To Learn, is the Law of Dimishing Returns...

Maslow stated that there were five groups of needs that the human strives to fulfil to develop as a race.

As each was achieved, the next step became the next goal of their requirements. Maslow's goals were thus:

Physiological, Safety, Love & belonging, Self-Esteem, Self-Actualisation.

Sometimes for students it's quite hard to grasp the theory. When I lectured I tried to relate it to how the students seen their lives. You couldn't pin point where they were on Maslow's tower, you had to give the a hierarchy that they could relate to.

I told them like so:

Our first house, was a flat. There was a communal door, a close, a living room with a curtain separating the kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom. My next house, I promised myself, would have a separate Kitchen. It wasn't living having your cooker next to the TV.

Our second house, was a quarter villa. Front door, into Living room - kitchen off the living room, open plan stairwell, bathroom and bedroom. Very nice, Step one of my hierarchy of needs fulfilled.

However, as we settled in the house, the lack of privacy between front door and living room REALLY annoyed me. I promised myself, next house - hallway / reception area.

Our Third house, was a cottage flat. Front door, with PORCH, closed door into living room. wee hallway, doors into bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. I loved my wee house, but soon tired of the throughway which had become behind the couch. My next level had been fulfilled, and I wanted something else. This time, no room should be accessed directly from another room, unless it was a hallway.

Our Fourth house, front door, reception area, stairs to upper floor, doors to living room and kitchen. Upper floor, hallway, bathroom, bedrooms one and two, fourth door- stairwell to attic conversion. Well Good.

Sadly however, the safety aspect of my hierarchy of needs was tampered with, and I needed to move. Additionally, I required MORE SPACE.

Our Fifth House, front door, reception area, door to living room and dining room, door to Kitchen, stair way, three bedrooms and bathroom. Nice south facing garden. Front garden. driveway, sufficient for three cars.

My safety aspect has been restored, my living requirements are fulfilled, however, now, I WANT AN EXTENSION!

So you see, no matter how far you go up Maslow's hierarchy, you still, always want more.