Final answer:
The first need in Maslow's hierarchy is physiological needs, crucial for survival such as food and water. These needs must be met before higher levels of the pyramid can be addressed, ultimately leading to self-actualization and self-transcendence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first need to be met in Maslow's hierarchy of needs is the physiological needs, which are essential for survival. This includes fundamental requirements such as food, water, and shelter. According to Maslow, these need to be satisfied before individuals can move on to fulfill higher-level needs like safety, love/belonging, esteem and, eventually, self-actualization and self-transcendence. Maslow's framework suggests that achieving one's full potential is at the top of the hierarchy, but only after addressing the more basic needs.
Maslow's theory has drawn criticism for its subjective nature; however, it still offers insights into human motivation. The hierarchy emphasizes that before higher psychological needs or communal needs become motivational forces, one's basic physiological needs must be securely met. The addition of self-transcendence above self-actualization in later revisions of the hierarchy further suggests that motivations can extend beyond individual needs and include striving for a greater purpose.