Who developed the hierarchy of needs?

The hierarchy of needs was developed by Abraham Maslow, a prominent psychologist who introduced this model in 1943. Maslow's theory is grounded in the idea that human motivation is organized in a hierarchical structure, which he often depicted as a pyramid. At the base of the pyramid are basic physical needs, such as food and shelter, which must be satisfied before individuals can attend to higher-level needs like safety, love and belonging, esteem, and ultimately, self-actualization—the realization of one’s potential and capabilities.

This framework emphasizes that individuals progress through these levels sequentially, suggesting that higher-order needs only become relevant once lower-order needs have been fulfilled. This model has had significant implications in various fields, including psychology, education, and business, as it provides insight into human motivation and behavior.

The other psychologists mentioned, while influential in their own areas—Freud in psychoanalysis, Rogers in humanistic psychology, and Bandura in social learning theory—did not formulate the hierarchy of needs. Each of these thinkers made unique contributions to psychology, but Maslow’s hierarchy remains a distinct and recognizable concept associated specifically with his work.