Human Needs Theory, Conflict, and Peace

Abstract Although the concepts of human needs, conflict, and peace are interrelated and affect all aspects of human life, academics and practitioners have usually addressed them in a rather fragmented manner. Human needs theories propose that all humans have certain basic universal needs and that when these are not met conflict is likely to occur. Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs beginning with the need for food, water, and shelter followed by the need for safety and security, then belonging or love, self‐esteem and, finally, personal fulfillment and self‐actualization. Later in his life Maslow (1973) proposed self‐transcendence as a need above self‐actualization in the hierarchy of needs.