Whose hierarchy of needs became one of psychology’s most famous motivation theories?

Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, introduced the hierarchy of needs in the 1940s and 1950s. The model places physiological needs at the base, followed by safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Maslow’s theory became widely known in psychology, business, and education because it offered a simple way to think about human motivation. Even though later research refined and questioned parts of the model, it remains highly influential.