Theory of Personality (D564) Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, physiological needs represent the most fundamental level of human motivation. These include basic survival requirements such as air, water, food, shelter, and sleep. Before individuals can focus on higher-level psychological needs, their physiological needs must be satisfied. This foundation is crucial because without meeting these essential needs, a person's attention and energy are consumed by the struggle for survival, leaving no capacity for pursuing development, relationships, or fulfilling personal potential.

Once physiological needs are adequately addressed, individuals can then move on to safety needs, which pertain to security and stability in their lives. After these levels are satisfied, people can then focus on belongingness and love needs, followed by esteem needs, which serve as precursors to reaching self-actualization. Only when all these more basic needs are fulfilled can a person truly engage in the process of realizing their full potential and achieving self-actualization.