Which statement about physiological needs is accurate?

Which statement about physiological needs is accurate?

• A. Unless physiological needs are met, all other needs are forgotten or denied.
• B. They are the highest-level needs in the hierarchy.
• C. They relate to self-actualization and personal growth.
• D. They primarily involve social belonging and affiliation.

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of where physiological needs fit in Maslow’s hierarchy. Physiological needs are the most basic requirements for survival—things like food, water, warmth, and sleep. In the hierarchy, they sit at the base, so until these needs are met, a person’s behavior is focused primarily on satisfying them. That’s why the statement that, unless physiological needs are met, all other needs are forgotten or denied is accurate—the base must be secured before higher-level needs become a priority. The other options misplace physiological needs in the hierarchy. They are not the highest-level needs, which are about self-actualization and personal growth. They also aren’t primarily about social belonging and affiliation, which corresponds to a different level focused on love and social connections. In other words, once basic survival needs are addressed, people then turn to safety, social connections, esteem, and eventually self-actualization.

This question tests understanding of where physiological needs fit in Maslow’s hierarchy. Physiological needs are the most basic requirements for survival—things like food, water, warmth, and sleep. In the hierarchy, they sit at the base, so until these needs are met, a person’s behavior is focused primarily on satisfying them. That’s why the statement that, unless physiological needs are met, all other needs are forgotten or denied is accurate—the base must be secured before higher-level needs become a priority.

The other options misplace physiological needs in the hierarchy. They are not the highest-level needs, which are about self-actualization and personal growth. They also aren’t primarily about social belonging and affiliation, which corresponds to a different level focused on love and social connections. In other words, once basic survival needs are addressed, people then turn to safety, social connections, esteem, and eventually self-actualization.