Final answer:
Abraham Maslow proposed the hierarchy of needs theory of motivation, which is structured as a pyramid beginning with basic physiological needs and culminating in self-actualization at the top. Higher-level needs become motivational only after lower-level needs have been met, highlighting a progression from survival to psychological development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hierarchy of needs theory of motivation was proposed by Abraham Maslow, a psychologist who proposed that within every person is a hierarchy of five needs. These needs are depicted as a pyramid with the most basic survival needs at the bottom, followed by safety and security needs, social needs such as love and belonging, esteem needs which include a sense of accomplishment and respect, and finally, at the top, self-actualization, which is the realization of an individual's full potential.
Maslow suggested that lower-level needs must be satisfied before higher-level needs can influence behavior. For example, if an individual’s physiological needs for food and water are not met, they are unlikely to be motivated by needs of esteem or self-actualization. This theory underscores the importance of addressing basic needs to facilitate higher levels of psychological development and motivation. Maslow's model has been expanded in later revisions to include cognitive and aesthetic needs and even self-transcendence at the very top, which represents striving for meaning and purpose beyond oneself.