Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow's framework arranges human needs into a hierarchy from physiological needs through safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization, with self-transcendence added in his later work. The framework proposes that lower needs must be substantially met before higher needs become motivating, producing the iconic pyramid representation that Maslow himself never drew. Empirical research has not supported the strict hierarchy — people pursue multiple needs simultaneously, and the ordering is not universal — though the underlying needs categories remain useful as a checklist of motivational dimensions.