Which theorist is best known for the hierarchy of needs?

• A. Jean Piaget
• B. Sigmund Freud
• C. Abraham Maslow
• D. Lawrence Kohlberg

Answer: (C)

Abraham Maslow is the theorist behind the hierarchy of needs. He proposed that people are motivated by a sequence of needs arranged like a pyramid: basic physiological needs (food, water, sleep), then safety and security, followed by love and belonging, then esteem, and finally self-actualization. Some later discussions add self-transcendence at the top. The idea is that lower-level needs tend to drive behavior until they are satisfied enough, after which higher-level needs become the focus. In practical terms, especially in early childhood education, meeting fundamental physical and safety needs first creates the foundation for learning and growth, then social connections, then opportunities for achievement and self-expression. Piaget is known for cognitive development stages, Freud for psychosexual stages, and Kohlberg for moral development.