Final answer:
The correct answer is that lower-level needs must be met before higher-level needs emerge according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hierarchy of needs theory, proposed by Abraham Maslow, posits that lower-level needs must be satisfied before higher-level needs can serve as motivators. According to Maslow, physiological needs for survival such as food, water, and shelter come first. Once these are met, security needs, social needs, esteem needs, and finally, self-actualization needs follow, in that order. The correct answer to the question is: c. lower-level needs must be met before higher-level needs emerge. Maslow's hierarchy often includes additional tiers such as cognitive, aesthetic needs, and in later revisions, self-transcendence. The theory emphasizes a sequential approach to motivation, where satisfaction of one level of need leads to the emergence of the next, rather than a previously satisfied need becoming a stronger motivator.