Final answer:
The lowest level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that must be satisfied first is physiological needs. Only after these needs are fulfilled individuals can seek to satisfy higher-level needs, such as belonging or self-actualization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs suggests that the need that must be met first before dealing with higher-level concerns is the most basic one, which corresponds to physiological needs. These include fundamental requirements for survival, such as food, water, and shelter. Once these are met, individuals can focus on higher-level needs like safety, love and belonging, esteem, followed by self-actualization, and sometimes self-transcendence. This theory posits that higher needs only become a source of motivation once the more basic needs have been satisfied.
Maslow's theory has been influential in understanding motivation and has also been applied in various fields, including education and management. However, it has faced criticism for its subjective nature and for not always accounting for real-world phenomena. Nonetheless, it remains a cornerstone of humanistic psychology and provides a framework for understanding human needs and motivation.