Human Needs

Principles of Health ScienceMr. Robert

Needs

A lack of something that is required or desired

Some needs have priority over other needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Lower needs should be met before can meet higher needs

Levels of need

Physiological Needs Safety Love and Affection Esteem Self-Actualization

Physiological Needs Food Water Oxygen Elimination of

waste Sleep Protection from

elements

There is even priority among these needs.

Safety

Need to be free from anxiety & fear

Need to feel secure in the environment

Need for order and routine

Love & Affection

Social Acceptance Friendship Need to belong Sexuality (also considered part of

physiological needs)

Esteem

Feeling important & worthwhile

Self actualization

People have obtained their full potential and are what they want to be

Confident Willing to express their beliefs and

stick to them Willing to reach out to others to

provide assistance

Methods of Satisfying Needs

Direct method Indirect method

Direct Methods

Hard work Realistic goals Situation evaluation Cooperation with others

Indirect Methods

Reduces the need and helps relieve the tension created by the unmet need but the need is still present

Defense mechanisms: unconscious acts that help a person deal with an unpleasant situation Can be healthy or unhealthy

Defense Mechanisms Rationalization Projection Displacement Comprehension Daydreaming

Repression Suppression Denial Withdrawal

Rationalization

Using a reasonable excuse or acceptable explanation for behavior in order to avoid the real reason or true motivation

Projection

Placing the blame for one’s own actions on someone else or on circumstances rather than accepting responsibility

Displacement

Transferring feelings about one person to someone else

Compensation

Substitution of one goal for another goal in order to achieve success

Daydreaming

Dreamlike thought process when a person is awake

Repression

Transfer of unacceptable or painful ideas, feelings and thoughts into the unconscious mind

Individual is not aware this is occuring

Suppression

Similar to repression but the individual is aware of the unacceptable feelings or thoughts and refuses to deal with them

Denial

Disbelief of an event or idea that is too frightening or shocking for a person to cope with

Often the individual is unaware that it is occurring

Withdrawal

Individuals either cease to communicate or remove themselves physically from a situation