Primordial Construct: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

The constellation of human needs was categorized by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in a theory of human motivation. Although he organized needs in a hierarchy, modern research finds no empirical evidence to support this aspect of his theory. So we’ll dispense with a hierarchical arrangement. Instead, let’s line the needs up in parallel with the familiar human dimensions of mind, body, heart, and soul to clarify each of Maslow’s categories.

Been «	Being Δ	Becoming »
	Esteem N	Others ↑
Safety/Security –	Actualization ≈	Social +
Self ↓	Physiological $

Death «	Life Δ	Birth »
	Spirit N	Others ↑
Mind –	Soul ≈	Heart +
Self ↓	Body $

Physiological needs are needs of the body like food, shelter, clothing, and sex. Social needs are needs of the heart like love, belonging, and intimacy. Esteem needs are needs of the spirit like confidence, respect, and morality or ethics. Safety and security needs are defenses of the mind like will power directed toward protection against war, crime, disease, starvation, and poverty. Actualization needs are needs of the soul to develop our full potential, which is often a struggle that engages all the resources at our disposal directed toward satisfying all the other needs.