hierarchy of needs

The Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow developed the theory of the human being’s “Hierarchy of Needs.” He created a pyramid of basic human needs. At the lowest level are basic survival needs such as food and shelter. If a person satisfies that level, then the individual can climb to the next level of safety, love/belonging, esteem and the highest level of self-actualization. An individual will feel anxious if they do not meet the needs of a lower level, and cannot climb to the next level.

According to Maslow, we strive to reach the top of the pyramid, selfactualization, in living our lives. Maslow states that no one has really reached self-actualization. When the body has reached its maximum potential, there is no reason to continue living.