Teorie propusa in 1954 de Abraham Maslow, psiholog american, care porneste de la ipoteza ca unele nevoi umane sunt mai presante decat altele si ca cele presante trebuie satisfacute inainte de cele mai putin presante. El a impartit nevoile umane in cinci categorii, formand o ierarhie, dupa cum urmeaza (in ordine ascensionala): nevoi fiziologice, nevoi de siguranta, nevoi de apartenenta si de iubire, nevoi de respect de sine si nevoi de autoactualizare.
A theory propounded in 1954 by Abraham Maslow, a U.S. psychologist, who hypothesised that some innate human needs are more pressing than others, and must be satisfied before any less pressing ones can be attended to. He arranged human needs into five categories in ascending order - Physiological Needs, Safety Needs, Belongingness and Love Needs, Esteem Needs and Self-Actualisation Needs.