Who is credited with developing the Hierarchy of Needs?

The credibility for developing the Hierarchy of Needs is attributed to Abraham Maslow, a psychologist known for his work in humanistic psychology. Maslow proposed this theory in the mid-20th century as a way to understand human motivation. The hierarchy is often represented as a pyramid, with basic physiological needs at the base, such as food and water, moving up through safety needs, social needs (love and belonging), esteem needs, and culminating in self-actualization at the top.

Maslow's theory suggests that individuals are motivated to fulfill these needs in a specific order, meaning that higher-level needs become relevant only once lower-level needs have been satisfied. This framework has had a lasting impact on psychology, education, and various fields including counseling and management, highlighting the importance of understanding human motivations in personal and professional contexts.

The other figures mentioned, such as Freud, Skinner, and Rogers, contributed influential theories to psychology, but none were responsible for the development of the Hierarchy of Needs concept, which is central to Maslow's legacy.