American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Practice Test

What does Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs suggest about human motivation?

1. Higher levels of need can be satisfied before lower levels

2. All needs must be independently satisfied

3. Basic needs must be fulfilled before higher needs

4. Self-actualization is the first priority

The correct answer is: Basic needs must be fulfilled before higher needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs posits that human motivation is driven by a sequence of needs arranged in a hierarchical structure. The model suggests that individuals must first satisfy their basic physiological needs—such as food, water, and shelter—before they can address higher-level psychological or social needs. This foundational concept indicates that if individuals' basic needs are unmet, they will struggle to focus on or achieve needs related to safety, love and belonging, esteem, or self-actualization. This hierarchical approach emphasizes that human motivation is not simply about a random quest for various desires but rather follows a specific order where fulfilling lower-level needs lays the groundwork for seeking out and achieving higher-level needs. Consequently, without this foundational fulfillment, individuals find it challenging to engage fully in pursuing higher needs, such as personal growth and self-fulfillment. The framework provided by Maslow thus illustrates a clear path of motivation, reinforcing that basic needs must be secured before individuals can aspire to more complex emotional and psychological requirements.