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Comparing the effects of low-level and high-level worker need-satisfaction: A synthesis of the self-determination and Maslow need theories

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Abstract

According to Maslow’s (Psychol Rev 50:370–396, 1943) hierarchical theory of needs, people do not become sensitized to “higher” level needs until they have satisfied their “lower” level needs (a moderator hypothesis); until then, they are unprepared to benefit from higher-level satisfactions. But according to the self-determination theory (SDT) model, high-level psychological needs, when met, are non-contingently beneficial (a main effect-only hypothesis). In two large-N studies of Russian energy companies, we measured low-level need-satisfaction in terms of felt security and felt financial satisfaction, and measured high-level need satisfaction in terms of SDT’s basic needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In both studies, both the lower level and higher level need-satisfaction sets had strong main effects upon many positive work outcomes, including intrinsic motivation, organizational commitment, and SWB. In Study 2, Maslow’s “prepared to benefit” hypothesis was supported, in that satisfaction of high-level needs had slightly larger effects on outcomes when combined with satisfaction of low-level needs. However this was not found in Study 1. Potentials for integrating the SDT and Maslow need theories are discussed.

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Notes

  1. AIC, BIC and adjusted BIC were at least 2000 lower for the model using high-level need satisfaction as a mediator comparing to the model using low-level need satisfaction as mediator for RQJS and at least 500 lower for WOC. All the data on mediation analysis are available upon request.

  2. All the data on mediation analysis are available upon request. AIC, BIC and adjusted BIC were 60–70 lower for the model using high-level need satisfaction as a mediator comparing to the model using low-level need satisfaction as the mediator.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Laboratory of Positive Psychology of Personality and Motivation, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia

    Elena Rasskazova, Tatiana Ivanova & Kennon Sheldon

  2. University of Missouri, Columbia, USA

    Kennon Sheldon

Authors
  1. Elena Rasskazova
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  2. Tatiana Ivanova
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  3. Kennon Sheldon
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Correspondence to Kennon Sheldon.

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Ethical standard

Compliance with ethical standards: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Additional information

This article was prepared within the framework of a subsidy granted to the HSE by the Government of the Russian Federation for the implementation of the Global Competitiveness Program.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Table 6 Items of RQJS and WOC
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Appendix 2

Table 7 Mediation analysis of high level need-satisfaction upon low level need-satisfaction and work outcomes path in Study 1 and Study 2
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Rasskazova, E., Ivanova, T. & Sheldon, K. Comparing the effects of low-level and high-level worker need-satisfaction: A synthesis of the self-determination and Maslow need theories. Motiv Emot 40, 541–555 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9557-7

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