NCJ Number
118558
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 16 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1989) Pages: 28-38
Date Published
1989
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Maslow's hierarchy is one tool available to increase the police professional's technical knowledge and skills in human relations, motivation, and management.
Abstract
Maslow has developed a hierarchy of human needs that must be progressively met if a person is to experience fulfillment. Maslow's progressive order of needs consists of basic survival, safety, belongingness, ego status, and self-actualization. Police managers should take these needs into account as they supervise personnel. Regarding basic survival needs, the police supervisor acts to ensure that officer salaries are sufficient to meet basic creature-comfort needs and that the working environment also meets these needs. Management action to meet officer safety needs involves training in personal safety, the provision of effective safety equipment, and the development of departmental policies designed to ensure officer safety and the provision of departmental support for officers in trouble. Police managers can help cultivate a sense of belongingness in officers by ensuring access to psychology services, the provision of peer group gatherings, action to deter the formation of officer cliques, and the inclusion of family members in training. Management support for ego status requires that officers have the opportunity to display competence and to gain social and professional rewards. Self-actualization is up to each officer as he/she becomes self-motivated in setting goals for job achievement and career advancement. A manager can facilitate self-actualization by providing officers opportunities to build upon their strengths and pursue their goals.