Social media, Maslow’s rewired, and the Need to Belong Theory

There following three theories try to explain human motivation: the need to belong theory
refers to an idea where a human being is motivated to be accepted in relationships with others so
that that he or she becomes part of that social group, the attachment theory implies that a person
is motivated to remain having close relationships with a specific social group or another person.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs argues that a person is motivated to ensure that the most basic
lower level needs are met before moving on to the next level of needs. In all the three theories,
human beings are motivated to be in social groups which are currently provided by the internet,
the social media and technology. The internet and the social media provides the platforms that
people use to relate as groups while technology provides the devices used to get people to those
platforms.

2. Refugees and Maslow’s Hierarchy

The refugee population has no social group in which they belong to and they are therefore
motivated to remain in the foreign nation with the hope that they would be allowed to stay and
relate to the citizens. Support and resources can be offered to such refugee populations by
allowing them to interact with the citizens so that they get the feeling of belonging.

3. Motivation: the continuum through amotivation, extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic

motivation.

Surname 2
 Using Figure 1 of the Ryan & Deci article, complete the table located below the image to
demonstrate your understanding of these concepts. An example has been provided to
guide your thinking.


External regulation
(most external)

Introjected regulation
(somewhat external)

Identification
(somewhat internal)

Integration
(internal)

Good grades gets me
scholarships and awards

If I don’t get good
grades, I won’t get into
graduate school

Studying hard is
part of my daily
routine

I give my best to that
which I do every day,
including my studies

Surname 3

High job performance
gets me rewards and
benefits.

I fail to perform better,
I won’t be promoted to
a higher job position.

High performance is
difficult part of my
job.

I put effort to my job.

4. Case studies to examine and apply Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Client
Case
Study

Physiological Safety Love,
belonging

Esteem Self-
actualization,
transcendence

military
with
PTSD

Potential
disrupted
sleep,
increased
heart rate

May be
hypervigilant
in home
safety or feel
unsafe in
home

May feel
disconnected
from family,
spouse

May
experience
low self-
esteem “why
is everyone
else doing
OK and I’m
not?”

Will I ever feel
at peace? Will
I be able to
reconnect with
my spiritual
beliefs or
practices?

sexual Disrupted May be hyper May feel May Will I ever

Surname 4

assault
victim

sleep,
increased
heart rate

vigilant in
home safety
or feel unsafe
in home

cutoff from
others.

experience
low self-
esteem “why
is everyone
else doing
OK and I’m
not?”

make love to a
person again?

homeless
person

Lacks sleep,
Ill health

May feel
unsafe

May feel
isolated by
community.
May
experience
low self-
esteem “why
is everyone in
a shelter
except me”

Will I ever have
a house?

new
arrival
illegal
immigrant

Disrupted rest
and increased
heart rate.

May feel
unsafe and
distracted

Feels
disconnected

Experiences
low self
esteem

Everyone
enjoys being
citizens in their
own counties,
will I ever
enjoy that?

new
arrival

Restless and
increased

Feels unsafe May feel
disconnected

Experiences
low self

Will I ever
belong

Surname 5
refugee heart rate and isolated. esteem somewhere?
criminal
offender
on parole

Enjoys rest May feel safe
and in the
right place

May have a
sense of
belonging

High self
esteem

Finally, I have
the freedom.