---
title: "Maslow's hierarchy of needs"
subject: "Energy Environment and Society"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_7/energy_environment_and_society:maslow-hierarchy-describe"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/maslow-hierarchy-describe
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Energy Environment and Society · Chapter 1: Technology and Development

- Asked in: 2074 Chaitra, 2 marks; year not given
- Video: [Why Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs Matters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0PKWTta7lU) — The School of Life
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/maslow-hierarchy-describe
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/chapter-1

## Question

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

## Answer

**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.

```text
                +----------------------+
                | 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.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which is the correct order of importance in Maslow's hierarchy (most basic first)?
   A. Esteem, safety, physiological, belonging, self-actualisation
   B. Self-actualisation, esteem, belonging, safety, physiological
   C. Safety, esteem, physiological, belonging, self-actualisation
   D. Physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualisation
   Answer: D. The pyramid goes from physiological at the base to self-actualisation at the top. (Key point: Order of needs)

2. According to the hierarchy, higher needs appear when:
   A. lower needs are largely met
   B. lower needs are completely ignored
   C. the person is wealthy
   D. only esteem is satisfied
   Answer: A. The lower the level, the more urgent; higher needs matter only once lower ones are largely met. (Key point: Principle of the hierarchy)

3. What does the hierarchy imply for development work and energy access in Nepal?
   A. Start with self-actualisation facilities
   B. First ensure food, water, fuel and safety for the poor
   C. Focus only on research labs
   D. Ignore basic needs
   Answer: B. Basic needs come first, so development must first secure food, water, fuel and safety for the poor. (Key point: Development implication)

## Related in Energy Environment and Society

- [Energy needs in Maslow's hierarchy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Amaslow-energy-needs) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Motivation/needs and Maslow's hierarchy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-hierarchy) — Organization and Management, chapter 8, asked 2×
- [Motivation: Maslow's hierarchy and Herzberg's theory](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amotivation-maslow-herzberg) — Construction Management, chapter 10
- [Maslow's hierarchy vs Alderfer's ERG](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-alderfer-erg) — Organization and Management, chapter 8
- [Maslow's theory and Laxmi Prasad Devkota](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amaslow-devkota) — Organization and Management, chapter 8