Final answer:
Abraham Maslow proposed the hierarchy of needs, suggesting that basic physiological and safety needs must be satisfied before higher-level needs such as belonging, esteem, and self-actualization become influential.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abraham Maslow
is the psychologist who believed that the basic needs of humans must be met before upper-level functioning can occur. His seminal contribution to psychology, the hierarchy of needs, asserts that physiological needs, such as food, water, and shelter, must be fulfilled prior to attending to higher-level psychological needs. As we move up the hierarchy, we find the needs for safety and security, followed by social needs such as love and belonging. Beyond these, the esteem needs for self-worth and confidence arise.
Ultimately at the pyramid's apex is the need for self-actualization, the pursuit of reaching one's full potential. Maslow emphasized that lower-level needs must be sufficiently satisfied to allow the higher-level needs to become motivational forces. This concept is central to the humanistic approach in psychology, which focuses on positive human potential and self-directed growth.