Psychology
What is Maslow's hierarchy of needs?
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory that human needs stack in a pyramid — from basic survival at the bottom to self-fulfillment at the top. People generally focus on lower needs first, then move up as each level is met.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Key things to understand
- 1Needs are arranged in a five-level pyramid.
- 2Bottom levels: food, safety; top: esteem and self-actualization.
- 3Lower needs are usually met before higher ones.
- 4It's widely used in psychology, education, and management.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the levels of Maslow's hierarchy?
- Physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization — from bottom to top.
- Who created the hierarchy of needs?
- Psychologist Abraham Maslow proposed it in 1943.
- Is Maslow's hierarchy strictly ordered?
- Not rigidly — people can pursue several levels at once, but lower needs tend to take priority.