Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Four Basic Human Needs - Antonio 2011

We all have heard of different theories regarding to basic human needs. I have been learning about them and using them as part of my training when relating to motivation. After few years of experience, I have finally developed my own opinion in basic human needs, which are need of security, status, involvement and supreme.

Need of “Security” is the ultimate need of human being in my opinion. It is a need, which we keep pursuing. We will work through obstacles to achieve such need, even if it requires risking our life or freedom. Need of security includes food, shelter, clothing, safety and saving. Saving, is the define factor that makes each individual different within this very basic need of mankind. The amount of saving I have in order to provide me a sense of security varies with others. We all need to observe a certain amount of saving in order to feel assured about the future.

As I have mentioned earlier, people could risk their life or freedom to pursuit for the need of security. Therefore, often we witness people commit crime while suffer in financial drawbacks. Our ancestors demonstrate the desire to fulfill this need by hunting animals that can be stronger and more vital. In addition, they also practiced to save food for future, which put my earlier statement with proof.

Our 2nd basic need is “Status”. We all looking forward to obtain a certain status, and be recognized by the society. Status is a need that incorporates closely with our need of security, because recognition from the society forms secure feeling. We work hard to get promotion or achievement in order to have a title to share amount communities. We often believe the higher the status the more secure the life is. That’s the reason why we observed the princes fight for crown and children fight for parents’ business ownership.

Through the status change, our need of security changes too. When we are young, we only wish to have a car to take us everywhere. When we become older, we start to dream for Porsche. This is all due to status change. The need of status is getting more critical nowadays, which results credit debtors. People try to fulfill their need of status through luxury goods. This often happens to youngster, because they only have limited chance to acquire a status. Therefore, they shift their focus to those goods that can represent a certain status amount friends.

I would summarize the above needs as tangible needs. Both needs serve almost the same purpose, which is a secure life. As mankind, our security often builds on material goods instead of inner peace. Our ancestors searched for cave and we look for houses, place where we can touch and feel secure.

The next two needs are consider intangible needs. They are more spiritual, and related to our inner feeling.

Involvement”, we all seek to involve in the society. We all desire to be part of a group. We need a sense of belongingness. Therefore, we hang out with people that share the same interest. We desire to be heard and identified as individuals. As a result, we use Facebook, Twitter, and start a blog. This is all due to our need of involvement.

Involvement helps us to feel important and unique. We gain responsiveness through participating in activities and groups. We found our love one, because they recognize us differently compare to others. They love us more than others. They consistently listen to us, and try to agree with us at most of time. They encourage us continuously and never give up on us easily. Detect those failure marriages around us. Majority of them fail for the same reason, there is no significant love between the two parties. They fail to engage each other in their life. They fail to involve each other. However the best thing is, we will keep finding the right the one or get a pet, so we can fulfill the need of involvement easily at home.

Last, the need of “Supreme”. This is a need that helps us to be different, which is anticipated by all mankind. Many have put it in better words such as self-actualization or contribution. I would prefer to call it as the need of supreme. This need provides people a reason to do things that return only a good name. Charity is one of the ways to fulfill this need, especially for the world leaders. The act of performing charity furnishes us a sense of supreme amount others. We feel good for such act, and we share amount friends. One can prove me wrong by telling me stories about anonymous helping the poor, and my 1st question would be “How do you know it?” We partake social responsibility, because we need to feel different and better. We know people will compliment us on such act. We do not need to hear those compliments in person, because we foresee it happens.

In fact, I name the last need as the need of supreme, for our world leaders. Countless world leaders have been consistently participating in charity work, while they also unfailingly purchase new luxury automobiles, or collect more properties. Imagine if our world leaders would truly desire to find a solution to solve the poor’s problem. Would there still be the problem? There are millions of people suffering in hunger in the world, and our leaders cannot do anything to solve this problem. They have been donating a lot of money, but the problem still exists. Better yet they still could afford another Lamborghini or jet. They still take 1st class seat during business trip. These indulgence behaviors are total contradiction with their statements to help the poor. Hence, I have finally recognized and realized that the act of helping the poor serve only a purpose in them, to feel supreme and beyond others. This totally makes sense if we look back at our M-shape society again.

Anyway, I should stop diverse my writing.

The above four needs are those I found important to human, and considered as basic needs in my opinion. I am glade to present my view with you for those reading this blog. Thank you for helping me to fulfill both my need of involvement and supreme. I knew that I have not done any charity work here, through this blog. Yet, by sharing my thought and try to influence a group of people, it is consider a way of fulfill our need of supreme too. So, thank you.

2 comments:

  1. you don't need to do any charity work through this blog to fulfill your need of supreme. from what I see, the need of supreme can be fulfilled not only through monetary contribution/charity, but it could also through contributing time (volunteers works) and ideas/thoughts (like what you are doing through this blog.

    keep on writing. as a fresh graduates with limited knowledge of the real world, your blog is full with fresh ideas. thank you!

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  2. Thank you for your appreciation. I will keep writing and share my thought.

    ReplyDelete