Introduction
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a widely applied tool in sociocultural and psychological contexts. Since it helps formulate human needs and their hierarchical positions, the framework helps exemplify human satisfaction under certain circumstances. Namely, satisfaction correlates with meeting needs, much as dissatisfaction occurs when needs are unmet.
Natural disasters are events that cause significant distress and lead people to transition from comfortable to uncomfortable, undesirable, and unsatisfactory conditions. However, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be applied to the scenario under which individuals experience trauma and loss. Needless to say, needs change, and the focus may transition from the higher to the lower tiers of the pyramid. Nonetheless, the pyramid provides an explicit and comprehensive understanding of the factors that may lead to satisfaction with government assistance 72 hours after the natural disaster. The hypothesis is that Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be practically applied to address gaps in satisfaction.
Physiological Needs
The hypothesis regarding the application of the pyramid in the context of a natural disaster is that individuals are more likely to be satisfied when their basic needs are met first. This occurs because individuals may have lost the factors that covered their basic needs. For example, researchers highlight the importance of providing individuals with food provisions during the first stages of recovery from a natural disaster (Ainehvand et al., 2019). Needless to say, these are the primary efforts in every instance of a natural disaster.
The framework that is proposed in this instance focuses on the hierarchy of motivations. Maslow’s pyramid suggests that physiological needs encompass one’s necessities, including water, warmth, rest, and food (Desmet & Fokkinga, 2020). Thus, meeting basic needs is the main element of assistance in natural disaster management, and it is the first factor that can positively affect satisfaction with the government response.
Regarding the development of a survey to assess these needs, concerns, and thoughts, the first question may relate to basic needs. For example, victims of natural disasters are to be asked whether they have access to fresh water, warm shelter, and food. If the answer is negative, it is necessary to inquire about the lack of specific resources, which will be addressed to improve satisfaction with the received care and response.
Suppose the answer is positive and the respondent expresses satisfaction with the coverage of their basic physiological needs. In that case, the pyramid can be further applied to identify other elements that may need to be addressed. However, it is crucial to emphasize that during crises, basic needs are more likely to be compromised, which is why their coverage is at the forefront of any intervention aimed at improving public perception of the government response. Said needs can be met by providing housing, food, and clean water, and by ensuring the new environment is comfortable for the individuals in need.
Safety Needs
Safety can be significantly impaired in the event of a natural disaster. Namely, one’s economic, personal, emotional, and overall well-being security is affected by the disaster’s adverse effects. Addressing health needs is primordial for increasing victims’ satisfaction with the resources they receive (Chan et al., 2019). Thus, the presence of professional medical assistance would address the health safety needs that are impaired during crises.
Each safety need can be addressed through various methods. For example, the shelter that is to be provided for individuals who may have temporarily or indefinitely lost their homes is to be secure. Furthermore, victims are entitled to certain resources that cannot be denied or minimized, which is another protected element.
Regarding employment, the victims are to be allocated government financial resources. This ensures financial stability, which is one of the needs according to Maslow’s hierarchy. Regarding inquiries into individuals’ satisfaction with the government response, several elements can be included. For example, the survey may explore psychological safety by asking respondents whether they currently feel safe with the resources available to them. From a more direct perspective, the questions may address the availability of financial aid, a secure place to live, access to healthcare, and opportunities to obtain necessary medical procedures and treatments.
Love and Belonging
It may seem that love and belonging needs do not play a crucial role in government assistance and, as a result, in satisfaction with the authorities’ response. However, despite these elements not being basic needs, one may still desire to fulfill them, which would later transform into a more positive outlook on the approach to addressing the outcomes of the natural disaster. The feeling of belonging is correlated with an individual’s self-representation in an environment where collaboration helps achieve collective goals.
On the one hand, researchers have found that community participation in mitigating the effects of natural disasters is associated with more positive outcomes (Bahmani & Zhang, 2022). Thus, if victims of natural disasters volunteer and work collectively toward a communal good, they are more likely to succeed. Moreover, achieving success is more likely to increase satisfaction with the government’s involvement in establishing the community initiative. On the other hand, relevant sources emphasize the critical importance of social cohesion in addressing crises (Fan et al., 2020). Thus, one way to address the need is to establish programs that enable victims to meet their social needs and work together.
Similarly, efforts can be implemented to promote resilience both before and after the natural disaster. For example, relevant literature highlights the importance of community preparedness (Makwana, 2019). This implies that the government can organize workshops and similar activities in which people can participate in social activities related to disaster prevention and management.
This can also facilitate community engagement in the event of disasters that necessitate participation (Marenco-Escuderos et al., 2020). Thus, authorities can generate a sense of belonging by establishing preparedness groups to combat all-hazard disasters (Paterson & Charles, 2019). As a result, survey questions can touch upon the area of prior or present experience with participation in volunteer and community groups to combat the effects of disasters alongside fellow victims.
Esteem
One’s esteem correlates with the accomplishments achieved by that person. This particular need can be viewed from the perspective of the previously mentioned needs for love and belonging. Namely, victims of natural disasters may volunteer based on their existing skills or professional circumstances.
Thus, authorities are to establish a program that would inquire about one’s desire to volunteer and areas in which assistance can be provided. For example, people’s mental well-being suffers during crises, and cases of depression and anxiety become more prevalent (Said et al., 2020). Thus, in the case that a counselor or therapist is among the victims and would like to assist others in dealing with their losses while feeling a sense of accomplishment, the program would be helpful. The survey questions, in this case, would inquire about whether the opportunities were available.
Self-Actualization
Self-actualization is the need that is less likely to occur under the scenario of a natural disaster. Since basic needs become the focus, the higher tiers are less essential. Nonetheless, implementing a governmental intervention that would increase satisfaction implies the establishment of a variety of possible assistance measures.
Self-actualization implies that one requires an artistic outlet to motivate oneself. In this particular case, researchers mention the usefulness of art therapy in crises such as disasters (Santiago, 2020). This allows survivors to have a creative outlet for expressing themselves through painting, writing, and similar forms of art. As a result, the need to self-actualize through art is addressed, and satisfaction with natural disaster management increases. The survey can include inquiries about art forms that respondents find relaxing or entertaining, as well as their willingness to participate in activities of that format.
Conclusion
Maslow’s hierarchy can indeed be applied to address low satisfaction with government natural disaster management within the first 72 hours. Addressing basic physiological needs can be exercised through the provision of food, water, and shelter. Similarly, safety needs can be accomplished through the provision of financial help as well as other resources. These basics are fundamental in achieving high satisfaction during crisis conditions.
Love and belonging can be exemplified through the establishment of collective groups and community volunteering programs. Similarly, esteem can be emphasized by allowing victims to exercise their personal and professional qualities through volunteering. Last but not least, the authorities can provide individuals with an artistic outlet by organizing art workshops for children and parents who desire to express themselves through this medium.
References
Ainehvand, S., Raeissi, P., Ravaghi, H., & Maleki, M. (2019). The characteristic features of emergency food in national level natural disaster response programs: A qualitative study. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 8(58).
Bahmani, H., & Zhang, W. (2022). Why do communities recover differently after socio-natural disasters? Pathways to comprehensive success of recovery projects based on Bam’s (Iran) neighborhoods’ perspective. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 678.
Chan, E. Y., Man, A. Y., & Lam, H. C. (2019). Scientific evidence on natural disasters and health emergency and disaster risk management in Asian Rural-based area. British Medical Bulletin, 129(1), 91–105.
Desmet, P., & Fokkinga, S. (2020). Beyond Maslow’s pyramid: Introducing a typology of thirteen fundamental needs for human-centered design. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 4(3), 38.
Fan, C., Jiang, Y., & Mostafavi, A. (2020). Emergent social cohesion for coping with community disruptions in disasters. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 17(164), 20190778.
Makwana, N. (2019). Disaster and its impact on Mental Health: A Narrative Review. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 8(10), 3090.
Marenco-Escuderos, A. D., Ramos-Vidal, I., Palacio-Sañudo, J. E., & Rambal-Rivaldo, L. I. (2020). Community participation and empowerment in a post-disaster environment: Differences tied to age and personal networks of social support. Frontiers in Psychology, 11.
Paterson, B., & Charles, A. (2019). A global comparison of community-based responses to natural hazards. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 19(11), 2465–2475.
Said, N. B., Molassiotis, A., & Chiang, V. C. L. (2020). Psychological preparedness for disasters among nurses with Disaster Field experience: An international online survey. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 46, 101533.
Santiago, J. S. (2020). Art therapy as a disaster response in Southeast Asia: State of the art. Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management, 109–116.