Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow developed his Hierarchy of Needs in order to explain the well-being of humans. It states that we must satisfy each need, starting with the first, in order to be able to concerned with the next highest level. However, if our satisfaction in the lower needs have failed, we are no longer concerned with the higher order needs of influence and personal development.

In the most basic sense, and at the bottom of his pyramid, is the biological and physiological needs. This sections includes all of life's primitive abilities to stay alive; air, water, food, shelter, warmth, sleep, etc. Watson fulfills this need by finding Sherlock, his new roommate to help pay for shelter.

With Watson's most basic need sustained, he is now able to move onto the next level of the hierarchy, the safety needs where protection, security, order, law etc. are prominent. Through Sherlock, Watson was introduced to Gregson and Lestrade and also to the law enforcement. Watson now has a personal connected to the police and therefore to protection and security.

Next is the need for belongingness and love. Since coming back from the war, Watson has had no connection to nay past relationships and had no intention of reconnecting as well. Only on accidentally finding an old friend that he starts to feel included. Both Watson and Sherlock are now in a deep relationship through their adventures together.

On the second highest level is the need for self-esteem: confidence, reputation, status and responsibility. Watson achieves his new reputation with the help of Sherlock and gains a responsibility to himself and others to uncover the truth of a mystery.

Finally, on the highest spectrum of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is self-actualization in which personal growth and fulfillment are achieved. Once Watson has successfully fulfilled all other levels of his needs, he is able to find himself through personal growth. He is self-assured in his work as a doctor and is able to actively apply that knowledge to his new found job and through that finds joy in unraveling the mysteries presented in life.