The word need is a common vocabulary word that may come up when talking about things such as a person’s diet, daily routine or responsibilities. There are many ways to define need but one way is that it refers to an essential requirement in a specific context. Another way to define need is that it’s a feeling of being lacking or wanting something.
Generally, people distinguish needs from wants by the fact that a need is an essential requirement for a person’s life while a want is an added extra that doesn’t impact a person’s survival. A basic need is something that a person can’t live without (food, water or shelter) while a want is an addition to a lifestyle (fashion, travel, designer clothes).
The concept of need has been debated in different fields and disciplines such as philosophy, biology, psychology, social science, economics, politics, marketing and more. The academic study of need reached its peak in the 1950s with psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model. This theory states that humans need to satisfy certain lower order needs such as food, water and safety before higher-order needs of belonging and self-esteem can be fulfilled.
However, some experts in the field of philosophy disagree with the Maslow model and instead favor the idea that a person’s needs are subjective to each individual’s perspective. They believe that needs are determined by a person’s internal “assets” or “capacities,” which can be based on their physical health, mental health and cognitive abilities.
A person can identify their personal needs through self-reflection or by looking at the priorities that they set in their daily lives. A person may also use their family, friends or therapists to help them identify their needs. From there, a person can start working on their personal goals to fulfill those needs. For example, if someone has a need to learn a new skill, they can plan and execute ways to meet that goal. Similarly, if a person has a need for relaxation, they can try to schedule time in their day to get that fulfillment. This could be through a hobby, meditating or getting a massage. Regardless of the method, a person should aim to find satisfaction for their needs as they evolve and change throughout life. If a person doesn’t have their personal needs met, they can suffer from psychological and physical harm.