation Motivation, maslow's theory, search self-actualization, people feel, maslow identified, people search, personal goals, aspects life, social inclusion,