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Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Short answer

Maslow's hierarchy ranks human needs in a pyramid: physiological needs (air, water, food, shelter) are most basic; then safety; love and belonging; esteem; and self-actualisation. Lower needs must be largely met before higher ones motivate behaviour, so development efforts must first ensure basic survival and security.

Draw Maslow's hierarchy of needs and explain according to importance of needs.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs (Abraham Maslow, 1943) is a theory that human needs are arranged in a pyramid. People first satisfy basic needs and then move on to higher needs.

                +----------------------+
                | 5 Self-actualisation |
            +---+----------------------+---+
            |           4 Esteem           |
        +---+------------------------------+---+
        |           3 Love / Social            |
    +---+--------------------------------------+---+
    |                   2 Safety                   |
+---+----------------------------------------------+---+
|                   1 Physiological                    |
+------------------------------------------------------+

Explanation (in order of importance)

  1. Physiological needs (most basic): air, water, food, clothing, shelter, sleep. Without these a person cannot survive. Energy: cooking fuel, heating.
  2. Safety needs: personal security, health, stable job, property and protection from danger. Energy: lighting, security systems, healthcare.
  3. Love and belonging: family, friendship, community and relationships. Energy: communication and transport.
  4. Esteem needs: self-respect, recognition, status, achievement. Energy: education and productive work.
  5. Self-actualisation (highest): realising one's full potential, creativity, problem solving, morality. Energy: research, internet, advanced technology.

The lower the level, the more urgent the need. Higher needs appear only when the lower ones are largely met. For this reason, development work (including energy access in Nepal) must first ensure food, water, fuel and safety for the poor.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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