Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising different levels of human needs, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization and transcendence.
These are biological requirements for human survival such as air, food, drink, shelter etc. If these requirements are not met then human body cannot function properly.
Esteem Needs: These include needs for both self-esteem and the esteem a person gets from others. Humans need to engage themselves to gain recognition and have an activity or activities that give the person a sense of contribution, to feel accepted and self-valued.