Need Hierarchies: A Comparison of Maslow and Alderfer

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to compare and contrast Maslow's hierarchy of needs with Alderfer ERG theory. At a fundamental level, both of these theories fall under the umbrella of content theory of human motivation, with the basic assumptions that all people and situations are alike and that there is only best way to motivate people. Both these theories use a need hierarchy and propagate a satisfaction progression principle; however, the ERG theory also includes frustration regression and satisfaction strengthening principle, as well. Furthermore, the ERG theory also acknowledges that the differences in cultures may result in varying degree of emphasis put on different needs.

Need Hierarchies: A Comparison of Maslow and Alderfer

Introduction

Needs Theories

Regardless of time and space, psychologists have always found themselves asking several questions about the definition, dynamics and dimensions of human motivation. Experts, academicians and researchers have come to their aid through coming up with several motivation theories and models. They have divided them into content, process, goal setting and contemporary theories of motivation. Maslow's hierarchy of needs and ERG theory are classified as content theories because they are mainly concerned with identifying the elements and factors that motivate people and their prioritization.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Even after more than six decades, Maslow's hierarchy of needs and his theories remain as the most cited and discussed need motivation theories. Realizing that people are motivated by their needs, Maslow classified those needs into five levels of psychological, safety, belongingness/social, esteem and self actualization needs. According to Maslow, all people are motivated by one of these needs, and when a need is satisfied, the individual progresses to the next level and would subsequently feel motivated by the fulfillment of the new need level. Psychological/biological needs consist of the basic needs of life such as sleep, food, air, clothing, shelter, homeostasis, sex and others. When an individual is motivated by the deprivation of these needs, he or she is most likely to show signs of physical distraught. Deficiency of the next three need levels (safety needs, social needs and esteem needs) is less likely to leave physical signs, but their deficiency is likely to cause anxiety, stress, tension and depression (Miner, 2010).

ERG Theory

It was in the year 1969 that Clayton P. Alderfer, an American psychologist, published an article in Psychological Review, titled “An Empirical Test of a New Theory of Human Need”, which used Maslow's hierarchy model as a foundation and proposed a new model for understanding human motivation. Rather than classifying the need levels into five categories, Alderfer characterized them into three types of existence, relatedness and growth, thus naming it ERG theory (Robbins & Judge, 2010).

The basic idea was to revamp and reformulate the Maslow's hierarchy theory so that it could better incorporate the latest research findings. Therefore, both these theories have striking similarities, but they diverge from each other at several points as well and this paper in an attempt to highlight those similarities and ...