Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

What motivational model states that individuals are motivated to satisfy lower-order physiological needs before they can respond to higher needs?

1. Hierarchy of needs (Maslow)

2. Expectancy theory (Vroom)

3. Two-factor theory (Herzberg)

4. Theory X/Theory Y (McGregor)

The correct answer is: Hierarchy of needs (Maslow)

The hierarchy of needs, proposed by Abraham Maslow, posits that human motivation is structured in a five-tier model of human needs. According to this model, individuals are motivated to satisfy basic physiological needs—such as food, water, and shelter—before they can pursue higher-level psychological needs, such as love, esteem, and self-actualization. The foundational aspect of Maslow's model emphasizes that lower-order needs must be met before individuals can focus on the complexities and challenges of achieving higher-order needs. For instance, without the basics of survival, such as adequate nutrition, an individual may find it difficult to seek relationships or pursue their potential. This theory highlights a progressive approach to motivation, where satisfaction of each level of need paves the way for the next. Other theories mentioned focus on different elements of motivation but do not align with the hierarchical progression of needs articulated by Maslow. Expectancy theory, for example, centers around the expectations of achieving desired outcomes based on individual efforts and the value of those outcomes, while Herzberg's two-factor theory distinguishes between hygiene factors and motivators but does not structure needs hierarchically. Similarly, McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y describes different managerial assumptions about employee motivation rather than a need-based