An empirical test of a new theory of human needs

Abstract

This study was concerned with developing and testing an alternative to Maslow's theory and to a simple frustration hypothesis for the problem of relating need-satisfaction to strength of desires. The alternative theory is based on a three-fold conceptualization of human needs: existence, relatedness, and growth (E.R.G.), It does not assume lower-level satisfaction as a prerequisite for the emergence of higher-order needs. It does include propositions relating the impact of higher-order frustration to the strength of lower-order needs. Empirical tests of differential predictions among Maslow's theory, the simple frustration hypothesis, and E.R.G. theory were conducted by a questionnaire study with 110 employees at several job levels from a bank. The results tended to support E.R.G. theory more than Maslow's theory or the simple frustration hypothesis.