A need is something that a person can’t survive without, like water or food. While a want is a non-essential item, such as an air conditioner or a cheese burst pizza. Generally speaking, people tend to spend their time and energy fulfilling their needs before they fulfill their wants. For example, someone in need will find a safe place to sleep at night rather than spend money on designer clothes.
The concept of need has been explored in a variety of ways by philosophers, psychologists, and sociologists. The most widely known academic model was proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943, who developed a hierarchy of psychological needs that range from basic physiological (or lower order) requirements such as food and water through to higher order desires such as belonging and self-actualization.
Most people will experience a need for food, water, clothing and shelter at some point in their lives. Maslow’s theory suggests that a person must fulfill their lower order needs before they can move on to fulfill higher order desires, such as feeling connected and loved.
In addition to providing meals, housing and other basic services, Blanchet House offers support to help people meet their needs for belonging and self-actualization. The organization believes that these higher needs are just as important for a person’s well-being as their physical and mental health, and they need to be met for a person to reach their full potential.
While some people may have a clear definition of their own personal needs, others may find it difficult to identify them. A good way to begin is by writing down a list of experiences in life that make a person feel happy or successful. This list can be compiled in a journal, on an online document or by asking friends and family members what experiences made them feel fulfilled.
Once a list is compiled, it’s important to narrow it down to four personal needs. From there, a plan can be created to meet these needs in a beneficial manner. For example, if one of the personal needs is to develop a skill, then steps can be taken to enroll in cooking classes or take art lessons.
As social workers, it’s our job to ensure that everyone’s basic needs are being met in society. However, we shouldn’t stop there, as people deserve to pursue happiness and growth in every area of their lives. To do this, we need to understand the difference between a need and a want and provide a safe environment for all individuals to thrive in. This includes ensuring that homeless individuals receive the resources they need to fulfill their higher orders of needs, such as finding work and sobriety. Ultimately, this will lead to a greater sense of belonging for all individuals in society.