Esteem Needs

Esteem refers to the regard or feeling of respect and affection in which one is held. Esteem needs represent one of five levels of needs posited in Abraham Maslow's 1970 hierarchy of needs. Maslow's theory is based on the assumption that all human behavior is goal-directed toward fulfilling unsatisfied needs. These needs start with basic deficiency needs (e.g., physiological, safety, and belonging needs) and then unfold in an orderly, sequential, hierarchical pattern through continued growth and development toward self-actualization. In Maslow's hierarchy, esteem needs are a higher level deficiency need preceding self-actualization. From an organizational perspective, individuals are more likely to thrive in growthenhancing environments that create organizational conditions that enhance esteem needs.

Esteem needs are of two types: (1) the need for self-esteem or self-worth and (2) the need to be highly regarded by others. Self-esteem is an affective or emotional reaction to oneself. It is taking pride in oneself, having self-respect and a general positive image of oneself. The need for self-esteem or self-worth is a basic need of all individuals. For example, one might try to hide how much effort was put into a task so that [Page 354]others will think the individual has high ability, thus increasing feelings of self-esteem. Similarly, if one procrastinates on a task, performance can be attributed to lack of effort, thus protecting self-esteem. It is less threatening to attribute one's lack of success to procrastination than it is to attribute one's lack of success to low ability.

Esteem or high regard from others is demonstrated when people express recognition, approval, and appreciation for the work of others, or express perceptions of others as having prestige or status. When leaders recognize and show appreciation for individual excellence, employees' self-esteem is enhanced. Early research found that esteem needs appeared to be the level of greatest deficiency for teachers. Loss of confidence in the effectiveness of schools, mandated programs, legislated school reforms, and increased federal interventions at the local school level create an educational context that tells teachers they are not held in esteem or high regard. When esteem decreases, self-esteem decreases. Unsatisfied esteem needs decrease motivation and performance.

In recent times, Maslow's work has been criticized by Joyce Milton, who in 2002 observed that there is no necessary connection between psychological health and success.