<P> A 1981 study looked at how Maslow's hierarchy might vary across age groups . A survey asked participants of varying ages to rate a set number of statements from most important to least important . The researchers found that children had higher physical need scores than the other groups, the love need emerged from childhood to young adulthood, the esteem need was highest among the adolescent group, young adults had the highest self - actualization level, and old age had the highest level of security, it was needed across all levels comparably . The authors argued that this suggested Maslow's hierarchy may be limited as a theory for developmental sequence since the sequence of the love need and the self - esteem need should be reversed according to age . </P> <P> The term "self - actualization" may not universally convey Maslow's observations; this motivation refers to focusing on becoming the best person that one can possibly strive for in the service of both the self and others . Maslow's term of self - actualization might not properly portray the full extent of this level; quite often, when a person is at the level of self - actualization, much of what they accomplish in general may benefit others, or "the greater good". </P>

A sense of belonging is a characteristic of which level in the hierarchy of needs