Theories of Wants Versus Needs
A need is defined as "a state of felt deprivation in a person" (Kotler, Chandler, Gibbs, & McColl 1989, p. 4). This refers to a general feeling of needing something. This can include needing physical items such as food, clothing, a place to live, or a mode of transport. It can also refer to a more psychological need such as a need to fit in and feel accepted, a need to express oneself, or a need to feel loved and valued. A want is defined as "the form human needs take as shaped by culture and individual personality" (Kotler, Chandler, Gibbs, & McColl 1989, p. 5). This refers to the specific item that a person wants to fill a certain general need. For example, a general need for clothing may result in an individual wanting a certain pair of jeans and a certain jumper. As another example, a general need for food may result in an individual wanting to have dinner in a specific restaurant. For a psychological need such as the general need to fit in, an individual might want a certain brand of shoes that are considered fashionable. One of the main differences between wants and needs is that needs refers to a general desire, while wants refers to a specific desire. For example, I need a way to get to work each day is a ge
To explain how this works, consider a person who has not achieved the basic physiological needs of food and water. This unsatisfied need becomes a source of motivation. However, once this need has been met, the individual is no longer motivated by a need for food and water. This occurs because the need is no longer unsatisfied. In response, the individual moves up the hierarchy and focuses on the next unsatisfied need, which is the safety need. This becomes the unsatisfied need that motivates the individual. The same process occurs when the individual achieves safety. Once again, this is no longer an unsatisfied need and so the individual moves up the hierarchy to the next need, which is belongingness. This occurs again as the person moves up the hierarchy to achieve esteem needs and self-actualization needs. Abraham Maslow described how people are motivated in his hierarchy of needs theory. This theory describes five categories of needs: physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization. The important point about Maslow's theory is that the needs exist in a hierarchy. As Daft (1997, p. 531) explains "low-order needs take priority - they must be satisfied before higher-order needs are activated." This theory explains why a satisfied need ceases to motivate because once a need is satisfied, a new higher-order needs becomes the focus. Creativity refers to a leader's ability to be independent and original in their thinking. This is especially important in regards to problem-solving, with an effective leader able to develop creative and effective solutions to unexpected problems. This illustrates how individuals are motivated by unsatisfied needs. A satisfied need ceases to motivate because once a need has been met, the individual moves on and
Some common words found in the essay are:
Leaders Five, Based Sex, Abraham Maslow, Gibbs McColl, BMW Suzuki, sexual harassment, Subway Sandwich, effective leader, refers leader's, , leader's ability, moves hierarchy, individual moves, personal integrity, Kotler Chandler, Chandler Gibbs, five traits common, satisfied higher-order, esteem self-actualization, psychological need fit, satisfied ceases, traits common effective, victims complaints action, refers leader's ability,
Approximate Word count = 1208
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|