No. 73 · People · General Thinking
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Unmet basic needs drown out higher ones, so check the foundations before blaming motivation.
In the Almanac
“A theory of motivation”, 1943 · “Joie de Vivre”, 2001
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
Get the AlmanacQuestions
What is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943, suggests our motivations move through levels: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization. When basic needs go unmet, they crowd out higher goals.
How do you use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Use it to diagnose low moods by checking sleep, food and safety first, to help friends with practical worries before big dreams, and to lead teams by caring for every level. Treat it as a lens, not a strict ladder.
When does Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs matter?
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is one of the 60 mental models for people, the situations where you ask: Why do people act as they do, and how do I work with them? Within that, it belongs to “Understanding people”, alongside Frame of Reference, High Context vs Low Context and Introverts vs Extroverts.
What is an example of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Two stories show it at work: A theory of motivation (1943) and Joie de Vivre (2001). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Self-Preservation, Incentives and Influence of Stress. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs itself comes from general thinking.