The word need, in English, refers to a desire or a lack that must be fulfilled. It is an important concept in human psychology, sociology and anthropology. It is also a subject of interest in philosophy, biology, religion, economics and politics. Need can also be compared with the concept of a want, which is a desire for something that would benefit one or more individuals. The academic theory of needs is an important part of social science and is a subject of interest in many academic fields such as philosophy, psychology, education, business, computer science, political science and economics.
The academic model of need was developed by psychologist Abraham Maslow in 1943. His model describes a hierarchy of psychological needs that start with basic physiological needs (food, water and shelter) and move up to the higher-order needs of belonging, esteem and self-actualization. It is generally believed that most people spend the majority of their time, energy and resources attempting to satisfy these basic needs before moving on to the higher-order needs.
According to the Maslow model, if an individual does not fulfill his or her basic needs, the psychological state of that individual can become deteriorated. This deterioration can lead to mental and physical illness, or even death. This is why it is important for people to recognize their own needs and to take steps to fulfill them.
A number of different theories about the nature of needs exist. Some of these theories suggest that all people have the same fundamental needs and that these needs can be satisfied in the same way. Others suggest that the satisfaction of individual needs depends on various factors such as cultural values, personal circumstances and the ability to learn new skills. Still others believe that the identification and fulfillment of needs can be achieved through a variety of methodologies, including rational identification of needs, consideration of actual experiences in daily life, democratic decision-making and the acquisition of internal “assets” or capabilities (e.g., knowledge, physical strength and financial independence).
There are three specific rules that dictate when the articles a and an should be used in reference to a countable noun. Use a before nouns that start with a consonant sound and an before nouns that start with a vowel sound. For example, I need a car but I don’t need an SUV. I could buy an SUV if I needed one.
Other non-countable nouns, such as love, rain and water, do not require the article a or an because they are generic or indefinite. However, the article a or an should be used when the specific identity of the noun is unknown. For example, I need a box to put the books in but I don’t need an empty box. I’m sure you know what I mean.