Final answer:
The statement is true; safety and security needs in Maslow's hierarchy must be met before love and belonging needs. Erik Erikson also emphasized the importance of a secure sense of self before forming intimate relationships. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that safety and security needs come BEFORE love and belonging needs is true according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. In Maslow's theory, the needs of an individual are arranged in a hierarchical order. At the base of this pyramid are physiological needs, which must first be satisfied before higher-level needs become relevant.
Once physiological needs are met, the next level concerns safety and security needs. These needs must be adequately addressed before an individual can focus on the next level, which includes the love and belonging needs.
This theory builds on the idea that to develop healthy relationships and achieve a sense of intimacy, individuals must first feel secure. As noted by Erik Erikson, a strong sense of self, which is often developed in adolescence, is essential for forming intimate relationships in adulthood.
Without a sense of safety and security, an individual may struggle with loneliness and emotional isolation, emphasizing the foundational nature of safety and security needs in relation to one's ability to establish love and belonging needs.