Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a psychological theory proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943. It suggests that individuals have a hierarchy of needs that must be met in order to achieve self-actualization and personal fulfillment. The hierarchy is typically depicted as a pyramid with five levels, starting with basic physiological needs at the bottom and progressing to higher-level needs such as safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization at the top. According to Maslow, individuals must first satisfy their lower-level needs before they can move on to higher-level needs.