Which needs must be satisfied before higher needs can be addressed in Maslow's hierarchy?

In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, physiological needs represent the most basic level of human needs. These are the fundamental requirements for human survival, including necessities such as food, water, warmth, and rest. According to Maslow, individuals are motivated to fulfill these basic physiological needs first before they can focus on higher-level needs such as safety, love and belonging, esteem, and ultimately self-actualization.

The hierarchy is structured in such a way that until the most basic physiological needs are met, individuals will struggle to attend to or prioritize any of the higher levels. For example, a person who is hungry or lacks shelter will find it difficult to engage in social relationships or pursue esteem-related achievements.

This foundational concept emphasizes the importance of meeting basic needs in order to progress towards achieving higher and more complex needs, making it critical to understand in the context of human motivation and behavior.