acteristic of that aspect of human behavior which is called politics (Davies, 1963: 65). It is essentially the state in which one force opposes another this state occurs both in human nature, as well as in society. The very nature of policy decisions in a society makes for a state of anxiety. The very issues that are up for public consideration and decision are those which are most difficult to make because the source of the difficulty is uncertain and the solution for it is even more so (Davies, 1963: 68). Summarizing Maslows hierarchy within this view, Davies (1963: 70) expresses the basic framework within which individual political motivation and behavior may be analyzed:People pursue the relief of tension in order to satisfy the basic needs (physical, social, self-esteem, and self-actualization needs). When they have satisfied one need or have become secure in the ability to satisfy that need, they are ready to pursue another one, reverting to concern with that prior need only when it is itself threatened.Maslows hierarchy, combined with Davies element of tension, form a synthesis between individual needs and desires reactions to environmental stimuli that individuals perceive as helping or hindering their attempts to fulfill these desires. Tension is an important element of this synthesis and it is, as Davies points out, at the very heart of politics itself it arises, for example, from a conflict between an individuals basic need and their internalized social rules, or between habit and custom on one hand, and emergent needs on the other. It is this tension that accounts for the environmental stimuli that individuals react to and which directs their behavior. This approach, then, incorporates consideration of individual behavior in response to psychological needs merged with reaction to environmental stimuli as a result of tensions between individual and environmental (societal) needs. When viewed as a holistic analysis o...
