According to Maslow's hierarchy, what type of need does feeling loved represent?

Feeling loved represents a social need in Maslow's hierarchy. This is because social needs encompass relationships, belongingness, and acceptance. They are essential for emotional well-being and personal development. When individuals have a sense of love and connection with others, it fosters a supportive environment that allows for healthy relationships and community engagement.

Maslow categorized needs into a hierarchy, starting from the most basic physical needs, like food and water, moving up to safety needs, and then to social needs, which include love and belonging. Meeting these social needs is crucial, as they contribute significantly to an individual's overall happiness and fulfillment.

In contrast, physical needs refer to basic survival necessities, emotional needs are more about the intrinsic feelings of well-being without necessarily involving social relationships, and financial needs tackle economic stability. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why feeling loved is firmly rooted in social needs within the framework of Maslow's theory.