THE SIX BASIC
HUMAN NEEDS
Before we can analyze somebody’s behavior, we need to
understand what their need are, which can also be phrased as what their goals
in life are. Food, water, shelter, and other necessities are included here, and
the things that people need to be happy can be split into six categories. The
first four are primal needs, which are necessary for survival. The last two are
spiritual needs, which are necessary for fulfillment are involve somethings
greater than the self.
Human need all of the following to be met in the right
amounts and with the right method. If people are receiving something that feels
necessary for their survival, they may end up pursuing goals that don’t
necessarily help themselves or others.
The Four Primal Needs
1.
Certainty: Every person needs a level
of certainty in their lives. How much they need depends on the person, but
generally it requires the ability to avoid pain and stress and find comfort.
Overall, people need some amount of control over the world around them. People
who have an overdeveloped need for certainty can sometimes become what we call “controlfreaks”, or people who are obsessed
with eliminating all uncertainty and controlling everything about their
surroundings.
Generally this need is easy to meet –
speaking in primal terms, people just need food, water, and somewhere safe to
come home to every night. Sometimes meeting this need is as simple as watching
a movies you enjoyed when you were younger.
2.
Uncertainty:
Given the need for certainty, this may seem strange. However, without some
uncertainty, life becomes monotonous, with little variety or change. All people
need some stimuli in order to stay engaged, and all people want some variety in
their lives.
3.
Significance:
Everybody needs to feel significant somehow, because it helps them feel
important, unique, valued, and special. This is tied closely into the feedback
we get from the rest of the world – it can validate our existence. This need is
the most complex out of all of them, and characteristics such as attention seeking,
self-righteousness, competitiveness, and insecurity can all arise thanks to
this.
4.
Love and Connection:
Everybody needs some form of love and connection in their lives, but it doesn’t
necessarily have to come from a significant other. People can be emotionally
intimate with a community, a friend, or a family member as well.
This need is connected to compassion
and empathy, which are both very important when it comes to maintaining
relationships with others. If this need becomes excessive it can lead to an
over-dependence on others. If this need is not strong enough, people can become
isolated, which can create issues with accountability or conscience in the way
they act.
The Two Spiritual Needs
1.
Growth: The need
for growth runs alongside the need for uncertainty, because both deal with
change. Uncertainty doesn’t lead in any particular direction, it’s a simple
change in circumstances. Growth is very different. This is a person’s
deliberate progress towards an ideal, a goal, or an outcome. Material growth encompasses
activities such as improving your physical state or circumstance or working on
a project – for example, maybe you take on a home improvement project or work
towards a promotion
It can also come in the form of
personal development, which is generally internal and can include gaining a
better understanding of yourself or learning to be more generous.
2.
Contribution:
In order for people to feel truly fulfilled, they need to feel as though
they’ve impacted a cause which goes beyond just themselves. This comes from our
basic characteristic of being highly social animals. We used to survive in
groups, but in our modern society that instinct has turned into the need to
give back and help others or serve some cause greater than ourselves.
How are the Needs Prioritized?
Different people prioritize their needs in different
ways, and understanding why they choose some over others will help us gain a
deeper understanding of who they are. They way people meet their needs is also
important when it comes to analyzing somebody’s behavior.
Scenario One
Action: Sally wants
to move to be closer to her mother. Bobby tries to convince her to stay, when
she decides to leave, he gets angry and leaves the house.
Analysis: Sally values
love and connection over all else, and is willing to leave certainty and growth
behind to go take care of her mother. Bobby values significance and certainty,
and since Lisa isn’t meeting that need, he storms out in anger.
Scenario Two
Action: Sally
doesn’t move, and she keeps her current job. Bobby thinks they should move
closer to her mother, and they argue.
Analysis: sally values
growth and certainty above all else, and decides to stay put and focus on her
job so the can progress there. Bobby values love and connection, so he thinks
they should move closer to her mother.
Stranger or Friend
This method can come in handy in a variety of
scenarios, but it’s most useful when you are familiar with the way someone
behaves. However, you can still use it with people you aren’t acquainted with.
All it takes is some simple observations of how a person behaves in a couple of
different scenarios to figure out what their most valued needs are and how they
fulfill them.
When People Use Negative Methods
People will do anything to fulfill their needs, and if
they can’t or simply don’t want to do it through positive methods, they will
turn to negative ones.
What is a Needs Addiction?
our desire to fulfill our needs is so intense that
when wee find a behavior that works for us, we might become addicted to it.
Generally, If a behavior fulfill three or more needs over and over again, we
will keep seeking it out, and sometimes become addicted to it. This will
eventually from psychological habits, and they can form for positive and
negative thought and behaviors.
This is Article is Taken from How to Analyze People
Written by Arshad. A
