According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following is the primary (first) need?

Appeared in: RML PRE 2025

Explanation

Physiological needs are the most fundamental and basic of all human needs in Maslow's hierarchy, forming the base of the pyramid.
These needs, including air, food, water, shelter, and sleep, are essential for survival.
According to Maslow's theory, these biological requirements must be met before an individual can focus on higher-level needs.

Option A: This is the second level of the hierarchy, which is addressed only after physiological needs are met.
Option B: This is the third level of the hierarchy, which becomes a focus after physiological and safety needs are fulfilled.
Option D: This is the highest level (fifth) of the hierarchy and is pursued only when all four lower-level needs are satisfied.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses use Maslow's hierarchy to prioritize patient care. For example, ensuring a patient can breathe (a physiological need) is always the first priority over addressing their anxiety (a safety need) or feelings of loneliness (love and belonging).
This framework is essential for creating holistic nursing care plans that address a patient's needs in the correct order of importance, from basic survival to psychological well-being.
What if? If a patient is admitted with an acute asthma attack (impaired breathing), the nurse's immediate priority is to administer bronchodilators to restore normal breathing (physiological need), not to discuss the patient's job security (safety need) or family relationships (love and belonging need).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is 'Maslow's hierarchy of needs'.
Recall the structure of the hierarchy, which is a pyramid with five levels, where needs are prioritized from the bottom up.
The question asks for the 'primary' or 'first' need. This corresponds to the base or lowest level of the pyramid.
Evaluate the options based on their position in the hierarchy. Physiological needs (food, water, air) are at the base and are essential for survival.
Select the option that represents this foundational level.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 5e pp. 210-212, 209-211

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 6e Sem1 p. 211-213

Practise the full RML PRE 2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.