(a) Explain Maslow's need hierarchy theory. Critically evaluate the same. (15 marks) (b) Explain the strategies for…

Rehabilitation in Indian psychology is less about curing a deficit than about restoring safety, competence and participation. This is visible in how need theory, disability rehabilitation and domestic-violence care intersect.

Maslow's hierarchy and its critique. Maslow proposed that human motivation is organised in a hierarchy: physiological needs (food, water, sleep), safety needs (security, health, predictability), love/belonging (family, friendship, intimacy), esteem (respect, confidence, achievement), and self-actualization (realizing potential). The first four—physiological, safety, love/belonging and esteem—are deficiency needs (D-needs); self-actualization is a growth need (B-need). Lower needs are prepotent and must be reasonably satisfied before higher needs become dominant. The model is useful because it links basic survival to psychological flourishing. However, it has been criticised. Wahba and Bridwell's narrative review of empirical studies found limited support for a rigid, universal sequence; people often pursue several needs at once. Cross-cultural validity is also questioned: in collectivist Indian settings, belonging and family duty may precede individual esteem, and safety may be collective rather than personal. Alderfer's ERG theory challenges the strict hierarchy by allowing existence, relatedness and growth needs to operate simultaneously and by introducing frustration-regression.

Rehabilitation of intellectual disability. For an intellectually challenged person, rehabilitation must be educational, vocational, social and community-based. Educational strategies include special schools, resource rooms, individualized education programmes, and inclusive classrooms supported by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and disability-rights legislation. Vocational rehabilitation moves from sheltered workshops to supported employment, job coaching, and skill training matched to ability. Social rehabilitation teaches independent living, communication, money management and social skills, while family training reduces overprotection and builds realistic expectations. Community integration is central: accessible public spaces, community-based rehabilitation, and anti-discrimination norms such as those reflected in the Americans with Disabilities Act and India's disability rights framework help shift the person from segregation to participation. NIMHANS disability research underscores that family support and community inclusion improve outcomes more than institutional isolation alone.

Psychologist in domestic-violence rehabilitation. In India, the psychologist's role is multidimensional. Crisis intervention comes first: risk assessment, safety planning, emergency shelter, and coordination with one-stop centres, police, and legal aid under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Therapy must be trauma-informed, using approaches such as TF-CBT and EMDR where appropriate, to address PTSD, depression, shame and disrupted attachment. Shelter-based counseling provides a safe space, while legal advocacy coordination helps victims obtain protection orders, maintenance and custody support. The psychologist must also address patriarchal barriers to reporting—stigma, economic dependence, caste pressure, and fear of retaliation—while avoiding victim-blaming or forced family reconciliation.

The evidence base matters. NFHS-5 reports that about one-third of ever-married women in India have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by a current or former partner, and ICSSR studies have documented high prevalence with low reporting. These data show that rehabilitation cannot be only clinical; it must be legal, economic and social. Intersectionality is crucial: a Dalit, poor, disabled or migrant woman faces compounded barriers, so services must be caste-sensitive, accessible and gender-responsive.

A critical comparison of institutional and community-based models is necessary. Institutions can provide immediate safety but may create dependency; community-based rehabilitation promotes autonomy but requires strong safeguards, housing and livelihood support. Maslow's deficiency needs explain why safety and belonging must precede esteem and self-actualization in both disability and domestic-violence rehabilitation. The way forward is a rights-based, multidisciplinary model in which psychologists combine trauma care, legal coordination, family work and community integration, ensuring that rehabilitation restores dignity rather than merely managing symptoms.