The two lower levels of needs, physiological and safety, are easily satisfied in the environment where I take part in dance, as my necessities for life (food, water, and sleep) and my safety will not be threatened by external forces. For these reasons my study will mainly focus the needs of love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation.
When safety and physiological needs are met, the needs for love, affection and belongingness emerge. Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation by giving and receiving love and affection and by having a sense of belonging. These needs can be achieved through positive experiences in exercise, sport, and physical activity. Research suggests that social stereotypes such as race, class, religion, physical characteristics and gender are strong influences on participation in sport and physical activity. These stereotypes have a major impact on a person's sense of love and belonging. The extent to which individuals are conscious of social stereotypes and the extent to which people let stigmas affect their participation differ from one another. Factors like these may not be an issue as far as access or equitable treatment is concerned, but for some these stereotypes may have a strong impact on their participation (Amezdroz et al, 2010). This level affects my decision to participate in dance willingly. A main influence comes from my peers and friends at school. As i am currently participating in dance, I have received no judgement from my peers, as they are also participating. Furthermore, dance is considered acceptable for females, therefore adding to the acceptance from my peers.
Once the first three classes of needs are satisfied, the need for esteem becomes dominant. Humans have a need for a high level of self-respect and respect from others. When the need for esteem is satisfied, a person feels self confident and valued in the world, however, when these needs are not met, a person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless. Inclusion or exclusion in physical activity contributes extensively to an individual's self esteem and the esteem obtained from others. Exercise, sport, and physical activity play major roles in this important human need (Patel, 2012). I am often engaged in physical activity and therefore am included in sports, which makes for a higher self-esteem for myself. The majority of stereotypes that may negatively affect a persons participation in dance are directed towards men. As i am female and dance is considered feminine, these negative stereotypes do not concern me, and therefore I am able to participate in dance and gain the amount of self-respect and respect from others needed to satisfy my need for esteem. I feel that the first four levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs positively impact my participation in dance.
When all needs are satisfied, then and only then, are the needs for self-actualisation realised (Amezdroz et al, 2010). Maslow refers to self actualisation as a person's need to be and do what they were born to do. Maslow believed that the only reason a person would not achieve self actualisation is because of hindrances placed in their way by society. When these needs are not met, it results in signs of restlessness. The person feels on edge, tense and lacking something. They become restless and unsettled. When a person is hungry, unsafe, unloved, or lacking in self-esteem, it is easy to know what they are restless about. It is not, however, always clear when there is a need for self- actualisation.
My own basic physiological and safety needs have already been met. I believe the needs for love and belonging, and esteem are very important steps towards becoming self actualised. Esteem plays a huge role in my participation in dance. I feel self-confident and valuable in the world and therefore my need for esteem is satisfied. I feel as if stereotypes concerning my belonging do not effect my participation in dance, as dance is socially acceptable for girls and i have a high self-esteem, which enables me to have a positive outlook on life and not let negative stereotypes associated with dance stop me from participating. I have not yet satisfied a need for self-actualisation in dance, however, i am at this level. This is because I was not born to dance, neither have I regularly participated in it. My own competitive nature has always defined my goals within physical activity. These goals have been to finish a race in a faster time and to improve my fitness. These goals do not easily conform to the goals of a keen dancer wanting to reach the self-actualisation level. I do, however, think it is likely that i will participate in dance in the future, with an expectation of fulfilling the need for self-actualisation. I therefore am still to satisfy the need of becoming self-actualised within dance.
When safety and physiological needs are met, the needs for love, affection and belongingness emerge. Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation by giving and receiving love and affection and by having a sense of belonging. These needs can be achieved through positive experiences in exercise, sport, and physical activity. Research suggests that social stereotypes such as race, class, religion, physical characteristics and gender are strong influences on participation in sport and physical activity. These stereotypes have a major impact on a person's sense of love and belonging. The extent to which individuals are conscious of social stereotypes and the extent to which people let stigmas affect their participation differ from one another. Factors like these may not be an issue as far as access or equitable treatment is concerned, but for some these stereotypes may have a strong impact on their participation (Amezdroz et al, 2010). This level affects my decision to participate in dance willingly. A main influence comes from my peers and friends at school. As i am currently participating in dance, I have received no judgement from my peers, as they are also participating. Furthermore, dance is considered acceptable for females, therefore adding to the acceptance from my peers.
Once the first three classes of needs are satisfied, the need for esteem becomes dominant. Humans have a need for a high level of self-respect and respect from others. When the need for esteem is satisfied, a person feels self confident and valued in the world, however, when these needs are not met, a person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless. Inclusion or exclusion in physical activity contributes extensively to an individual's self esteem and the esteem obtained from others. Exercise, sport, and physical activity play major roles in this important human need (Patel, 2012). I am often engaged in physical activity and therefore am included in sports, which makes for a higher self-esteem for myself. The majority of stereotypes that may negatively affect a persons participation in dance are directed towards men. As i am female and dance is considered feminine, these negative stereotypes do not concern me, and therefore I am able to participate in dance and gain the amount of self-respect and respect from others needed to satisfy my need for esteem. I feel that the first four levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs positively impact my participation in dance.
When all needs are satisfied, then and only then, are the needs for self-actualisation realised (Amezdroz et al, 2010). Maslow refers to self actualisation as a person's need to be and do what they were born to do. Maslow believed that the only reason a person would not achieve self actualisation is because of hindrances placed in their way by society. When these needs are not met, it results in signs of restlessness. The person feels on edge, tense and lacking something. They become restless and unsettled. When a person is hungry, unsafe, unloved, or lacking in self-esteem, it is easy to know what they are restless about. It is not, however, always clear when there is a need for self- actualisation.
My own basic physiological and safety needs have already been met. I believe the needs for love and belonging, and esteem are very important steps towards becoming self actualised. Esteem plays a huge role in my participation in dance. I feel self-confident and valuable in the world and therefore my need for esteem is satisfied. I feel as if stereotypes concerning my belonging do not effect my participation in dance, as dance is socially acceptable for girls and i have a high self-esteem, which enables me to have a positive outlook on life and not let negative stereotypes associated with dance stop me from participating. I have not yet satisfied a need for self-actualisation in dance, however, i am at this level. This is because I was not born to dance, neither have I regularly participated in it. My own competitive nature has always defined my goals within physical activity. These goals have been to finish a race in a faster time and to improve my fitness. These goals do not easily conform to the goals of a keen dancer wanting to reach the self-actualisation level. I do, however, think it is likely that i will participate in dance in the future, with an expectation of fulfilling the need for self-actualisation. I therefore am still to satisfy the need of becoming self-actualised within dance.