Theory
Psychology is everywhere, even in the world of computers. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is just one example. As such, it is the psychology theory that I will be relating to my internship experience. This theory is a theory of motivation. It was proposed in 1943 by Abraham Maslow, to explain human motivation. While not tremendously based in science, it remains a popular, intuitive, and widely understood theory of psychology that fits rather well with my workplace experience. For the sake of this essay, I will be discussing the original five needs; however, a newer and expanded version of the hierarchy does exist and covers three additional human need levels. The original Hierarchy of Needs includes five different levels of needs, divided into two categories. The first four levels fall into the deficiency needs group, and the highest level is in the growth needs group. The levels of the hierarchy are aimed to explain how humans find fulfillment.
The first level is physiological needs, including air, food, water, rest, sustainable temperatures, and more. It is the first and foremost need that must be met in order to progress up the levels. Without one of these absolute needs being met, most people generally find it difficult to focus on anything else, and their motivations are solely focused on securing that need.
The second level is safety needs, describing the human need for security and safety. This includes the need for order and routine, and it extends to the needs for emotional, financial, and social security – not just physical safety. This level often connects people to their communities, and when left unmet, individuals may experience a disconnection from their community. Similarly, if one disconnects from their community, they may experience a lack of safety and security.
The third level is love and belongingness needs, which is greatly interpersonal. Humans are highly social creatures, so no matter if a person is an introvert or an extrovert, they still seek a sense of love and belongingness from one source or another. These love and belongingness fulfillments often come in the form of close relationships and friends, but also has ties to trust, acceptance, affection, and being a part of a group. When a person feels as though they do not connect within a group, oftentimes they experience negative effects on the social aspects of their life, which can prevent an upward climb in the hierarchy.
The fourth level (and the last of the deficiency needs) is esteem needs. This relates to feelings of accomplishment and prestige. It includes two aspects: one being esteem and dignity for oneself, and the other being the desire for reputation or respect from others. The first group is often a later focus in adulthood, while the second group is usually more important to adolescents and teens.
The last level of the main five needs is self-actualization. It is a growth-focused need, meaning that once at this level, a person’s motivation is born from continuing personal development and is not based on satisfying a lack of something (as opposed to the first four deficiency needs). This final step in the hierarchy refers to a person’s potential and their abilities to reach it. It allows self-fulfillment and personal growth. Self-actualization can appear in a variety of ways, such as a dedication to a cause, self-expression through art, academia, or other avenues.
I work as a Full Stack Engineer intern at Acuant. I program updates for their applications at a basic level. The theory of the Hierarchy of Needs is relevant to my internship because there are many parallels between the workplace – especially a new one – and the roles of those needs. When I first started my job, my physiological needs were met. I had food, water, a room, and a company-supplied computer for work, so this need was consistently and reliably maintained. The next need, safety, was mostly met, too. I could work from home, which kept me safe from the pandemic that is raging across the world. There was one thing that could count as a shortcoming within the safety need, though. Because I provide my workspace, I have been experiencing difficulty finding an ergonomically correct chair. I have one that functions well most times, but after long hours, I get some neck pain. I have taken steps to accommodate this need, and it is certainly easier to be productive and focus on work when I am not worrying about my chair.
The workplace need for love and belonging is quite clear. When I started my internship, I did not know my place in the community, and that was something that was especially important to me. I wanted to connect with my coworkers, but it was difficult due to the barriers of online communication. Luckily, my need was not unmet for long. As I became more familiar with the systems at my internship, I also became more familiar with the people. I was invited to a group chat that was lighthearted and comprised of employees that were about my age. Fitting in helped me feel more relaxed, and it made it easier to focus on my tasks, especially when it came to asking for help and direction.
I think I tend to bounce between the third and fourth need, the latter being esteem. As I began problem-solving, I started to prove my abilities to myself and gained confidence in my work. Even so, I have been worrying about how my coworkers and supervisors view me. I want to ensure I am giving my full effort, and I do not want to let them down. It is important to me that I am a beneficial investment for the company. These thoughts are all examples of esteem needs.
I am not quite to the self-actualization stage. I still need to develop the confidence and the skills to perform at the level that I envision to be self-actualization. Luckily, I believe Acuant is a company that provides its employees with the foundation to reach self-actualization. In time, I do feel like I can reach my full potential, and I feel empowered to grow and connect. This does not feel like a workplace environment that would be overbearing, which can hold a person back from self-actualization. It is a place that challenges people enough to help them grow without overloading them.
Regarding the theory, I learned at my internship that it is natural to enter a workplace feeling insecure, out of place, and under-confident. What is important is that the workplace is one that can facilitate the development of safety and security, belongingness and community, and confidence and success. Acuant does this with friendly and patient employees, clear expectations, and future-oriented development.
Personal Experience Elements
My internship had several activities. While I spent my first three weeks setting up my development environment, I was still learning vital tools and information that would help me with my future programming career. A significant part of the learning experience was piecing together information from multiple sources so that I could end with a finished product, which was my computer’s development environment. That was not a straightforward and simple task. Due to the constraints of COVID-19 and remote working, I did not have the benefit of a one-on-one experience while setting up my workstation, so it took extra time.
I had an assortment of specific tasks that require a little jargon to describe. For the first few weeks, I was tasked with installing special software to run development and testing resources locally. I also set up a source control service on my computer to copy and track code changes, as well as upload my work. Other tasks were to interact and communicate with members of a team in a professional context. This was noteworthy for me, as my only previous group interaction was for academic purposes. I also attended multiple meetings to learn and appreciate the workflow, growth, and product of the company.
One unexpected yet fascinating aspect of my internship was the experience of two companies merging. Acuant recently acquired IdentityMind, and the processes of merging were still being conducted by the time I was hired. It was an extra challenge, but I appreciate that I had the experience. Another thing that was new for me was the specific development languages that I used during my internship. I am still at an early beginner level; however, I am now able to confidently read pre-existing code and either understand what is happening or be able to find the resources to discern what is happening by myself.
Not only did I develop my technical skills, but I also increased my social ones. When I first started, I was unsure of where I fit in, not only on the chain of command but also concerning what I can best describe as professional fun. On top of managing the stressors of starting a new job (during a pandemic, no less), I was also tasked with fitting into a unique social dynamic. As I described before, this is related to the love and belongingness level within the hierarchy. Despite my initial nervousness, I found a balance between fun and professionalism. Now, I often find my third-level workplace needs being met.
I have been invited to continue working with Acuant, so this internship will continue to be an incredibly worthwhile experience. That is not only for all of the reasons I have discussed in this essay already, but it is also because I feel like I am truly thriving there. I feel supported, and I know this is an environment where I can meet my full potential. I am so excited to see where I go with what I learn here. I am always expanding my abilities and knowledge, and this company is a place that pushes me past my limits just enough so that I can learn, but not so much where I feel overwhelmed. I am on the path to self-actualization, whether it be in the world of psychology, technology, or somewhere in-between.
List of Websites Visited to Prepare for This Essay:
Applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in the Workplace: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
Maybe We Need To Think About Workplace Actualization: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danpontefract/2016/01/26/maybe-we-need-to-think-about-workplace-actualization/?sh=37421b714046
The Power of Motivation: Crash Course Psychology #17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hdSLiHaJz8