A need is something essential for survival or basic functioning. Needs include things like food, water, shelter and clothing. Wants, on the other hand, are desires for items or experiences that enhance comfort, pleasure, or quality of life but are not necessary for survival. Examples of wants include luxury items, entertainment and specific brands of clothing.
People often confuse the terms need and want, and this confusion can have negative consequences. If a person fulfills a need but not a want, they may feel dissatisfied or even unhappy. If a person tries to meet a need but it is impossible, they may be in danger of death or injury.
Need is a term that is used in many contexts, including in the fields of medicine, economics, and psychology. One of the most widely accepted academic models of needs is Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which posits that human beings have a series of overlapping and interrelated psychological needs, ranging from lower order physiological or safety needs (e.g., food, water and shelter) to higher order needs for belonging, esteem and self-actualization.
Maslow’s theory is based on the idea that human beings are driven to fulfill their needs. People will usually devote most of their resources to achieving the basic levels of his hierarchy, and only once these are met will the higher level desires for self-actualization begin to be satisfied. The theory is not without its critics, however, who point out that a person’s perception of their own needs can vary greatly depending on cultural factors and individual circumstances.
The academic study of needs reached a peak in the 1950s but receives much less attention today. One reason for this is that the concept of needs can be difficult to define objectively, since different cultures have radically different conceptions of what it means to be human and what it costs to live within those societies. In addition, the needs of a person may change throughout his or her lifetime, reflecting changing attitudes and circumstances.
Needs are also important in the field of financial management. For example, when a person manages their own money, they need to determine which expenses are essential and which ones are optional or desirable. This involves making a budget for various regular expenses and financial goals, as well as determining whether large lump sum payments are towards necessities or into investments and insurance premiums.
The word need can also be used figuratively, to refer to the desire for certain emotions or behaviors. For example, a person may say that they “need to be loved” or that they “have a need for sex.” This use of the word reflects the importance of love and connection in relationships. In fact, some psychologists would argue that a need for connection and sex is a fundamental human need, even more basic than a need for survival. A need for sex, on the other hand, is likely to be perceived as a want.