Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
A psychological theory organizing human needs into a five-tier pyramid, from basic survival needs to self-actualization, where lower-level needs must be satisfied before higher ones can be pursued.
Also known as: Maslow's Pyramid, Hierarchy of Needs
Category: Frameworks
Tags: psychology, motivations, personal-development, human-needs, self-actualization
Explanation
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper 'A Theory of Human Motivation' published in Psychological Review. The theory organizes human needs into a hierarchical pyramid with five levels.
The five levels from bottom to top are:
1. **Physiological needs**: The most basic requirements for human survival - food, water, shelter, sleep, and warmth. These take absolute priority over all other needs.
2. **Safety needs**: Once physiological needs are met, people seek security and stability - personal safety, employment, resources, health, and property.
3. **Love and belonging**: Social needs including friendship, intimacy, family, and a sense of connection with others.
4. **Esteem**: The need for respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength, and freedom.
5. **Self-actualization**: The highest level, representing the desire to become the best version of oneself and realize one's full potential.
The fundamental principle is that lower-level needs must be substantially satisfied before a person can focus on higher-level needs. For example, if you don't have food or shelter, you'll focus on obtaining those before worrying about self-esteem or personal growth.
This framework has been widely applied in psychology, education, business management, and personal development to understand human motivation and behavior.
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