Journal 4

Journal 4

Gary Hensley

06/21/2026

Maslow created the hierarchy of needs. A triangle divided into levels. At the bottom of the triangle are physiological needs, which form the base. As you move up the triangle, you have safety needs, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization at the top. It is the thought that every human has needs. We work towards the top, not always making it to the top. Our behavior is dictated by the needs we strive for, and as we change our needs, the hierarchy can change. In the booming world of technology, the chart can still be used, with some levels being easier to attain and others harder due to the massive feedback and comparisons we can gather from technology. I can relate to how technology has changed and assisted me in meeting the needs in the hierarchy of needs.

The basic needs or the base of the triangle, or physiological needs, are food, water, and warmth. You might not think technology plays much of a role in this most basic human need for survival, but it does. I used to just let my body tell me what it needed when it needed it, but as I got older and tried new tech, I now trend my life. I wear a watch that tells me whether I met my activity goals for the day and alerts me if my heart rate goes too high or too low. Which has seemed almost more stressful than not knowing, finding myself checking it at a glance when I check the time. I can track if I slept enough or drank enough water that day. The next tier is safety needs. Feeling safe has changed throughout the years. We didn’t have phones that could track us at all times or personal security cameras at our homes. As I have gotten older and make more money and have more things the security has gotten bigger. I now have a home security system I can check on my phone.  I have been changing my online habits with passwords and use of public networks when opening my financial accounts. Safety with technology is a double edged sword where you have all these tools at your fingertips to help keep you safe, like GPS, crash detection, and notification when your cameras go off. However, the other side is that without basic knowledge of good cyber habits, you can have the illusion that you are safe, only to be left wide open to becoming a victim.  At the center of the triangle, we have psychological needs with levels for belongingness and esteem. Belongingness is the need for friends and love. For me, this and technology have made it easier. I feel this can be dangerous for many people. Yes, I use my phone and social media to keep up with friends and be part of a group.  The next tier in the center is esteem needs. The need for prestige and a feeling of accomplishment. I feel like I am in this tier now with school. I work a full time job and I am able to go to classes online. A normal week for me is anywhere between 60 and 90 hours and being able to accomplish school would not even be possible without the ability to take classes online. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the top of the triangle is self fulfillment or self actualization. This is the person's top goal.  I haven’t reached this point yet, but with technology, I think it has continued to bring me closer. Like with school and studies, the amount of research I can do on any topic is almost endless. The tools created to help, like AI or training software and environments, have made a world of difference in what I thought I could learn.

The needs we strive for can influence our behavior, and as we change, whether due to age or environment, our needs in the triangle can shift. As technology has changed and joined every aspect of life  it can play a role in achieving our needs or make us re think what that need looks like.