S. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Research Paper Example

Many psychologists argue that birth order allows individuals to develop certain characteristics with respect to their role in the family. As such, first born children are expected to achieve a sense of independence and have a lesser need to rely on others. Only children are also said to develop these same traits because they are required to find themselves outside of the context of siblings. However, it is important to consider that different psychological characteristics arise from different experiences. Psychologists argue that a sense of belonging is an important aspect of personality development (Hall). Thus, individuals that are able to gain a strong sense of belonging are said to be mentally strong, while those that are not able to achieve this sense of belonging are less confident and less likely to be self-fulfilled.

Understanding the ability of an individual to develop certain traits based on their external influences can be in part explained by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. “Maslow (1943) stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs” (McLeod). This pyramid explains that an individual’s physiological needs and safety needs must be met before they could develop a sense of belonging. Furthermore, developing a sense of belonging will allow individuals to reach the point where they could achieve self-esteem and self-fulfillment. Individuals who achieve these psychological goals are less likely to be stressed and are more likely to be physically healthy. In “I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen, it appears that Emily does not exemplify many of the characteristics that are typical of first born children. This appears to be due to the indifference her mother displays towards her or the lack of ability that Emily’s mother has to provide her with the proper parenting that she needs to thrive.

Overall, Emily’s lack of independence that is typical of first born children can be explained by the fact that even though she is the only child, she yearns for attention. Her mother had her at a young age and does not appear to seem sure how to balance her responsibilities with caring for a child. Emily wishes to spend time with her mother, but she always appears to be busy. Thus, because she does not feel that she is getting the attention that she needs to develop a sense of love and belonging, she is unable to exert the independence that is typical of individuals that are of her birth order. Instead, she is stuck struggling to meet this need.

In spite of the problems that Emily faces with regards to her familial life, she appears to remain positive for an individual in her situation. Furthermore, when Susan was born, Emily was able to form a strong relation with her in spite of the less than positive example that she received from her mother. Thus, in spite of her uncharacteristic upbringing and poor health, Emily had a strong character and she quickly recognized when and how she was needed by others. Thus, even though her mother demonstrates that she did not do an effective job in raising Emily, on her own, Emily managed to become a well-rounded individual. Therefore, it cannot be said that Emily exhibited the same aspects of independence compared to other first born peers, but she achieves independence because of her ability to cope with the cards that she has been dealt.

Works Cited

Hall, K. Create a Sense of Belonging. 2014. Web. 17 November 2015. <https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/pieces-mind/201403/create-sense-belonging>

McLeod, S. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. 2014. Web. 17 November 2015. <http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html>