Who proposed the theory of human motivation in his 1943 paper?

The correct choice is based on Abraham Maslow's introduction of his hierarchy of needs in a 1943 paper titled "A Theory of Human Motivation." In this foundational work, Maslow proposed that human motivations are driven by a series of hierarchical needs, starting from basic physiological needs at the base and moving upwards through safety, love and belonging, esteem, and ultimately self-actualization at the peak.

Maslow’s theory emphasized that individuals must satisfy lower-level needs before seeking to fulfill higher-level needs, offering a framework that has heavily influenced fields such as psychology, education, and business management by helping to understand human behavior and motivation in various contexts. His ideas underscore the importance of personal growth and self-fulfillment as essential components of motivation, making his contributions to the understanding of human behavior profound and lasting.

The other individuals mentioned also made significant contributions to psychology and social sciences, but their focus was different. Freud is primarily known for his psychoanalytic theories, Skinner for his work on behaviorism and operant conditioning, and Bandura for his social learning theory, which emphasizes the role of observational learning.