PSY 250 Week 3 Biological and Humanistic
Approaches to Personality
Abraham Maslow is a famous psychologist who stated that people have different levels
of needs that must be fulfilled before the next, higher, level of needs can be achieved. This is
called Maslow’s Hierarchy. Maslow states that one’s physiological needs are the most basic.
These needs are those that we use to survive; the need for food, sleep and water. Once people
have what they need for nourishment, they feel the need for safety, Maslow’s second level in his
hierarchy. The next three levels have to deal with people’s social needs and their need for self-
actualization. Maslow states that people must fulfill their social needs, wanting to belong and to
be loved. Humans are social animals, which is why it is normal to live in family groups, in
neighborhoods, and within cities, etc. Once people believe they have met their need to be social,
they begin working on esteem needs. These are the desires to accomplish goals and improve
self-esteem. Only after all other needs have been met are people ready to become self-
actualized. This is when people are comfortable with their role in society and begin to become
self-aware and concern themselves with personal growth. This may include becoming more
educated, working out, or volunteering. According to Maslow, the success one may have
fulfilling a certain level of needs and their desires for self-actualization are most responsible for
shaping personality.
Both Freud and Maslow’s work give valuable insight into what creates personality. One
aspect ignored in much of their work is biological factors that can create a personality, otherwise
known as genetics. Charles Darwin is known for the theory that humans have evolved from
, primitive species. In his studies, he also theorized that people’s genetics also have a strong
influence on the development of their personality. This is why children seem to share physical
traits with their parents, in addition to many behavioral traits. Ivan Pavlov, a Russian
physiologist, did a series of experiments on conditioning. Most know of “Pavlov’s Dogs”, an
experiment he set up that showed how dogs could be conditioned to act in a specific manner if
they expect to get food as a reward. These behaviors are also common in humans. People will
act a certain way if they think they will be rewarded for their good behavior as well as not act in
a certain way if they expect to be punished for it. Both Darwin and Pavlov recognized that while
physiology had much to do with personality, it could not be denied that biology also factors
greatly.
When Maslow designed his hierarchy of needs, he realized that the desire to sustain
needs is a biological factor. Humans unquestionably need food and water to survive. This is a
biological fact. This most basic of all needs is what begins to shape our personality. Regardless
of our race, religion, upbringing, or environment people will be driven to eat and drink water.
After that, humans will seek shelter and safety. This is self-preservation. Before any social
needs can be met, other more important, more basic needs must be accounted for. These
biological factors have allowed humans to become the dominant species. Throughout time,
humans have always had some social structure as well. In general, humans thrive to be part of a
group. According to Darwin, these traits have been bred into us over the generations that make
us who we are today. “In a Darwinian analysis, attention is thus drawn to the function of a
characteristic (such as speed or intelligence or sociability) in survival.” (Friedman & Schustack,
2017) Darwin suggests that over time, dominant traits, those that led to longer life and
successful breeding will prevail. It can be hypothesized that in the past, not all humans shared
Approaches to Personality
Abraham Maslow is a famous psychologist who stated that people have different levels
of needs that must be fulfilled before the next, higher, level of needs can be achieved. This is
called Maslow’s Hierarchy. Maslow states that one’s physiological needs are the most basic.
These needs are those that we use to survive; the need for food, sleep and water. Once people
have what they need for nourishment, they feel the need for safety, Maslow’s second level in his
hierarchy. The next three levels have to deal with people’s social needs and their need for self-
actualization. Maslow states that people must fulfill their social needs, wanting to belong and to
be loved. Humans are social animals, which is why it is normal to live in family groups, in
neighborhoods, and within cities, etc. Once people believe they have met their need to be social,
they begin working on esteem needs. These are the desires to accomplish goals and improve
self-esteem. Only after all other needs have been met are people ready to become self-
actualized. This is when people are comfortable with their role in society and begin to become
self-aware and concern themselves with personal growth. This may include becoming more
educated, working out, or volunteering. According to Maslow, the success one may have
fulfilling a certain level of needs and their desires for self-actualization are most responsible for
shaping personality.
Both Freud and Maslow’s work give valuable insight into what creates personality. One
aspect ignored in much of their work is biological factors that can create a personality, otherwise
known as genetics. Charles Darwin is known for the theory that humans have evolved from
, primitive species. In his studies, he also theorized that people’s genetics also have a strong
influence on the development of their personality. This is why children seem to share physical
traits with their parents, in addition to many behavioral traits. Ivan Pavlov, a Russian
physiologist, did a series of experiments on conditioning. Most know of “Pavlov’s Dogs”, an
experiment he set up that showed how dogs could be conditioned to act in a specific manner if
they expect to get food as a reward. These behaviors are also common in humans. People will
act a certain way if they think they will be rewarded for their good behavior as well as not act in
a certain way if they expect to be punished for it. Both Darwin and Pavlov recognized that while
physiology had much to do with personality, it could not be denied that biology also factors
greatly.
When Maslow designed his hierarchy of needs, he realized that the desire to sustain
needs is a biological factor. Humans unquestionably need food and water to survive. This is a
biological fact. This most basic of all needs is what begins to shape our personality. Regardless
of our race, religion, upbringing, or environment people will be driven to eat and drink water.
After that, humans will seek shelter and safety. This is self-preservation. Before any social
needs can be met, other more important, more basic needs must be accounted for. These
biological factors have allowed humans to become the dominant species. Throughout time,
humans have always had some social structure as well. In general, humans thrive to be part of a
group. According to Darwin, these traits have been bred into us over the generations that make
us who we are today. “In a Darwinian analysis, attention is thus drawn to the function of a
characteristic (such as speed or intelligence or sociability) in survival.” (Friedman & Schustack,
2017) Darwin suggests that over time, dominant traits, those that led to longer life and
successful breeding will prevail. It can be hypothesized that in the past, not all humans shared
