Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Meaning: Maslow proposed that motivation is organized in levels, usually drawn as a pyramid. From the bottom: physiological needs (food, water, sleep), safety (security, stability), love and belonging (family, friendship, intimacy), esteem (achievement, respect), and self-actualization (realizing one's potential). The lower four are deficiency needs that motivate when unmet; self-actualization is a growth need. In general, lower needs must be largely satisfied before higher ones dominate behavior. The theory belongs to humanistic psychology.

On the MCAT: Passages describe a person or group, such as a displaced family or someone who has just lost a job, and ask which need is most pressing or which level a behavior serves. Joining a club points to belonging; seeking a promotion points to esteem. It may also be contrasted with other motivation theories, such as drive reduction or incentive theory.

Common confusion: The pyramid is a general tendency, not a rigid ladder. People sometimes pursue higher goals while lower needs are unmet, such as a hunger striker or an artist who skips meals, and needs can be partly met at several levels at once. Self-actualization is not a final state everyone reaches.