Human Needs
Needs
are defined as a lack of
something that is required or
desired.
 Needs motivate the individual to
behave or act so that the needs
will be met if at all possible
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
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Developed by a
psychologist named
Abraham Maslow
Certain needs have
priority over other
needs
Lower needs must be
met before an
individual can strive for
the higher needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
SelfActualization
Esteem
Belongingness and Love
Safety
Physiological
Physiological Needs

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These are the basic
needs required by
everyone to sustain life
Food, water, oxygen,
elimination of waste
materials, protection
from extreme
temperatures
Sensory needs
If not met, a person
may die
Safety


Includes the need
to be free from
anxiety and fear
and the need to
feel secure in the
environment
The need for order
and routine and
stablility

New
environment,
divorce, job
loss, disease,
illness or injury
can threaten
an individual’s
sense safety
Love and Affection

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Social acceptance,
friendship, and love
The need to
belong, to relate to
others and win
approval of others
Must be able to
give and receive
affection and love
Sexuality


Sexuality is both a part of the need for love
and affection as well as a physiological
need
Sexuality is…
 People’s feelings concerning their
masculine or feminine natures
 Their ability to give and receive love and
affection
 Their roles in reproduction of the species
Sexuality


Sexuality involves
a person’s feelings
and attitudes, not
just the person’s
sexual
relationships
Sexuality extends
throughout the life
cycle
Esteem

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Feeling important and
worthwhile – includes
respect, approval,
appreciation
We engage in
activities that bring
achievement, success,
and recognition
We gain selfconfidence and begin
to direct our actions
toward becoming what
we WANT to be
Self-Actualization

Self-realization;
obtaining our full
potential; becoming
confident, eager to
express our beliefs,
and willing to reach
out to others to
help them
When needs are felt – we are
motivated to act.
If we are successful, we feel
satisfaction, pleasure, fulfillment.
If the needs are not met, we feel
tension, and frustration,
Needs


If several needs
are felt at one time
and individual must
decide which is the
strongest
People feel needs
at different levels of
intensity

As we grow older
we learn more
effective ways to
meet our needs
To Meet Our Human Needs

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We usually learn what works by trialand-error
Direct methods v. Indirect methods
To Meet Our Human Needs

Direct – work at
meeting the need
and obtaining
satisfaction




Hard work
Realistic goals
Evaluate the
situation
Cooperate with
others

Indirect Methods
– work at reducing
the need or
relieving the
tension and
frustration created
by the unmet
needs. Need is still
present, but its
intensity decreases
Defense Mechanisms

Provides a method for maintaining
self-esteem and relieving discomfort


Some use is helpful to cope with certain
situations
Some is harmful(unhealthy) if substituted
for more effective ways of dealing with
situations
Defense Mechanisms
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Rationalization – using 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 or inadequacies on someone
else or on circumstances rather than
accepting the the responsibility for actions
Defense Mechanisms

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Displacement – transferring the
feelings about one person to someone
else – usually occurs because cannot
direct the feelings towards the person
who is responsible
Compensation – substitution of one
goal for another goal in order to
achieve success
Defense Mechanisms


Daydreaming – dreamlike thought process
that occurs when a person is awake.
Provides means of escape when a person is
not satisfied with reality
Repression – The transfer of unacceptable
or painful ideas, feelings, and thoughts into
the unconscious mind
Defense Mechanisms
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Denial – involves disbelief of an event
or idea that is too frightening or
shocking for a person to cope with
Withdrawal –


Cease to communicate
Remove themselves physically from a
situation
Defense Mechanisms
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Minimization – trivializing
significance on one’s behavior
Regression – resorting to earlier
stage of life
Defense Mechanisms
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Reaction-formation – Act
opposite to how you feel
Intellectualization – use of
academic-type explanation to
separate personal feelings from
painful event
Stress Reactions

Stress reactions develop when defense
mechanisms are inadequate
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Chronic complaining and demanding behavior
Agitation with manipulative behavior
Restlessness
Sleeplessness
Depression-be alert for potential suicide
Withdrawal
To Meet the Needs of Others
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Personalized healthcare focuses on
the patient and meeting their needs
and expectations
Challenges
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Meet the patient’s needs to the best of
your ability
Set standards of excellence for
yourself