What must be fulfilled before higher-order needs for achievement can be met, according to the chain of response?

The concept of higher-order needs for achievement is often grounded in motivational theories that suggest individuals must first satisfy their more basic, lower-order needs before they can focus on achieving higher-level aspirations. In this context, the lower-order needs for security and safety provide the necessary foundation for higher-order needs to emerge.

When individuals feel secure in their environment and safe in their personal circumstances, they are better positioned to pursue goals related to achievement, personal growth, and self-fulfillment. Without this sense of security and safety, individuals may feel preoccupied with meeting their basic needs, thus hindering their ability to set and work towards achieving more ambitious personal or professional goals.

In contrast, options such as personal goals and job satisfaction are indeed important but they are often influenced by the state of lower-order needs—achieving personal goals often requires foundational security, and job satisfaction can only be pursued once safety is assured. Self-actualization is considered a higher-order need itself and cannot be directly satisfied without first addressing the needs for security and safety.

Therefore, fulfilling lower-order needs for security and safety is a crucial prerequisite for individuals to effectively pursue higher-order achievement needs, making it the correct choice in this scenario.