Feeding, clothing and giving one’s self shelter do not satisfy man’s unending needs. Being able to breathe is not all that man is living for. It is just the beginning of man’s constant struggle for fulfillment and self-actualization. That is why Herbert Maslow identified Physiological Needs as the first needs which are to be satisfied before one will be able to go up the hierarchy. Although it is the most basic of all, it is also the most critical as it will be man’s gateway to fulfilling other human needs.

After relatively satisfying one’s physiological needs, a man’s instinct to have orderliness, consistency and safety will arise. With the goal of protecting his life, property and liberty, he will find ways to get just that. Maslow, having contemplated about this, named the second stage of his hierarchy of needs as the Safety Needs. Having the capacity to provide himself with food, clothes and shelter, he will be motivated to protect his investments and secure their continuous supply for his future needs.

Safety needs include being able to find a safe domicile, stable employment, good health and insured future. As have been mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, these needs are but offshoots of the physiological needs which were earlier satisfied. For example, a man who was able to give himself and his family shelter will have another goal and that is to be able to make sure that the home he was able to give is free from any harm. Furthermore, he will also make sure that he will be able to continually provide his family with food, clothing and some other needs. This will be his motivation to find himself a stable income source. Also, he will protect his person from internal or external danger so he may be able to continue his pursuit for personal success. For this, he will take care of his health, and that of his family. Lastly, at this point of his journey, he also starts to think about his life in the future. Because of this, he will also be motivated to take steps in order to make sure that the future will be as friendly to him as possible, especially when he would be a lot older and feeble by that time. In short, man’s protective instinct will be triggered when he has already owned something, and when he realizes the threat of losing them.

Maslow thought of this stage of the hierarchy because he believes that if man feels that he is in harm’s way, he will not pay enough attention to other higher needs. Therefore, the feeling of safety, consistency and peace, will be his motivation to aim higher and move forward.