Maslow, Bandura, & Kolb Learning Models in Military/Police Training
Author: Odhinn Kohout

Abraham H. Maslow (1908-1970) while working in his field of clinical psychology designed a learning model based on a “need hierarchy.” The bottom half of the hierarchy focuses on a person’s base level needs while the upper half of this hierarchy deals with personal development and reaching ones full potential through achieving goals as set out by the learner. This hierarchy was made up of five specific levels. Physiological needs are concerned with the basis of human survival, i.e. food, water and shelter. Safety needs focuses on the physical and mental state of well-being. Social needs describe the individual being part of a group and feeling cared for by this group. The Esteem needs deal primarily with self-worth and the need to feel they are respected by peers and co-workers. Self-actualization could be seen as desiring the opportunity for promotion within a profession and taking the necessary steps (goal orientated) to achieve this.

The "Physiological needs" specifically lack of sleep is well documented as a problem in Policing or anyone involved in working shift work. Students may be sleeping in class due to working the night before. Keeping a classroom temperature on the cool side and using a white board rather than PowerPoint can help with keeping attention and interaction with the class. Maslow's "Safety needs" is crucial in teaching material involving firearms. If a student feels unsafe from one of his peers in the class he will focus more on the actions of his fellow student as opposed to the material being taught. Instructors have the responsibility of ensuring a safe learning environment. Maslow's "Social needs" and "Esteem needs" can be intertwined (in my opinion) from my own dealings with Military/Police students.
Col. Dave Grossman's (On Combat) used a simple description to illustrate this in which he describes three categories for society; the sheep, the sheepdogs, and the wolves (criminals).
Maslow’s social needs must be adhered when teaching Police to empower a sense of team as opposed to an individual approach. This will also give a struggling student the ability to be helped along and encouraged by the group they are involved in and not feel as though they are left behind. This mindset is amplified in the Military and mirrored in Maslows "sense of worth" (Esteem needs) so that the student feels that his fellow soldiers are family or "brothers in arms." As the Instructor I take some of the responsibility in the assistance "Self-actualization" for my students. The ability for a student to see their own potential is can sometimes be clouded by the stress of learning a new task within a dynamic learning environment i.e. shoot house. When teaching, I like to think that I have an aerial view when observing my students learning. I can observe their starting point before acquiring the skills. The present moment, as they improve, and assimilate the material. The future, as observed by Maslow in his term “self-actualization” where the student’s ability reaches fruition.