The Hierarchy of Needs

The Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory by Abraham Maslow that outlines human motivation. It suggests that people have a series of needs arranged in a pyramid, starting with basic survival needs like food, water, and safety. Once these are met, individuals seek social connections, such as love and belonging. After that, they pursue esteem—respect and self-confidence—and finally, self-actualization, which is realizing their full potential. The idea is that lower-level needs must be satisfied before higher-level needs become motivating factors. It helps explain why people prioritize certain goals at different stages of life.