SkillsUSA Criminal Justice Practice Test

The most basic need of people, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, is physiological needs. These needs are fundamental for human survival and include essentials such as food, water, warmth, and rest. They form the foundation of the hierarchy, meaning they must be met before individuals can focus on higher-level needs such as safety, love, and belonging, or self-esteem.

When physiological needs are unmet, an individual's ability to function effectively is compromised, as survival instincts take precedence. Once these basic necessities are satisfied, people can then pursue safety needs, which involve security and protection from harm, followed by social needs like love and belonging, and eventually move towards esteem needs and self-actualization. This hierarchical structure illustrates how human motivation is driven by fulfilling basic needs before progressing to more complex psychological and social aspirations.