Theory of Personality Review of Related Theories
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Additionally we often use the concept of motivation to indicate the direction of behavior pp. 3-4
Abraham Maslow 1970 puts forward an interesting theory about hierarchy of needs. It is the concept that more basic needs must be met before higher-level
needs become active. If lower needs in the hierarchy are not met for the most part, then the higher needs will not operate. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs consists of
biological or psychological needs, safety needs, love and belongingness needs, self- esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. The first two needs are considered
primary or lower needs. The remaining three are secondary or higher needs Lahey, 2009, pp. 373-374 Petri 1981, pp. 302-305.
The biological or psychological needs are the fundamental needs for food, water, air, sex, sleep, clothing, shelter, comfort, and self-preservation. The
Psychological needs are the basic needs of physical requirements for human to survive. Psychological needs are the most important needs that must be met first. On
the other hand, if psychological needs are met, the next needs of the hierarchy emerge as a dominant force in controlling and directing behavior.
The safety needs are primarily triggered in emergency situations same as the psychological needs. The Safety needs are needs to avoid bodily and uncertainly
harm about one’s well being. Safety needs include: personal security, financial security, healthy and well-being, and safety net against accidentsillness and their
adverse impacts.
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The next needs are the love and belongingness needs. Love needs are about loving and being loved, and social relationship. Love needs require both the receiving
and giving of love — love from another and someone to love. Love needs are needs to feel part of group, or feeling of belongs to others. The absence of love will stifle
growth and development of potential. The thwarting of love needs is considered as a prime because of maladjustment. The hunger of love is a deficiency disease.
The self-esteem needs are needs for a positive and high evaluation of oneself. This evaluation can be divided into the two subcategories, needs for self-esteem and
needs for esteem from others. Needs for self-esteem motivates the individual to strive for achievement, strength, confidence, independence, and freedom. It seems to have
at its core the desire to feel worthwhile. While the related needs of esteem from others involves a desire for reputation, status, recognition, appreciation by others of
one’s abilities, and a feeling of importance. The final level of hierarchy of motives is self-actualization. The self-
actualization is described as the desire to become more and more, to become that one is capable or becoming. This needs are the identification of morality, creativity,
spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, and acceptance of facts. This needs appear after reasonable satisfaction of love and self-esteem needs.
The theories above are used to analyze and answer the research problems. The theory of characterization is used to analyze John Bristow’s characteristics. The
theory of personality is used to support the theory of characterization and add some information to figure out the characteristics of John Bristow because the theory of
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personality provides a way of organizing the characteristics of people. Both theories of characterization and personality may help in answering the first problem. Then, the
theory of motivation is used to know the things that motivate someone in doing something. It is used to find out John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula
Landry’s death investigation as seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling. This theory is used to answer the second problem.