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Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow researched human motivation extensively, and determined
50 years ago needs drive motivation. As Peter B. Grazier, points out in his article,
Starving for Recognition: Understanding Recognition and the seven Recognition Do's and
Don'ts, "from our most basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, and safety and security
to our most sophisticated needs of ego satisfaction and self-actualization, we are driven
to fulfill these needs. And we usually undergo some internal tension (for example the
tension of hunger when we need to eat) until the need is satisfied. This tension then
prods (or motivates) us constantly until the need is met."
The need for recognition, one of our more sophisticated needs, is one of the most
difficult to achieve. It is the only one which is wholly dependent upon others to respond
appropriately. In other words, recognition, by definition, must come from others. "I
wondered for years, why so many recipients would experience an emotional response (such as
tears) when receiving some recognition. What I came to understand was they there were
finally breaking through a barrier (need fulfillment) that they had spent years striving
for," explains Grazier. "Someone had finally thanked them for their good work."
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