Final answer:
Maslow's hierarchy of needs originally had five levels, but later, an additional level called self-transcendence was included, making it six levels in total. The levels are physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, self-actualization, and self-transcendence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a psychological theory that lays out five main levels of human needs, starting with the most basic physiological needs up to the higher-level needs of self-actualization. Typically, Maslow's hierarchy is represented as a pyramid with the following levels:
- Physiological needs (basic needs such as food, water, warmth, and rest)
- Safety needs (security and safety)
- Belongingness and love needs (intimate relationships, friends)
- Esteem needs (prestige and feeling of accomplishment)
- Self-actualization (achieving one's full potential, including creative activities)
However, later in his life, Maslow included an additional level above self-actualization, referred to as self-transcendence, bringing the total to six levels. Self-transcendence represents striving for meaning and purpose beyond the self, such as engagement in altruistic and spiritual pursuits.