"Maslow Before Bloom" is a phrase educators use to remember that a hierarchy of human needs must be satisfied before the full potential of students' ability to create and think critically can occur. In other words, human needs like health, safety, love, and belongingness (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) must come prior to students applying memorized concepts to produce original, complex, and thoughtful work, as understood by Bloom's Taxonomy. Maslow and Bloom refer to two American psychologists, Abraham Maslow and Benjamin Bloom. A basic familiarity with their thinking is essential to understand the psychology behind the term Maslow before Bloom.