Maslow’s
Hierarchy of needs in sport
The first concept of human needs was introduced in 1943 by a psychologist Abraham Maslow in a paper entitled “A theory of Human Motivation” (Cherry, 2014). To this day, it remains valid for understanding human motivation, management training and personal development.
Maslow once stated “Our actions are motivated in order to achieve certain needs”. This suggests that people are motivated to fulfill their basic needs before moving on to more advanced ones later on. He believed that needs are similar to instincts. And through his findings, he developed a pyramid. The lower levels of the pyramid display the basic needs and the higher aspects of the pyramid show the more complex needs. The video below is a simple, humorous approach to explain Maslow’s Hierarchy in context.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzQ9vrvTAtk
The Physiological, safety, belongingness and esteem levels are considered needs that have arose from current deficiency that are in the lives of general people. The highest part of the pyramid is a desire to grow as a person. In terms of sport, Maslow’s Hierarchy in sport can be applied to highly motivated athletes willing to work on achieving their highest potential.
The Physiological needs are a necessity for an athlete to even participate in the desired sport that they choose. Energizing foods can fulfill the athlete and keep them strengthened. A participant would also require sufficient amounts of liquids (e.g. water, sports drinks) to keep them hydrated and healthy (Arnaout , 2003). Sleep is also a contributing factor to how an athlete participates. Studies show 9 hours of sleep is the average time required to function correctly. If these needs are met, then there is a higher chance that an athlete/participant could contribute in a better manner.
The security level in sport is the ability to feel safe, protected and stable in the physical and interpersonal events that come across when participating. It’s necessary to feel secure within trainings, and with the people that surround you (Arnaout , 2003). Having rules, organisation and important figures in the sport that you participate in omits a feeling of security and so the athlete feels more comfortable participating and can feel more confident in doing so (Arnaout , 2003).
Reaching now the psychological aspects of the pyramid, the social level is a desired need. In sport, particularly in team sports, players need to feel a sense of belonging within the team. They want to feel like a well contributing stakeholder with their coaches and their sporting community. A participant needs to be able to trust others to ensure they achieve a common goal (Arnaout , 2003). Feeling as though they are an asset can ensure the participating begins or continues. Being congratulated and encouraged can guarantee that the social level is reached, at least in some retrospect.
Esteem is also a psychological level in the pyramid and regularly affects the level of participation in several sports. Many partakers in sport require respect, admiration and recognition to boost their feeling of esteem (Arnaout , 2003). Feeling that others recognise their contributions and efforts as well as being respected by friends, coaches, teammates and the on looking audience can truly enhance the esteem of the participant and guarantee whether they continue on in that sport.
Finally, the self-actualisation level is the final level in the pyramid and is technically a personal level. In sport it involves the personal role in addressing issues of inequity in sport and exercise. It encourages the critical analysation about one’s own perception of their contributions on a certain area of the sport that they participate in (Arnaout , 2003).
The first concept of human needs was introduced in 1943 by a psychologist Abraham Maslow in a paper entitled “A theory of Human Motivation” (Cherry, 2014). To this day, it remains valid for understanding human motivation, management training and personal development.
Maslow once stated “Our actions are motivated in order to achieve certain needs”. This suggests that people are motivated to fulfill their basic needs before moving on to more advanced ones later on. He believed that needs are similar to instincts. And through his findings, he developed a pyramid. The lower levels of the pyramid display the basic needs and the higher aspects of the pyramid show the more complex needs. The video below is a simple, humorous approach to explain Maslow’s Hierarchy in context.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzQ9vrvTAtk
The Physiological, safety, belongingness and esteem levels are considered needs that have arose from current deficiency that are in the lives of general people. The highest part of the pyramid is a desire to grow as a person. In terms of sport, Maslow’s Hierarchy in sport can be applied to highly motivated athletes willing to work on achieving their highest potential.
The Physiological needs are a necessity for an athlete to even participate in the desired sport that they choose. Energizing foods can fulfill the athlete and keep them strengthened. A participant would also require sufficient amounts of liquids (e.g. water, sports drinks) to keep them hydrated and healthy (Arnaout , 2003). Sleep is also a contributing factor to how an athlete participates. Studies show 9 hours of sleep is the average time required to function correctly. If these needs are met, then there is a higher chance that an athlete/participant could contribute in a better manner.
The security level in sport is the ability to feel safe, protected and stable in the physical and interpersonal events that come across when participating. It’s necessary to feel secure within trainings, and with the people that surround you (Arnaout , 2003). Having rules, organisation and important figures in the sport that you participate in omits a feeling of security and so the athlete feels more comfortable participating and can feel more confident in doing so (Arnaout , 2003).
Reaching now the psychological aspects of the pyramid, the social level is a desired need. In sport, particularly in team sports, players need to feel a sense of belonging within the team. They want to feel like a well contributing stakeholder with their coaches and their sporting community. A participant needs to be able to trust others to ensure they achieve a common goal (Arnaout , 2003). Feeling as though they are an asset can ensure the participating begins or continues. Being congratulated and encouraged can guarantee that the social level is reached, at least in some retrospect.
Esteem is also a psychological level in the pyramid and regularly affects the level of participation in several sports. Many partakers in sport require respect, admiration and recognition to boost their feeling of esteem (Arnaout , 2003). Feeling that others recognise their contributions and efforts as well as being respected by friends, coaches, teammates and the on looking audience can truly enhance the esteem of the participant and guarantee whether they continue on in that sport.
Finally, the self-actualisation level is the final level in the pyramid and is technically a personal level. In sport it involves the personal role in addressing issues of inequity in sport and exercise. It encourages the critical analysation about one’s own perception of their contributions on a certain area of the sport that they participate in (Arnaout , 2003).