Looking at Abraham Maslow’s Motivational Hierarchy of Needs (1954), one must question how design can relate to psychology. Is the decision to design based on an inherent psychological need? Or for that matter does any career choice stem from a psychological need?
According to Maslow, the Man’s needs are ordered in a hierarchy, with the most basic biological and physiological needs being the most crucial, and with self actualising or transcendence needs being at the top (depending on the age of the model). He theorises that Man can only motivate himself to work on the higher needs once the most basic needs are met. The Author disagrees with this suggestion, but will come back to this point at another time.
Maslow states, “We may still often (if not always) expect that a new discontent and restlessness will soon develop, unless the individual is doing what he is fitted for. A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately happy. What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization.”
Therefore, when the Designer is designing, supporters of Maslow’s theories would say that the designer is “Self Actualising”. However, whilst this theory could be applied to many career choices, it must also be remembered that a career is a source of income. Financial security or stability would come under Maslow’s “Safety Needs”, or could even be used to satisfy “Esteem Needs” on the basis that money can be utilised to purchase items of status, prestige and dominance.
Moreover, updated versions of Maslow’s Hierarchy include a higher tier, “Transcendence Needs”. This entails helping others to achieve their “Self Actualising Needs”, which, in theory the designer does. By providing a product that can help others, or to provide more basic needs is surely a form of transcendence.
Alderfer suggests that these 3 groups of needs need not be satisfied in any order or hierarchy, and theorises that the needs not satisfied will lead to frustration and regression, to needs which are more easily available.
For instance, should “Growth Needs” not be easily available, the person will most likely move towards “Relatedness Needs”, and socialise more.
In addition to this, motivational needs may often change as age and circumstances do. For example, being introduced to parenthood is likely to change the person’s goals and aspirations in life.
According to Maslow, the Man’s needs are ordered in a hierarchy, with the most basic biological and physiological needs being the most crucial, and with self actualising or transcendence needs being at the top (depending on the age of the model). He theorises that Man can only motivate himself to work on the higher needs once the most basic needs are met. The Author disagrees with this suggestion, but will come back to this point at another time.
Maslow states, “We may still often (if not always) expect that a new discontent and restlessness will soon develop, unless the individual is doing what he is fitted for. A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately happy. What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization.”
Therefore, when the Designer is designing, supporters of Maslow’s theories would say that the designer is “Self Actualising”. However, whilst this theory could be applied to many career choices, it must also be remembered that a career is a source of income. Financial security or stability would come under Maslow’s “Safety Needs”, or could even be used to satisfy “Esteem Needs” on the basis that money can be utilised to purchase items of status, prestige and dominance.
Moreover, updated versions of Maslow’s Hierarchy include a higher tier, “Transcendence Needs”. This entails helping others to achieve their “Self Actualising Needs”, which, in theory the designer does. By providing a product that can help others, or to provide more basic needs is surely a form of transcendence.
A theory I agree with more in this respect is Clayton Alderfer’s “ERG theory” (1969) which uses the same principle needs as Maslow’s Hierarchy, but divides them into 3 levels, “Existence Needs”, “Relatedness Needs” and “Growth Needs”.
Alderfer suggests that these 3 groups of needs need not be satisfied in any order or hierarchy, and theorises that the needs not satisfied will lead to frustration and regression, to needs which are more easily available.
For instance, should “Growth Needs” not be easily available, the person will most likely move towards “Relatedness Needs”, and socialise more.
In addition to this, motivational needs may often change as age and circumstances do. For example, being introduced to parenthood is likely to change the person’s goals and aspirations in life.
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