Curious about what drives you? Dive into our free maslow's hierarchy of needs quiz and put your psychology smarts to the test with an interactive hierarchy of needs quiz! In this engaging quiz on maslow's hierarchy of needs, you'll challenge your understanding of Abraham Maslow's five stages - from foundational physiological essentials and safety to belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. This Abraham Maslow quiz helps you connect theory to daily life and uncover where your priorities lie. Ideal for students, educators, and curious minds, you'll learn to pinpoint motivations and spot growth areas. Ready for more? Try our organizational behavior quiz or sharpen insights with a personality development quiz . Let's get started - see your score instantly!
Which need is at the base of Maslow's pyramid?
Physiological needs
Safety needs
Esteem needs
Self-actualization
Maslow placed physiological needs—such as food, water, and shelter—at the foundation of his hierarchy because they are essential for human survival. Without satisfying these basic requirements, higher-order needs cannot emerge. These needs form the first level of his five-tier model. For more details, see Simply Psychology on Maslow.
Which of the following is an example of a physiological need?
Food
Love
Status
Creativity
Physiological needs are the biological requirements for human survival, and food is a prime example. Other physiological needs include water, air, sleep, and shelter. These needs must be met before individuals can focus on higher-level motivations. See more at Verywell Mind.
In Maslow's hierarchy, safety needs include:
Personal security
Self-esteem
Friendship
Self-fulfillment
Safety needs involve protection from physical and emotional harm, stability, and security of resources. Maslow categorized these as the second level once basic physiological needs are met. Personal security, employment security, and health security all fall under this category. Read more at Simply Psychology on Maslow.
What is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy?
Self-actualization
Belongingness and love
Safety
Esteem
Self-actualization represents achieving one’s full potential, creativity, and personal growth. It sits at the top of Maslow’s five-stage model, signifying that lower-order needs have been fulfilled. Only when people feel secure and valued can they pursue self-actualization. Further reading: Verywell Mind.
Which need comes immediately after physiological and safety needs?
Belongingness and love needs
Esteem needs
Self-actualization
Cognitive needs
Once basic survival and security needs are satisfied, humans seek social connections including friendships, family bonds, and intimacy. Maslow referred to these as belongingness and love needs. Fulfilling this level helps individuals feel accepted and supported. More details at Simply Psychology.
Esteem needs primarily involve:
Respect from others
Food and water
Creativity
True love
Esteem needs relate to the desire for respect, recognition, and appreciation. Maslow divided esteem into two categories: (a) lower esteem (the respect of others) and (b) self-esteem (confidence, achievement). Meeting these needs contributes to feelings of self-worth. See Positive Psychology for more.
Which of the following is NOT one of the original five needs in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Transcendence
Safety
Esteem
Belongingness and love
Transcendence needs—concerned with helping others achieve self-actualization—were introduced in Maslow’s later work, not in his original five-level theory. The initial hierarchy consisted of physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, and self-actualization. Transcendence is considered a sixth level by some scholars. Learn more at Positive Psychology.
What need is described as the desire for knowledge, exploration, and understanding in Maslow’s extended model?
Cognitive needs
Aesthetic needs
Safety needs
Esteem needs
In Maslow’s later elaborations, cognitive needs involve the pursuit of knowledge, curiosity, and exploration. These were not part of his original five but were added to reflect human intellectual drives. They sit above basic needs and before self-actualization in the expanded model. For further reading, see Simply Psychology.
Which of the following best describes deficiency needs (D-needs) according to Maslow?
Needs that arise from deprivation and motivate individuals to fulfill them
Needs that are never fully satisfied
Needs related to personal growth
Needs oriented toward helping others
Deficiency needs stem from lack or deprivation and drive behavior to correct those deficits. Maslow identified physiological, safety, belongingness, and esteem needs as D-needs. Once these needs are met, the individual focuses on growth needs (B-needs), such as self-actualization. More at Verywell Mind.
How did Maslow define self-transcendence in his later work?
A drive to connect with something beyond the individual self
A desire for increased safety
A focus on personal esteem only
An unending quest for basic needs
Self-transcendence goes beyond self-actualization, emphasizing altruism, spirituality, and connecting to causes larger than oneself. Maslow considered this the sixth level after self-actualization. It reflects a shift from personal fulfillment to selfless service. Read more at Positive Psychology.
In Maslow's theory, which need becomes active after esteem needs are met?
Self-actualization
Safety
Belongingness and love
Physiological
Self-actualization follows esteem in Maslow’s hierarchy, representing personal growth and realization of one’s potential. Only when individuals are respected and confident can they pursue peak experiences and creativity. This stage is less about deficiency and more about growth. See Simply Psychology.
Which criticism of Maslow's hierarchy suggests it lacks empirical support across different cultures?
It may not apply universally due to cultural differences
It overemphasizes the role of safety
It ignores physiological needs
It includes too many levels
Researchers have noted that Maslow’s ranking of needs may not hold in collectivist cultures, where social harmony or group needs can precede individual esteem or self-actualization. Cross-cultural studies often find different priority orders based on societal values. This highlights a lack of universal empirical validation. Details at Positive Psychology.
Based on cross-cultural research, which human need is often prioritized over esteem in collectivist societies, challenging Maslow’s original sequence?
Belongingness and love needs
Physiological needs
Self-actualization
Safety needs
In collectivist cultures, social belonging and group harmony frequently take precedence over personal esteem or individual achievement. Empirical studies demonstrate that community connectedness can be valued above self-esteem, contradicting the strict hierarchy. This nuance highlights how cultural context reshapes motivational priorities. For an in-depth review, see Verywell Mind.
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Study Outcomes
Identify the five levels of Maslow's hierarchy -
Readers will recognize and name each level from physiological needs through self-actualization to demonstrate foundational knowledge of Abraham Maslow's theory.
Differentiate between basic and growth needs -
Participants will distinguish physiological and safety needs from esteem and self-actualization needs, highlighting the shift from deficiency to growth motives in a hierarchy of needs quiz context.
Apply theoretical knowledge in quiz scenarios -
Users will apply concepts from the free Maslow's hierarchy of needs quiz to real-life and hypothetical situations, enhancing their practical understanding of motivational drivers.
Analyze personal motivational priorities -
Through scored trivia questions, individuals will evaluate their own position within Maslow's levels and reflect on which needs are most salient in their lives.
Evaluate quiz performance and gain insight -
Participants will review their quiz scores to identify areas of strength and improvement, reinforcing learning of Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory.
Cheat Sheet
The Five-Tier Pyramid -
Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, first articulated in "A Theory of Human Motivation" (Maslow, 1943), arranges human requirements into five ascending categories: physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Visualizing these levels as a pyramid underscores the idea that basic needs form the foundation for higherâ€order growth. Remembering this structure is essential when tackling any maslow's hierarchy of needs quiz question on sequence and classification.
Mnemonic for Level Recall -
Use the phrase "Please Send Lions, Eat Salmon" to recall the sequence from Physiological up to Self-actualization - P (Physiological), S (Safety), L (Love/Belonging), E (Esteem), S (Self-actualization). This simple acronym is endorsed by many university study guides (e.g., University of Michigan Learning Center) and makes quick recall during a quiz effortless. Visualizing each word as a step on a ladder can further cement the order.
Foundational Needs: Physiological & Safety -
Physiological needs encompass essentials like air, water, food, and sleep, while safety needs cover physical security, employment, and health stability (American Psychological Association). In practical terms, a maslow's hierarchy of needs quiz may ask you to identify examples - for instance, "Which level includes a stable job?" (Safety). Drawing from WHO's basic survival standards can offer concrete examples for these first two tiers.
Psychological Drivers: Love/Belonging & Esteem -
Belonging needs involve friendships, family ties, and community (Harvard Social Neuroscience Lab), whereas esteem needs focus on respect, achievement, and selfâ€worth. Quiz questions often probe the difference by asking which tier emphasizes interpersonal connections versus individual recognition. Relating these levels to realâ€world scenarios - like joining a sports team for belonging or earning a promotion for esteem - solidifies understanding.
Peak Growth: Self-Actualization -
Self-actualization represents achieving one's fullest potential and creative expression, a concept expanded in later positive psychology research (Ryff & Singer, 2008). A tricky quiz prompt might describe behaviors like pursuing artistic goals or personal growth seminars, asking you to map them to this highest tier. Recognize that modern iterations sometimes propose a sixth "selfâ€transcendence" level, underscoring the evolving nature of Maslow's original theory.
