Maslow's hierarchy of needs proposes that people are motivated to fulfill basic survival needs like food, water, shelter, and safety before pursuing higher level needs. The pyramid structure consists of physiological needs at the bottom, followed by safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization at the top as growth needs that come from a desire for self-improvement rather than deprivation. Fulfilling each lower level need allows people to focus on achieving the next level.