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
A survival scenario refers to a situation where individuals are faced with extreme challenges and limited resources, requiring them to prioritize their basic needs in order to survive.
Related terms
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: This theory suggests that humans have a hierarchy of needs ranging from physiological (food, water) to self-actualization. People must satisfy lower-level needs before higher-level ones.
This theory proposes that certain behaviors are innate and automatically triggered by biological factors. In a survival scenario, instincts such as finding food or seeking shelter would play a crucial role.
According to this theory, motivation arises from the need for homeostasis or equilibrium. In a survival scenario, individuals would be motivated by reducing their internal drives like hunger or thirst.