Needs are the needs of people who ensure survival. They motivate the individual to take active action. Every person is filled with various desires, therefore the fulfillment of all of them is impossible. Moreover, as soon as one need is satisfied, a new one immediately appears. The subject never gets along without needs. As a person develops, he acquires new needs, only at different levels.
The needs of the individual directly influence the formation of his motivation, which moves the individual forward. The motive and activity that appears thanks to it depend on the cultural level of human development, his characteristics, and character traits. From those objects with the help of which he is accustomed to cognize reality.
Needs in psychology
Need is considered by psychologists from three positions: as an object, a state and a property.
- Need as a need for existence, survival and ensuring the normal functioning of a person.
- The appearance of desire as compensation for the lack of something
- Need as a fundamental property of any individual that determines his relationships with people around him and the world as a whole.
A large number of theories of needs have been developed that describe needs from different angles. A well-known follower of his father, whose ideas were aimed at studying personality in its connections with activity, D.A. Leontyev also considered needs based on this concept. K.K. Platonov saw in emerging desires only a person’s urgent need to fill something missing, to eliminate it. And Kurt Lewin expanded the concept of needs, calling them a dynamic state.
All approaches of psychologists to this issue can be conditionally divided into groups where the need was understood as:
- Need (S.L. Rubinshtein, L.I. Bozhovich, V.I. Kovalev)
- State (Levin)
- Absence of good (V.S. Magun)
- Necessity (B.I. Dodonov, V.A. Vasilenko)
- Subject of need satisfaction (A.N. Leontyev)
- Attitude (D.A. Leontyev, M.S. Kagan)
- Systemic reaction of the individual (E.P. Ilyin)
- Violation of stability (D.A. McClelland, V.L. Ossovsky)
Thus, human desires are dynamic states that form the motivational sphere of the individual, and then push him to perform activities. A special role is played by the content of needs and how they influence the surrounding reality. After all, a person, performing this or that action, influences the environment in which he is located. And his spiritual aspirations determine what color this impact will take on.
In this regard, the point of view of E.P. is interesting. Ilyin, who proposed to take into account several main points to understand the essence of needs:
- physiological needs should be considered separately from the desires of the individual. The body can “demand” from a person the immediate fulfillment of its request, which is not always conscious, but a person’s formed need is never unconscious;
- conscious desire and need are interconnected, however, it is important for the subject to strive to fulfill what is not in short supply, but in actual need;
- if a need has appeared as a state, it is difficult for a person not to notice it, therefore it is important to make the right choice in the method and order (and sometimes the conditions set by the person himself) to satisfy the need;
- after an acute need or desire for something has become apparent, a mechanism is launched aimed at actively searching for means to achieve them, since it is unlikely for a person to do without satisfying his needs.
Classifications of needs
We present to your attention the most concise, convenient classification:
- The biological type of needs is for food, water, warmth and habitat. They are of a material nature.
- Social appearance - in interaction with other subjects, the need to be in a group, to gain respect and recognition.
- Spiritual – the needs of cognition, creative realization, aesthetic pleasure, obtaining answers to philosophical and religious questions.
All three types are closely intertwined. Biological ones are also present in animals, but what distinguishes humans is their spiritual needs and their predominance over the basic, natural needs of any living organism. Social skills are also more developed in humans.
The famous psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced his concept of the “pyramid of needs” into widespread use. It can be denoted as follows:
First level:
- Congenital, biological: in eating, sleeping, breathing, having shelter, procreation;
- Existential: in ensuring safety and protection from dangers and accidents, comfort of living, stability.
Second level (purchased):
- Social: in communication with other people, belonging to a society, group, interpersonal relationships, showing care and receiving it in return, attention to oneself, joint activities
- Prestige: in achieving respect, a certain stage of development in a career, a place in society, favorable reviews of one’s activities, successes.
- Spiritual realization: in creative consistency, high-quality performance of one’s work, the highest mastery of execution and creation.
Maslow believed that the needs of the first level, the lower ones, must first be satisfied, and then the person will strive to reach the higher ones.
However, we should not forget that this scheme does not always work this way in reality. Not every basic need can be fully realized, while the individual desires to achieve something from a social or spiritual group. In addition, we should not forget that the needs of some should not interfere with the life and freedom of others. It is necessary to limit yourself and keep your aspirations within reasonable limits. The process of satisfying desires should be aimed at the development of personality, its best qualities, knowledge of the truth, acquisition of new useful knowledge and experience, and general benefits.
Interests and inclinations
The term “interest” is closely related to the concept of “needs” - the word is translated from Latin as “to matter.” Interest is directly what causes the need. A person has a desire to possess the object of his interest, and this is where his actions are formed.
Interest can be shown not only in a material object, but also in spiritual goods. An individual wants to get something that is offered to him by society, that is, needs appear based on the opportunities provided by the external environment.
A person counts on something, focusing on his position in society or group. Interest is regulated by the society to which the individual belongs, sometimes it is realized, and sometimes not. A person receives an incentive from society, which moves him to perform a certain activity, which will lead to the satisfaction of a need.
Interests are divided depending on:
- Carrier: personal, group, public
- Directions: spiritual, economic, social, political.
There is also the concept of “inclination” - it sets the direction of interest in performing a specific type of activity. Interest only points to the desired object. Sometimes they don't match. Misalignment occurs because some goal does not seem feasible, regardless of the efforts of the subject or group.
Interests and inclinations can determine a person’s fate, his choice of profession, and the nature of building relationships.
Signs of successful fulfillment of needs
A person is successful in achieving his goals if he sets them correctly, motivates himself correctly and selects the necessary means of solution. In addition, of course, third-party factors that interfere with the subject may influence, but their likelihood is lower than the degree of personal effort.
A person’s self-confidence will also directly affect the results of his activities. Timely satisfied needs help him in successful activities.
According to Maslow, the highest aspiration of any person is self-actualization. This is what we all ideally strive for. Here are the personality traits that have achieved maximum success, overcoming all their desires:
- Love for yourself and others, harmony with yourself and nature
- High degree of concentration and composure when solving a problem
- Interest in social interaction
- Objectivity of perception, openness to new opinions
- Spontaneity of emotions, naturalness in behavior
- Recognizing your individuality
- Tolerance towards other people, cultures, phenomena
- Independence from public opinion, the ability to express one’s point of view
- The ability to love, be friends - experience deep feelings
- A never-ending desire for knowledge
- Creative thinking
- Wit (not ridiculing the shortcomings of others, but leaving oneself and others the right to make mistakes)
Thus, we examined the types of human needs and various approaches to this issue. Any person striving for excellence must be aware of his needs and their origin in order to weed out the unnecessary and concentrate on what is really important. Then your life will be filled with meaning and bring you pleasure.
Natural needs.
The need to satisfy natural needs attracts a person to work. By agreeing to work in a certain position, a person determines adequate remuneration in the form of wages.
Money allows a person to satisfy fully or partially only the following needs: survival - primary physiological needs, self-preservation (safety, security); awareness of one's importance.
However, wages alone are not a motive for increasing labor productivity. It is only a way to attract a person to work. It often seems to a person that his work is paid inappropriately for the efforts expended or the content of the results of his work. Therefore, quite often the theory of justice comes into play in an employee’s activities.
The adequacy of wages for the work performed is perceived by each person in accordance with their personal meaning. The results of Herzberg's research show that factors characterizing work conditions most significantly influence the choice of the nature of work.
These factors include:
work without much strain and stress and convenient location - 1st place.
there is no noise or any environmental pollution at the workplace - 2nd place;
working with people you like - 3rd place;
good relationship with immediate superior - 4th place;
flexible work pace and flexible working hours - 5th place;
fair distribution of work volumes - 6th place;
interesting work - 7th place;
work that allows you to think for yourself - 8th place;
work requiring a creative approach - 9th place;
work that forces you to develop your abilities - 10th place.
The differences in the choice of factors are more than significant. To attract people to work, it is necessary that these conditions meet as fully as possible what is required by representatives of various socio-demographic or professional groups.
These factors that attract people to work form a person’s interest in production activities.
Let's call him industrial interest.
The meaning of industrial interest lies in a person’s individual idea of work: content and significance, conditions and attractiveness.
The organization's employees are heterogeneous and their desires to satisfy their natural needs are different.
Erich Fromm, a famous psychoanalyst, divides people into two groups: people who have and people who exist.
The first group of people wants to have something, i.e. possess as personal property. They even view interpersonal relationships not as belonging to a group, but as possessing someone. For example, “my wife”, “my partner”.
The second group - existing people, are content with a job that guarantees them adequate pay and economic security, while they are willing to put up with many of the negative aspects of their work.
These two groups of people have different interests.
The first group is characterized by satisfying needs through obtaining a position of power.
For them, it is not the work itself that is important, but the interest in having a status that makes it possible to possess something and at the same time satisfy natural needs. Such people are ready to do any work (even beyond their competence), as long as it corresponds to a leadership position. The motive for them is the need for power, which, in their opinion, allows them to have money and other benefits.
For such people, the motivation for production activity, first of all, is, let’s call it, production-job interest. It is the refraction of natural needs into the interest of leadership (clause 1.6 on the P-I-C model), the satisfaction of which occurs as a result of performing work related to the status of a person.
For “existing” people, sufficient motivational factors are material incentives (salary commensurate with work and material rewards for diligence) and symbols (values, attractive conditions, company image, etc.) of the position they occupy.
Their motivation for active activity is production and economic interests (clause 1.2), which arise during the transformation of natural needs and economic needs (Fig. 12.3). The two groups have different motivational patterns.
For people who “have” the meaning of work lies in demonstrating leadership qualities in a formal position. If they do not have such a position, they will create informal groups in which they can demonstrate their power abilities. They have other motives, but they are secondary, not dominant.
To motivate such a group of people, methods of delegation of authority can be used.. But at the same time, careful control must be established over their activities.
For “existing” people, behavior is predominantly characterized by behavior motivated in accordance with Maslow’s pyramid of needs.
They are easily motivated by stabilizing, administrative and disciplinary influences.
A strong and sustained interest in professional activity, mastery and excellence is the basis of the employee’s overall orientation. Of the motives that motivate a person to work, the predominant ones should be those that give him satisfaction from the process of work itself and its result.
Thus, according to the P-I-C model, purposeful (effective) work significantly contributes to the satisfaction of natural needs; for some workers, providing financial sources, strengthening confidence and security due to its long-term nature, for others - the opportunity to occupy a position that has sources of power.
Natural ones are numerous. As well as social ones. It is human nature to need something. And when he feels an urgent need for something, he tries to satisfy it. However, first things first.
Concept
Before listing natural ones, it is necessary to determine what they actually are. To do this, you can turn to the works of psychologist Evgeny Pavlovich Ilyin. The scientist assured: it is important to separate the needs of the body and the individual. They have different backgrounds. The body's needs may be unconscious. We breathe and don’t attach any importance to it - we need oxygen, and that’s normal. But the needs of the individual are always conscious. A person wants to get into a university in order to feel self-sufficient - and for this he deliberately studies well.
We must also remember that every natural biological need of a person is associated with a need. And this does not mean a shortage of something. Namely need. Or desirability - in the case of social or intellectual needs.
general information
So, when talking about the natural needs of a person, it is necessary to pay attention to the biological ones. Or, as they also say, physiological. They are determined by the need to maintain normal life. These include healthy sleep, rest, food and water intake. This is necessary for normal metabolism. Such natural ones are also called vital. This is from the Latin word vitalis - life-giving.
Physiological and psychological needs are also important. A person needs a feeling of security, as well as confidence that his homeostasis will be maintained. This is the ability of the individual and his body to overcome the resistance of the external environment.
A biological natural human need is the need for energy expenditure. Everything here is extremely simple. We eat to replenish our resources. You can compare it with the operating principle of a car. When its fuel tank is full, the car drives. It's the same with a person. To feel normal, he needs to move. The basic one happens all the time, even if a person is lying in front of the TV. But normal daily activity is regular movement (going to work, going to the store, walking, etc.).
Self-realization
A natural human need is the need to feel like a self-sufficient person. It is important for all of us to “find ourselves.” A person, realizing his potential, abilities and demonstrating knowledge, feels useful. When a person does what she likes and brings a certain result, harmony comes. A person ceases to feel like a useless and hopeless empty place. Following this, the need for recognition and praise is satisfied. It is human nature to need to be the center of attention at least sometimes. Everyone is familiar with this situation: at work, they praised the team for a certain achievement and gave them a bonus. Usually they say in such cases: “It’s a small thing, but it’s nice!” At this point, the social need for achievement and self-satisfaction is satisfied. So, high spirits and a smile on your face are a completely understandable phenomenon.
Addiction
It also happens that a person’s natural organic needs develop into something without which he cannot imagine his existence. Take food, for example. The need for food is biological. We eat food to maintain metabolism, vitamin balance and energy supply. But there are people who eat constantly. There is nothing wrong with eating delicious food, delicacies, and enjoying it. But some people simply “eat up” everything that happens in their lives. Especially if it's something bad. Depression, for example. This is a destructive addiction. A person, starting to eat with each of his experiences, does not live it. And he avoids. This entails problems in the form of kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease or obesity.
Moreover, the object of destructive dependence often becomes any need in its extreme manifestation. We need sleep, but there are people who sleep 12 hours a day. We need communication, but some experience obvious codependency on other people (or on one person). Work is necessary for self-realization and ensuring material wealth, but there are workaholics. But at the heart of everything are natural human needs. The examples given above do not reflect everything that takes place. Destructive addiction is much more global. And all because many do not have a sense of proportion, which is so necessary for a person.
Material component
This also applies to the natural needs of man. Each of us feels the need for decent conditions of existence. We all know people who shout, “Money isn’t everything!” They are wrong. Perhaps money is not the most important value for someone. But certainly one of the main ones.
Money is the only way to satisfy your basic needs. The only thing a person receives for free (from what is necessary for life) is oxygen. Everything else needs to be purchased. Food, shelter, water, furniture, clothing, medicine. So, as you can see, work is a way to satisfy not only the desire to realize yourself as a person. That’s why it’s so important to get a profession that you like. So that later, while working, you can satisfy yourself as an individual and earn money to ensure a decent existence.
Differences in needs
Now the 21st century reigns in the yard. When human needs comprehensively develop and expand. Whoever says that all people are the same, this is not so. We are different. In terms of not basic, but expanded needs. A simple example: for people of average income, a simple, good-quality sedan in the garage is quite enough. Rich people are eager to buy the latest product from a famous concern for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some eat caviar once a week, while others eat it every other day. This is modern society. In which everyone lives as their wealth allows.
But, in essence, it all comes down to ways to satisfy needs. One is buckwheat porridge with a cutlet, the other is a marbled beef steak. But the result will be the same - both will be full. And the need to replenish the energy resources of both will be satisfied.
Supply and demand
This well-known phrase is very easy to apply to the topic under discussion. Today, the level of production activity determines how well it satisfies the needs of certain people. If the state has not produced the required amount of a particular good, then the needs of citizens are not adequately satisfied. Based on the level of wealth of society, it is also determined how much needs to be imported or produced. And understanding the role and place of the population’s needs is achieved through the interaction of needs and production. And nothing else.
The transition of production to a higher, better level affected the needs. While primitive people were content with a piece of raw meat barely roasted over an open fire, today we need a stove, oven or grill to make food suitable for consumption. And since one quickly gets used to good things, the rise in needs often outstrips production. Needless to say, even if workers at garment factories are trying to find out as quickly as possible what trends and new items have been developed in fashion houses.
Man in society
Social needs are also natural. But they, unlike biological ones, exist as a matter of course. And they do not encourage immediate satisfaction. How many days can a person live without water? The exact answer depends on the conditions, but in general - no more than 10 days. How long can a person live without communication? Some people have been alone for years.
But be that as it may, man is a social being, and he needs communication. And in general, you need to contact others. A person, having found a kindred spirit, a friend, a like-minded person, ceases to feel lonely. He has someone with whom to share emotions, joy, sadness, and receive support. Finding a “soul mate,” he feels needed and loved. And most importantly, the feeling that the world is empty disappears.
Spirituality
As mentioned earlier, movement is a natural need of the human body. But it is important to note one more nuance. Namely, moving forward towards goals and dreams as a self-sufficient person. There are many spiritual needs. And it’s quite difficult to define them, since they are different for us all. And they depend on your personal worldview. But the most important spiritual need of a person is the awareness of his existence. Everyone has at least once asked the question - what is the meaning of life? So, if a person has found the answer for himself, it means that he has satisfied the most important spiritual need.
How to achieve harmony?
But it happens that a question remains unanswered for a very long time. And it is quite difficult for a person without spiritual peace to interact with the world that surrounds him. As a rule, these are weak individuals who have difficulty surviving adversity and failure. But there are ways to satisfy spiritual needs and bring yourself to harmony. This could be communication with animals. Our little brothers raise even physically handicapped people to their feet. What can we say about spirituality? A person who approaches animals becomes a part of nature. By the way, privacy with her is also very important. Traveling to a quiet place with magnificent scenery and staying there for some time can bring anyone back to their senses. And give me some ideas. Moreover, in the lap of nature it is simply impossible to become despondent.
Needs. Everyone knows in general what it is - what each of us wants to have and receive. In principle, that's true. But let’s explain the essence of this topic in scientific language: what are needs and what are they?
What are needs?
Needs- this is a person’s perceived need for something, something that is necessary for him to maintain the vital functions of the body and the development of his personality. In my opinion, this is a fairly simple and easy to remember definition.
However, not all needs benefit a person. Therefore, from the point of view of necessity and benefit, the needs are:
- genuine (reasonable, true)- these are the needs without which a person either simply cannot live (food, housing, society, because it is among people that he becomes an individual), or are necessary for his improvement and development (spiritual).
- False (unreasonable, imaginary)- these are needs without which it is not only possible, but also necessary to live, they lead to the destruction of personality, and a person degrades both physically and mentally (alcoholism, drug addiction, parasitism)
Types of needs
There are several classifications of needs. The most common ones are the following: types of needs:
American psychologist A. Maslow built needs in the form of a kind of pyramid: the closer the need is to the base of the pyramid, the more necessary it is. All subsequent ones are needed when the previous ones are satisfied.
Pyramid of needs Maslow A.H.
- Primary needs:
- Physiological(satisfaction of natural instincts, these are: thirst, hunger, rest, reproduction, breathing, clothing, housing, physical activity)
- Existential( from lat. existence is the need for security, safety, confidence in the future, insurance, comfort, job security)
- Secondary needs:
- Social(the need to live in society, to belong to a certain social group: communication, affection, attention to oneself, caring for others, participation in joint activities)
- Prestigious(the need for respect, recognition, career growth. It is no coincidence that A. Maslow singled out a special type of needs prestigious, since the opinion of society and others is very important to a person. Any praise is pleasant to people, and there is a desire to do something even better.
- Spiritual(self-expression, self-realization through creativity, knowledge, learning, self-affirmation, etc.)
Human needs have a number of features:
- all needs are interconnected
- it is impossible to satisfy all needs
- limitlessness of needs
- needs should not contradict the moral principles of society.
A person changes - some of his needs become different. Even in a single society, at a certain stage of development, there may be its own needs. Needs are determined by both the natural and social essence of a person.
Yes, human activity and actions are driven by the desire to satisfy their needs. It is important to set priorities for yourself, to clearly know what a person wants and why he needs it. And we must not forget that a person’s needs are limitless; it will not be enough to satisfy everything 100% throughout one’s life. So the choice depends on everyone, on the level of his upbringing, development, on the environment in which he lives, on those values that are important for his environment. It is important that the needs are genuine, guys, do not allow imaginary needs to take over your soul and consciousness. Live enjoying life, giving joy to your loved ones.
Material prepared by: Melnikova Vera Aleksandrovna
Let's read the information.
Need - the need experienced and perceived by a person for what is necessary to maintain the body and develop his personality.
There are different classifications of human needs. In fact, they can be grouped into three groups:
- biological(natural, congenital, physiological, organic, natural) - needs that are associated with the biological (physiological) nature of a person, i.e. with everything that is necessary for existence, development and reproduction.
- social- needs that are associated with the public (social) nature of man, i.e. determined by a person’s membership in society.
- spiritual(ideal, cognitive, cultural) - needs that are associated with knowledge of the surrounding world, oneself and the meaning of one’s existence, i.e. in everything that is necessary for spiritual development.
1. all human needs are interconnected. For example, when satisfying hunger, a person cares about the aesthetics of the table, the variety of dishes, the cleanliness and beauty of the dishes, pleasant company, etc. Satisfying biological needs takes on many social facets in a person: culinary subtleties, the decor, the table setting, the quality of the dishes, the presentation of the dish, and the pleasant company sharing the meal are all important.
2. not all human needs can be satisfied.
3. needs should not contradict the moral standards of society.
Genuine(reasonable) needs- needs that help the development of truly human qualities in a person: the desire for truth, beauty, knowledge, the desire to bring good to people, etc.
Imaginary(unreasonable, false) needs- needs, the satisfaction of which leads to physical and spiritual degradation of the individual, causing damage to nature and society.
4. inexhaustibility, infinity, an infinite number of needs.
- Describing human needs, the American psychologist A. described a person as a “desiring creature” who rarely achieves a state of complete, complete satisfaction.
- Russian psychologist and philosopher S.L. spoke about the “unsatiability” of human needs.
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Needs group | |
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Biological |
Satisfying hunger, thirst, the desire to protect yourself from the cold, breathe fresh air, housing, clothing, food, sleep, rest, etc. |
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Social |
Social connections, communication, affection, caring for another person, attention to oneself, participation in joint activities, belonging to a social group, social recognition, work activity, creation, creativity, social activity, friendship, love, etc. |
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Spiritual |
Self-expression, self-affirmation, knowledge of the world around us and our place in it, the meaning of our existence, and much more. etc. |
Additionally consider the information about what underlies the classification of needs from the point of view of famous psychologists.
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