This site considers 7 basic needs
for humans and breaks them down as:
1.
Biological and Physiological needs:
Basic life needs, air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.
2.
Safety
needs: Protection,
security, order, law, limits, stability, etc.
3.
Belongingness
and Love needs: Family,
affection, relationships, work group, etc.
4.
Esteem
needs: Achievement, status, responsibility,
reputation.
5.
Cognitive
needs: Knowledge, meaning,
self-awareness.
6.
Aesthetic
needs: Beauty, balance,
form, etc.
7.
Self-actualization: Personal growth and fulfilment.
This is what they considered according to
Maslow’s theory to be the basic needs of humans.
According to a Forbes article posted a few
years ago there are 6 human needs that must be considered. I have quoted their report below to show how
they imply a “modernization” to needs of humans: https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/02/05/six-fundamental-human-needs-we-need-to-meet-to-live-our-best-lives/#76e3cda9344a
“A modern list of 6 human needs
This list benefits from nearly 75 years of
psychology, neuroscience, and sociology research beyond what was known when
Maslow wrote his list.
1.
Food - The body needs calories and a variety of nutrients including
protein, fat, and carbohydrates everyday to grow, function, and repair. Without
food, the body begins to atrophy.
2.
Water - Ample hydration allows for the processes of the body to occur.
Without water the body cannot process food or remove wastes.
3.
Shelter - We require protection from blazing sun, freezing
temperatures, wind, and rain. Without shelter, human skin and organs are
damaged from extreme temperatures.
4.
Sleep - 6–9 hours of sleep every 24 hours allows the brain to process
new knowledge and deal with emotional information. Without ample sleep we
cannot learn new things or get past emotional pain.
5.
Others - Adults require connection (physical or emotional) with other
humans to release certain hormones like oxytocin. Human touch is so important
that when we are young, our brains don’t develop correctly without it. Regular
connection to others allows us to maintain a sense of well-being that allows
for self-care.
6.
Novelty - Novelty creates the opportunity to learn and the potential to
fail, which stimulates dopamine release in the brain. Without regular novelty,
motivation wanes and a healthy sense of well-being is lost.
These 6 needs, when met, allow for a person to
develop the self-esteem, security, belonging, actualization, and the other
expressions of contentedness that Maslow described. Maslow’s list came from
what he saw in successful and happy people versus those who were not as
contented or accomplished. He was the first to study contented humans. Prior to
Maslow’s work, Psychology focused on people who were described as mentally ill.
We now live in a world where coaching, therapy,
and personal development is the norm. Psychology is expected to support all
people in achieving their goals. This new modern list of needs assumes that if
these 6 basic needs are met on a daily basis, that a person will have enough
motivation, well-being, and physical stamina to seek out physical exercise,
emotional stimulation, and creative expression as needed throughout their
lives.
Unfortunately, when people go for a long time
without having all 6 of these needs met, it becomes difficult for them to begin
to allow for these needs to be met. A person who doesn't get enough sleep will
insist that they can do without. A person who has grown up without deep
connection to others will insist that they prefer to live as a loner. Those who
have deeply rutted routines will resist change when it is offered to them.
It’s as though humans have a natural
protective process that occurs when one of these 6 needs goes unfulfilled. We
develop beliefs that we are special, somehow more capable than everyone else, because
we can get along without having our needs fulfilled. The truth is that we are
often in denial. Every single person on this planet needs food, water, shelter,
sleep, others, and novelty on a regular basis to be their best selves.”
Again, in an effort to evidently
“simplify” the needs of humans, an article posted by Simply Psychology has
boiled down the needs of humans into 5 simple structures. I have quoted their article below for
consideration. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html#:~:text=Physiological%20needs%20%2D%20these%20are%20biological,human%20body%20cannot%20function%20optimally.
“1. Physiological
needs - these are biological requirements for human survival,
e.g. air, food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, sex, sleep.
If these needs are not
satisfied the human body cannot function optimally. Maslow considered
physiological needs the most important as all the other needs become secondary
until these needs are met.
2. Safety needs -
Once an individual’s physiological needs are satisfied, the needs for security
and safety become salient. People want to experience order, predictability and
control in their lives. These needs can be fulfilled by the family and society
(e.g. police, schools, business and medical care).
For example, emotional
security, financial security (e.g. employment, social welfare), law and order,
freedom from fear, social stability, property, health and wellbeing (e.g.
safety against accidents and injury).
3. Love and
belongingness needs - after physiological and safety needs have
been fulfilled, the third level of human needs is social and involves feelings
of belongingness. The need for interpersonal relationships motivates behavior
Examples include friendship,
intimacy, trust, and acceptance, receiving and giving affection and love.
Affiliating, being part of a group (family, friends, work).
4. Esteem needs are
the fourth level in Maslow’s hierarchy - which Maslow classified into two
categories: (i) esteem for oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery,
independence) and (ii) the desire for reputation or respect from others (e.g.,
status, prestige).
Maslow indicated that the
need for respect or reputation is most important for children and adolescents
and precedes real self-esteem or dignity.
5. Self-actualization
needs are the highest level in Maslow's hierarchy, and refer to
the realization of a person's potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal
growth and peak experiences. Maslow (1943) describes this level as the desire
to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be.
Individuals may perceive or
focus on this need very specifically. For example, one individual may have a
strong desire to become an ideal parent. In another, the desire may be
expressed economically, academically or athletically. For others, it may be expressed
creatively, in paintings, pictures, or inventions.”
In many aspects you can see that these
sources as well as others, regardless of the numbers of categories they place human
needs in, have all failed to recognize probably the most important of human
needs. That is a close, personal relationship
with our Creator. For a person to find
real contentment within their life they need to be “conscious of their
spiritual need.” [Matthew 5:3]
The reason a person can have a satisfying life with a close personal
relationship with their Creator is also highlighted by Matthew 6:31-33 “So
never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or,
‘What are we to wear?’ For all these are
the things the nations are eagerly pursuing.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Keep on, then seeking first the Kingdom and
his (God’s) righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.”
Simply put our basic human need is often
overlooked by individuals as they try to pursue their own “needs” or “wants.” Sadly, we’re only human!
QUOTE TO CONSIDER
THOUGHTFUL GEM
"At times what we want
is not what we need."
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