Who proposed the hierarchy of needs theory?

The hierarchy of needs theory was proposed by Abraham Maslow, who introduced this concept to explain human motivation and development. Maslow's theory suggests that individuals are motivated by a series of hierarchical needs, often depicted as a pyramid. At the base are basic physiological needs, such as food and water, followed by safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and ultimately self-actualization at the top. This model implies that individuals will seek to fulfill lower-level needs before addressing higher-level psychological and self-fulfillment needs. This theory has been influential in various fields, including psychology, education, and organizational behavior, highlighting the importance of fulfilling foundational needs to achieve personal growth and motivation.