"Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." (N.d.). From Simply Psychology. Retrieved Feb. 24, 2022 (https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html).

Maslow's hierarchy of needs was conceived of in 1943 and outlines his theory of human motivation; Maslow identified 5 tiers of basic human needs: physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love needs, esteem needs, and finally, self-actualization (McLeod 2018).

Physiological Needs

Physiological needs are the most basic needs that a human has. As noted within the photo (left), physiological needs consist of things like food, water, warmth, rest; things that we need in order to survive. Maslow considered physiological needs to be the most important of all, because until these needs are met, all other 'needs' are peripheral (McLeod 2018).

Safety Needs

Safety needs include an individual's security and safety (photo). This includes shelter, stability, and an overall relief from feelings of fear (McLeod 2018). Safety needs, in other words, are met by factors of life that protect us from the undesirable.

Belongingness and Love Needs

Per the photo to the left, belongingness and love needs include intimate relationships and the fostering of friendships. Since all of an individual's most foundational needs have been met by the time they reach this stage, his or her behavior becomes motivated by a need for meaningful interpersonal relationships (McLeod 2018).

Esteem Needs

As specified in the photo, prestige and feeling accomplished characterize esteem needs. Maslow identified two categories of esteem needs: esteem for oneself and the desire for reputation and/or respect (McLeod 2018). Esteem for oneself is defined by a need for "dignity, achievement, mastery, [and] independence" (McLeod 2018), whereas the desire for reputation includes things like status and prestige (McLeod 2018).

Self-actualization

By the time an individual reaches the stage of self-actualization, all of their foundational needs are met and they have become established in their world. As a result, self-actualization is characterized by reaching one's full potential. Self-actualization is accompanied by personal feelings of fulfillment, a desire to grow within and to have "peak experiences" (McLeod 2018).