Motivation has long been one of the central topics in psychology, because it lies at the heart of human behavior. Every action we take, from getting out of bed in the morning to pursuing a long-term career goal, is fueled by motivation. Psychologists have developed numerous theories to explain why we act the way we do, and while no single model explains every aspect, together they shed light on the forces that drive human behavior.
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One of the earliest frameworks was Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Maslow argued that people are motivated by a pyramid of needs, starting with physiological survival—food, water, shelter—and moving upward toward safety, belonging, esteem, and finally self-actualization. According to this model, individuals must satisfy their basic needs before focusing on higher-level psychological growth. While the hierarchy has been debated and sometimes criticized for oversimplification, it remains a useful tool for understanding human motivation.
