Final answer:
Mary's strong sense of belonging at her new job relates to the Belongingness need level in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which falls into the third tier of the pyramid, focusing on social needs and relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
The strong sense of belonging that Mary feels at her new job is characteristic of the Belongingness need level. Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs provides a framework for understanding human motivation, which is often illustrated as a pyramid. The need levels, from the base to the top, are physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization, sequentially. Mary's sense of belonging illustrates that her social needs are being met, which falls into the third tier of this pyramid. The belongingness level encompasses the human desire for interpersonal relationships, such as friendships, romantic attachments, and family. A sense of belonging is essential for our mental and emotional well-being and is a fundamental human motivation as discussed by Baumeister and Leary (1995).
Understanding that needs lower on the pyramid, such as physiological and safety needs, must typically be met before higher-level needs can be satisfied, Maslow suggests that our actions are often aimed at fulfilling unmet needs. One's sense of belonging, once secured, can motivate individuals to seek esteem and eventually self-actualization, which pertains to achieving one's full potential and is the pinnacle of Maslow's hierarchical model. This conceptual framework helps explain Mary's sense of integration at her workplace, as her basic and psychological needs are likely met, allowing for higher-order needs like belonging to emerge and flourish.