AN ANALYSIS OF MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS IN THE MAIN CHARACTER GARY JOHNSON IN HIT MAN (2023) MOVIE BY RICHARD LINKLATER’S

This study analyzes the main character’s needs in Hit man (2023) movie directed by Richard
Linklater in the perspective of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The study is focused on the main
character’s needs and characteristics of self-actualization. The aims are to describe the man
character’s needs and characteristic self-actualization. This study applies Abraham Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs theory. The background of this research is grounded in the interdisciplinary
relationship between literature, film, and psychology, particularly humanistic psychology, which
emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization. This study draws upon the psychology of
literature as its theoretical framework, focusing on Maslow’s five levels of human needs and the
characteristics of self-actualizing individuals. A descriptive qualitative method is employed, with the
film serving as the primary data source, while dialogues, scenes, and character actions function as
units of analysis. Data are collected through close observation of the film and analyzed by
categorizing Gary Johnson’s experiences according to the hierarchy of needs. The findings reveal that
Gary successfully fulfills all levels of Maslow’s hierarchy, including physiological, safety, love and
belonging, and esteem needs, which ultimately enable him to reach self-actualization. Furthermore,
Gary exhibits several characteristics of self-actualizing individuals, such as More Efficient Perception
of Reality; Acceptance of Self, Others, and Nature; Spontaneity, Simplicity, and Naturalness;
Creativeness; and Resistance to Enculturation. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Gary
Johnson’s character development reflects a comprehensive process of human growth as explained
through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, in which the fulfillment of basic, psychological, and esteem
needs enables individuals to reach self-actualization. Thus, human motivation and identity formation
can be understood as a continuous developmental process driven by the satisfaction of hierarchical
needs.
Keywords: Hierarchy of Needs, Self-Actualization, Creativeness