Introduction
This paper will discuss the broad topic of A Theory of Human Motivation, Maslow(1943) and how it relates to the Design track from the Game Developers Conference (GDC) that this author chose for his Mastery Journal Paper Topic. This article can be found at the following link: http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm
Design
Maslow starts his theory of human motivations by identifying five basic needs: physiological, safety, love, esteem, self-actualization. He theorizes that humans are motivated by the desire to achieve or maintain the various conditions upon which these needs are built on, as well as a number of intellectual needs, such as the desire to know and understand. Maslow, further theorizes that any danger to these basic human needs, their defenses or the conditions the needs are built on is a psychological threat and that someone who is experiencing these psychological threats could be considered in a state of mental illness.
Results
Maslow claims that the five basic human needs (physiological, safety, love, esteem, self-actualization) are hierarchical, meaning some needs will be prioritized over others until they are satisfied before moving on to prioritize the next need in the hierarchy. Maslow claims that the physiological need is the highest priority citing Homeostasis which is the body’s automatic efforts to maintain a state of normalcy. He also references a study on appetite and how appetite is the body’s way of expressing its need for certain nutrients. Once the physiological need has been satisfied the next need in the hierarchy according to Maslow, is safety. Here, Maslow isn’t just referring to physical safety but psychological safety. Humans who do not feels safe feel the need for some kind of undisrupted routine or rhythm and desire a predictable orderly world. Once an adult human can feel safe enough from wild animals, extremes of temperature, criminals, assault and murder, tyranny etc, the safety need will be satisfied. After the physiological and safety needs are satisfied the next two needs, who’s positions in the hierarchy are somewhat interchangeable emerge. Love, love and affection and the need to belong. With physiological and safety being satisfied, a person will begin to strongly feel the absence of friends and loved ones, and will hunger for affectionate relationships with people and for a place in their group. Esteem, all mentally sound members of our society have a need or desire for a stable, firmly based and high evaluation of themselves, as well as the respect for themselves and from others. A firmly based self-esteem can be broken down into subsets. The first subset is the desire for strength, for achievement, adequacy, for confidence, as well as independence and freedom. The second subset is the desire for reputation or prestige, recognition, attention, importance or appreciation. The final need is self-actualization, even when all the previous needs have all been satisfied, Maslow states that humans will become discontent and restless until they find their purpose, stating that to be happy a musician must make music, an artist must paint, and a poet must write.
Strengths
Soundness
Despite being written in in 1943, making this article 76 years old at the time this paper is being written, this theory has stood the test of time. It is not only still relevant today, but multiple theories have been and are still being written based upon the concepts and ideas laid out by Maslow in his hierarchy of needs.
Competency and Clarity
Maslow’s paper is not only well written and structured in a way that makes it flow very well, he is able to clearly show the deep level of competence he has in his subject, this is especially important because Maslow never achieved his Doctorates, his highest degree was a Masters. Despite this not only is he able speak on the same level as his peers that did achieve their Doctorates but he was one of the most cited psychologists of the 20thcentury.
Limitations
Conclusion Validity Threat & Instrumentation Threat
As this scientific paper was written 76 years ago, Maslow did not have access to many of the more recent studies that either disproved, or changed many of what was accepted and believed in in the scientific field back in his time. Maslow understood this however, as he adds the disclaimer “according to the best data available.” An example of this would be when Maslow talks about the psychopathic personality and claims that is caused do to a permanent loss of the love needs. In modern research not only is the official name for such a condition changed to Antisocial personality disorder, but the exact cause for it is still highly debated, though the leading theories are genetic anomaly and changes in brain functions during the development phase of growth (U.S. NIH).
Conclusion
In order to achieve happiness Maslow’s 5 needs must be satisfied. The way this applies to this authors chosen topic is thus; while the physiology need cannot be satisfied in MMORPGs, and an argument could be made that the safety need could be meet via escapism, allowing players to temporarily forget about the woes of the real world, for MMORPGS to be not only successful but truly great, they must simulate the ability to satisfy the other 3 needs (love, esteem and self-actualization). As for a possible mentor for this subject, this author believes Dr. Kennedy would provide great insight as his dissertation was investigating the determinates of workplace motivation, which this author believes is more than applicable to his topic.
References
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Retrieved from Classics in the History of Psychology website: http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm Kimmel, R. J., MD (Ed.). (n.d.). Antisocial personality disorder. Retrieved July 8, 2018, from
National Institute of Health/Medline Plus website: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000921.htm