5.1.17

Aronoff (1957) (A2 Only)

Test yourself

Aronoff (1967) — Job Demands & Hierarchy of Needs

Aronoff (1967) investigated how the hierarchy of needs relates to different job demands.

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Research method

  • A natural experiment.
  • Aronoff compared cane cutters and fishermen in the West Indies.
  • Cane cutters were paid a small amount but were paid if they were off work, so had high job security but low pay.
  • Fishermen worked alone, so had low job security, but were generally well paid.

Results & conclusion

  • Results
    • The fishermen were generally at higher levels on the hierarchy of needs than the cane cutters.
  • Conclusion
    • Only those men that had satisfied the lower levels of the hierarchy (e.g. physiological needs) could become fishermen.
    • For example, you needed to be able to afford to set yourself up as a fisherman e.g. equipment, boat etc.
    • This supports Maslow’s theory that the lower levels must be satisfied before you can move up the pyramid.
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Evaluation

  • Strengths
    • Supports hierarchy of needs theory.
    • Ecological validity.
  • Limitations
    • Can only be applied to one culture – cannot be generalised to wider population.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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