What is the foundation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

The foundation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is physiological needs. This level represents the most basic human requirements essential for survival, including necessities such as food, water, warmth, rest, and shelter. According to Maslow, these needs must be satisfied before individuals can focus on higher-level needs, such as safety, love and belonging, esteem, and ultimately, self-actualization.

While esteem needs, belonging needs, and self-actualization are all critical components of human motivation, they are built upon the foundation established by physiological needs. If an individual is struggling to meet their basic physiological needs, they will find it challenging to pursue and achieve higher-level psychological and emotional needs. This hierarchy illustrates how human motivation is organized, starting from the most fundamental needs and progressing toward more complex psychological needs.