Abraham Maslow developed a theory of motivation where human needs were spearated into two groups: deficiency needs and growth needs.    The four deficiency needs are: physiological, safety, belongingness and love, and esteem.  In order to have a need for one, all the other needs before that must be met.
    At first, the only growth need Maslow made was self-actualization; later, however, he separated self-actualization into cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and transcendence needs.  The cognitive need is described by the need to know and understand more; the aesthetic need is described by the appreciation of symmetry and beauty; the self-actualization need is when one needs to find self-fulfillment; transcendence occurs when one helps others realize their potentials.
    The appeal of Maslow’s theory is the ladder upward toward higher and higher achievments.  Realistically, however, Maslow’s theory begins to fall apart.  One example is the pattern found when subjects are asked if they were on a deserted island, and were only granted one thing, what would it be; after much consideration, the answer is often a “special someone.”  According to Maslow’s pyramid, people would invariably want food or water before anything else; this simply is not the case.