The word need describes the desire for something essential, which can include things like food, water, and shelter. It can also describe the desire for a sense of belonging or self-worth. The concept of need is central to a number of academic fields, including psychology, sociology, and educational psychology. The academic study of need reached its zenith in the 1950s, but it still receives attention today.
The most widely known psychological theory of need focuses on the idea that people have a hierarchy of needs, from the physiological or lower-order needs of food, water and safety through to higher-order social or growth needs such as belonging, esteem and self-actualization. This theory was developed by psychologist Abraham Maslow in 1943 and remains one of the most influential models of human motivation.
However, defining what exactly constitutes a need can be challenging. In part, this is because the details of how a person meets his or her needs can vary across different contexts. Furthermore, the definition of a need is often culturally specific. For example, some cultures may place a greater emphasis on the need to belong than others.
Moreover, it is possible for the concept of need to be used as an economic tool to measure the well-being of a country or region. Using the needs model, economists can compare the relative income of individuals in different countries and regions. In this way, they can estimate the degree to which a nation or region is underdeveloped in terms of its ability to provide its citizens with essential goods and services.
In addition to the need to belong, there is a growing body of evidence that shows the importance of the need for autonomy in human motivation and well-being. For example, studies show that children who feel a strong need for autonomy in their schools have better school outcomes than those who do not. In addition, the need for autonomy is a predictor of lifelong mental health.
Another academic field that has studied the need for belonging is social exchange theory, which explains that human beings have an innate desire to affiliate with other members of their species. This need for affiliation is thought to have evolved in order to make culture possible, so that humans could survive and reproduce more successfully.
In English, there are three articles – definite, indefinite, and zero. The definite article the is used when you and your reader or listener both know about the noun that you are referring to. For example, you would use the article the when referring to a meeting that both you and the other person are attending this afternoon. Generally, you should only use the definite article when the noun is already familiar to you and your reader or listener. Otherwise, it might sound pompous and pretentious to write or speak in this fashion. There are some exceptions to this rule, though, and even native speakers of English sometimes disagree about when to use the definite article.