Maslow's hierarchy of needs

In my conversation with Howard Rheingold, we talked about a three-part process, starting from people finding a virtual community in order to address some need, then - if possible - meeting face-to-face to plan activities, and then finally commiting to take some kind of collective action.

We talked about the motivating factors that can encourage people to cross over the threshold of seeking other likeminded people online and Rheingold encouraged me to take a look at Abraham Maslow's theory of a "hierarchy of needs".