What is a need - its types, classification, as well as the pyramid of human needs from Maslow

Need for cognition

The tendency for cognitive activity is inherent in man by nature. One of the distinctive abilities of man, which sets him apart from the animal world, is the ability to ask questions and seek answers to them. The ability to ask complex, deep questions indicates a developed intellectual personality. Thanks to cognitive activity, an individual improves, develops, and achieves desired goals. In addition to learning about the world around us, a person gets to know himself; this process begins from the first years of life.

Cognition begins with the perception of the surrounding space, into which the baby is immersed from the moment of birth in this world. The baby tastes different objects: toys, his own clothes, everything that comes to hand. Growing up, he begins to comprehend the world through thinking, comparing and contrasting different information, observations, and facts.

The need for knowledge inherent in humans can be explained by the following reasons:

1. Presence of consciousness.
2. Innate curiosity.
3. The pursuit of truth.
4. Tendency to creative activity (interrelated with cognition).
5. The desire to improve one's own life and the life of the entire society.
6. The desire to anticipate and overcome unforeseen difficulties, for example, natural disasters.

Understanding the world around us is a continuous process; it does not stop after graduating from school, university, or retirement. As long as a person is alive, he will strive to comprehend the secrets and laws of the universe, the surrounding space, and himself.

Test with answers: “Human needs”

1. The needs of a person, confirming his kinship with other representatives of the natural world, include: a) the need for procreation + b) the need for knowledge c) the need for work

2. The human need, which confirms his family connection with other representatives of the natural world, includes: a) the need for knowledge b) the need for sleep + c) the need for self-knowledge

3. Needs force a person to act, is this true: a) no b) unknown c) yes +

4. People’s feelings are varied and individual, is this true: a) no b) unknown c) yes +

5. It is necessary to choose a sentence containing an assessment: a) Aesthetic feelings embody the joy of communicating with nature and works of art. b) The ability to think distinguishes humans from animals. c) Thoughts are the most important component of the spiritual world. +

6. Indicate a sentence that contains an assessment: a) The ability to think distinguishes humans from animals. b) Thinking about a problem and finding its solution is not an easy task. + c) Aesthetic feelings embody the joy of communicating with nature and works of art.

7. Which of the following conditions contributes to a person becoming a social subject: a) any interaction with the outside world + b) passive interaction with the outside world c) active interaction with the outside world

8. An approach that considers the problems of human needs as an active social subject is called: a) systemic b) activity-based + c) axiological

9. The condition for a person to achieve the goal of “being himself, according to Fromm, is: a) to be a person for others b) to be a person for everyone c) to be a person for oneself +

10. What changes occur during a person’s adaptation to the external environment: a) conditions of social culture b) human nature + c) conditions of human interaction with the environment

11. For human evolution, the main condition is: a) a gradual change in conditions in the area of ​​human existence b) the process of improvement (“expansion”) of consciousness c) human adaptability to changing environmental conditions +

12. Resources that satisfy human needs are: a) situational b) limited + c) unlimited

13. What limits a person’s choice of means to satisfy his own needs: a) opportunities + b) value orientations c) needs

14. The main character in a society with a market economy is: a) personality b) individual c) consumer +

15. The subject of study of serviceology as a science is considered to be: a) individual customer service + b) mass customer service c) methods of organizing customer service

16. The nature of man as an integral being: a) biological b) biosocial + c) social

17. A person’s perceived need for what he needs for life is called: a) need + b) self-awareness c) desire

18. The spiritual world of a person is formed independently of society, is this true: a) yes b) no + c) unknown

19. What, in addition to judgment and inference, constitute the content of human thinking: a) needs b) conclusions c) concepts +

20. What situation demonstrates a person’s social needs is illustrated by: a) In her free time, Dasha likes to chat with her friends. + b) Vova loves to read. c) Sasha loves chocolate ice cream.

21. A person’s needs, which confirm his relationship with other representatives of the natural world, include: a) the need for work b) the need for the approval of others c) the need for water +

22. The human need, which confirms his family connection with other representatives of the natural world, includes: a) the need for self-knowledge b) the need for rest + c) the need for work

23. Of the proposed options, indicate the only correct one: a) Emotions and feelings are no different. b) The needs for communication and work are classified as biological needs of a person. c) Emotions determine a person’s mood at one time or another. +

24. Choose the correct answer from the options below: a) People can express their feelings in different ways. + b) The needs for communication and work are classified as biological needs of a person. c) Emotions and feelings are no different.

25. Which sentence contains an assessment: a) Aesthetic feelings embody the joy of communicating with nature and works of art. b) These include moral, aesthetic and intellectual feelings. c) Among the feelings, a special place belongs to the so-called higher feelings. +

26. The established way of behavior of a person in a certain situation is: a) activity b) habit + c) ability

27. Human needs do not depend on the life of society, is this true: a) no + b) yes c) partly

28. The needs associated with human survival are called biological, physiological, or in another way: a) social b) material + c) individual

29. Which situation demonstrates a person’s social needs: a) Natalya has many friends. + b) Igor loves lemonade. c) Mikhail goes in for sports.

30. The human need, which confirms his family relationship with other representatives of the natural world, includes: a) the need for knowledge b) the need for cognition c) the need for food +

Types and ways of knowing

There are many methods and ways of obtaining knowledge about the world around us. Depending on the predominance of a person’s sensory or mental activity, two types of knowledge are distinguished: sensory and rational. Sensory cognition is based on the activity of the senses, rational cognition is based on thinking.

The following forms of cognition are also distinguished:

1. Everyday (everyday) . A person gains knowledge based on his life experience. He observes the people around him, situations, phenomena that he encounters every day throughout his life. Based on this experience, a person forms his idea of ​​the world and society; it is not always true, and is often erroneous.

Example. Marya Ivanovna, a high school mathematics teacher, believes that all students cheat. She formed this opinion thanks to her rich life experience, having worked at school for more than 10 years. But, in reality, her conclusions are erroneous and exaggerated, because there are guys who complete all the tasks on their own.

1. Scientific knowledge . It is carried out in the process of a targeted search for objective knowledge that can be proven in theory and in practice. Methods of scientific knowledge: comparison, observation, experiment, generalization, analysis. The results of scientific knowledge are theorems, hypotheses, scientific facts, discoveries, and theories. If you open any school textbook, most of the information contained in it is the result of long-term scientific knowledge.
2. Religious knowledge is belief in divine and demonic forces: God, angels, the Devil, devils, the existence of heaven and hell. It can be based on belief in one single God, or many Gods. Religious knowledge also includes beliefs in mystical powers and the supernatural.
3. Artistic knowledge is the perception of the world based on ideas about beauty. Cognition is carried out through artistic images and means of art.
4. Social cognition is a continuous process of acquiring knowledge about society as a whole, individual social groups, and people in society.
5. Philosophical knowledge is based on interest in the search for truth, comprehension of man’s place in the surrounding world, the universe. Philosophical knowledge is discussed when the questions are asked: “Who am I,” “For what purpose was I born,” “What is the meaning of life,” “What place do I occupy in the universe,” “Why is a person born, sick, and dead?”

Maslow's pyramid of needs

Initially, Abraham Maslow's pyramid of needs had only 5 steps and looked like this:

1. Physiological needs (the lowest level in the hierarchy) are the natural desires of the body, without which the body will die. To live and feel good, we must breathe, eat, drink water, have sex, etc.;
2. The need for security - if a person is watered, fed, warmly dressed, he thinks about how to prolong his comfortable state, that is, about stability, protection from threats from the outside world (a very hungry individual sometimes does dangerous things to get food. In this moment the second stage does not bother him at all);
3. Social needs - a person who feels safe, strives to build connections in society, communicates, engages in joint activities with someone, takes care of others;
4. The need for prestige is the desire to be respected, to occupy the elite strata of society, to achieve high results, to be an idol and example for others, to have “weight” in society;
5. Spiritual needs (highest level) represent the development of creativity, the expression of abilities (self-actualization), knowing oneself and understanding who I am (self-identity).

Later, the author adjusted the above classification and added two more stages . It is important to note that Maslow himself considers the last level unattainable for most people.

So, the updated version of the structure:

1. Physiological – food, water, sleep, rest;
2. The need for security – comfort, stability, predictability;
3. In belonging to someone and love (to love and be loved);
4. The need for respect - achieving success, recognition in society;
5. In cognition – exploration of the surrounding world, obtaining new information;
6. Aesthetic needs - the desire for beauty and harmony;
7. In self-actualization (highest) – internal development, embodiment of ideas, personal growth, satisfaction of existential needs (answers to the questions “who am I” and “why”, transfer of accumulated experience).

The first three needs according to Maslow are lower or basic , they are available to all mentally healthy people as human beings. The remaining four are the highest , available only to individuals after satisfying the first three.

It often happens that an individual spends his whole life stewing at the lower levels, without ever reaching at least the first step from the higher ones and without revealing his individuality.

Sensory cognition

Sensory cognition is the first type of cognitive activity available to humans. It is carried out through the perception of the world based on the activity of the senses.

• With the help of vision, an individual perceives visual images, shapes, and distinguishes colors.
• Through touch, he perceives the surrounding space by touch.
• Thanks to the sense of smell, a person can distinguish more than 10,000 different odors.
• Hearing is one of the main senses in the process of cognition; with its help, not only sounds from the surrounding world are perceived, but also knowledge is disseminated.
• Special receptors located on the tongue allow a person to feel 4 basic tastes: bitter, sour, sweet, salty.

Thus, thanks to the activity of all senses, a holistic idea of ​​an object, an object, a living being, or a phenomenon is formed. Sensory cognition is available to all living beings, but has a number of disadvantages:

1. The activity of the senses is limited, especially in humans. For example, a dog has a stronger sense of smell, an eagle has vision, an elephant has hearing, and an echidna has a stronger sense of touch.
2. Often sensory knowledge excludes logic.
3. Based on the activity of the senses, the individual is drawn into emotions: beautiful images cause admiration, an unpleasant smell causes disgust, a sharp sound causes fear.

According to the degree of knowledge of the surrounding space, it is customary to distinguish the following types of sensory knowledge:

• 1st view - sensation . It represents a separate characteristic of an object, obtained through the activity of one of the sense organs.

Example. Nastya smelled hot bread while walking down the street; it was brought by the wind from the bakery where bread was being baked. Petya saw a shelf with oranges in the store window, but he did not have money with him to go in and buy them.

• 2nd type - perception . This is a set of sensations that creates a holistic picture, a general image of an object or phenomenon.

Example. Nastya was attracted by the delicious smell, went into the bakery and bought bread there. It was still hot, with a crispy crust, and Nastya ate half of it at once during lunch. Petya asked his mother to buy oranges at home, in the store opposite the house. They were large and bright in color, but they tasted sour and disgusting. Petya could not finish even one piece of fruit.

• 3rd view – presentation . This is the memory of an object, a subject explored earlier, thanks to the activity of the senses.

Example. Feeling the familiar smell of bread, Nastya immediately wanted to have lunch; she well remembered the crispy crust of a fresh hot loaf. Petya, having attended a friend’s name day, grimaced at the sight of oranges on the table; he immediately remembered the sour taste of the recently eaten fruit.

Need is...

It is not difficult to understand what needs are, since the answer is contained in the root of the word itself.

This is a requirement of the body (in a broad sense) of something, a need, a lack , which is felt in the form of psychological and physical discomfort.

For example, you want to eat: your stomach “whines”, your activity decreases, your blood pressure drops, irritation and nervousness set in. The longer you go without food, the worse your general condition becomes. But as soon as you have a full meal - satisfy the feeling of hunger, both your mood and well-being improve.

Thus, the need manifests itself at the level of physical sensations and emotions .

The resulting discomfort forces a person to look for a source with which he can relieve himself of need, which automatically brings pleasure.

And now you are heading to the refrigerator and looking for something tasty there, or going to the grocery store. Having had a nice meal, you relax, and you want to lie down on the couch and enjoy being full, and maybe even sleep. This is the next need - the previous one has been satisfied.

Then you will want something else, and more, and more. The human individual is constantly in a state of need, some desires are replaced by others . Actually, thanks to them, we are active and always strive for something: be it sleep, love or recognition.

Human needs are limitless, arise at birth and end after death.

https://youtu.be/CerWUxBS2AM

Rational cognition

Rational knowledge is knowledge based on logical thinking. It differs from the sensory in important characteristics:

• Availability of evidence. If the result of sensory cognition are sensations obtained from one’s own experience, then the result of rational cognition are facts that can be proven using scientific methods.
• The systematic nature of the knowledge gained . Knowledge is not isolated from each other, it is interconnected into a system of concepts and theories, forming separate sciences.

Example. History is a science based on rational knowledge. All knowledge obtained with its help is systematized and complements each other.

• The presence of a conceptual apparatus . Thanks to rational knowledge, concepts and definitions are created that can be used in the future.

Methods of rational cognition are:

• logical method (the use of logical thinking in knowing something);
• synthesis (connection of individual parts, data into a single whole);
• observation;
• measurement;
• comparison (determining differences, similarities);

All existing sciences and teachings were created on the basis of rational knowledge.

Human needs are an important point of self-realization

If needs are not fulfilled, then a person creates karmic obligations for himself.

Happiness is a feeling of wholeness, accompanied by joy, peace, and tranquility. Being in this state, a person understands his unlimited possibilities in creativity and action in a given place and at a given moment in time.

There are different human needs. To move on to work at a higher level, it is necessary to satisfy (at least partially) the needs of the lower level. But people, as a rule, do not know them. Most unconscious needs are hidden in the subconscious. It is in the desire to satisfy them that it gradually begins to control us. Thus, we become hostages of the subconscious, uncontrollably fulfilling its whims.

Human needs can be classified by dividing them into levels. We compiled this classification based on the sources of these needs of those giving birth, namely: the physical body, the energy body, the body of emotions, in which the motives of the needs of sensations and feelings are hidden, the mental body, representing the intellect, and other higher bodies.

In our interpretation, they are similar to Maslow’s levels of needs, but there are also differences.

Ways to find information

In modern times, information search has become one of the ways to understand the world around us. A wide variety of media greatly increases a person’s cognitive capabilities. Thus, cognition is carried out through:

• printed publications (newspapers, books, magazines);
• Internet;
• television;
• radio broadcasting;

Using the Internet you can very quickly and easily find almost any information, but it is not always reliable. Therefore, when choosing ways to search for information, you need to be careful and check data in different sources.

Example. In 2012, many articles were published on the Internet that foreshadowed the end of the world. Some talked about an asteroid falling to Earth, others about global warming and flooding of the land surface. But this could be easily verified by finding research by different scientists about upcoming natural disasters and comparing their results with each other.

Self-knowledge

From an early age, a person observes his appearance, evaluates his activities, and compares himself with others. Every year he learns something new about himself: abilities, character traits, and personality traits manifest themselves. Self-knowledge of a person is not a quick, gradual process. By recognizing one's strengths and weaknesses, a person can improve and develop.

Self-knowledge consists of several levels:

1. Self-recognition. At the age of 1-1.5 years, the child begins to recognize himself in the mirror and understand that his reflection is there.
2. Introspection. The individual observes his actions, thoughts, and actions.
3. Introspection. A person is aware of his character qualities, characteristics, evaluates them, and compares them with moral standards. He compares his actions and the results to which they led.
4. Self-esteem. A person develops a stable idea of ​​himself as an individual. Self-esteem can be objective, suspended or underestimated.

In addition, self-knowledge can be directed by a person to his own mental, creative or physical abilities. A separate type is spiritual self-knowledge, in this case a person is interested in the nature of his soul.

Human needs from a psychological point of view

The process of satisfying a need is nothing more than a purposeful activity. At this moment, the person focuses all his attention on it: sets a goal, looks for means to achieve it, and takes specific actions.

Psychology studies human needs most thoroughly . After all, a person’s happiness and mental balance depend precisely on whether he knows how to satisfy his desires or not.

“Healers of the Soul” highlight several interesting features in this topic:

1. A person's need can be realized, or maybe not.

   In the first case, the person has the opportunity to satisfy it without hindrance. The second option is a field for psychologists to work on: for a long time, people may experience mental suffering (they are often somatized - manifested through bodily symptoms), but still not understand what they really want.

   And if you don’t know what you want, then you have no idea how to get rid of discomfort and make yourself happy.
   An unconscious craving for something is called attraction , a conscious one is called desire;

2. At the moment when the understanding comes of what you really want (objectification), gives rise to a motive.

   Motive (motivation) is the driving force thanks to which we begin to do something. A girl wants to lose weight (goal), for this she begins to eat right, go to the gym (actions), and all because it is important for her to please the opposite sex (motive) in order to feel in demand (need);

3. The more acute the need, the more negative emotions.

   Therefore, know: if you are very irritated, it means that some of your needs are not being satisfied at the moment. The stronger the emotion, the stronger your desire for something. You need to listen to yourself and understand what you want: water, sex, relaxation, fame, or maybe you want attention from that handsome young man);

4. It often happens that at one moment there are immediately two needs.

   If one of them has a more pronounced relevance, then by setting priorities, a person will satisfy them one after another. For example, you came home from work, you are tired and very hungry. You may decide that sleep is more important and go to bed. Or do the same, but have a quick snack before doing it.

However, there are situations in which a person simply cannot make a choice and suffers from it. Remember the parable about Buridan's donkey? He died of hunger because he could not choose which of two piles of hay was more appetizing. This is roughly the same thing that happens to people.

A situation where needs are two equal piles of hay is called internal conflict , which can be resolved with the help of a psychologist.

The rich inner world of man

The inner world of a person is his desires, goals, beliefs, worldview, ideas about himself and other people, values. You can notice your appearance immediately and appreciate its attractiveness, but with the inner world things are more complicated. At first glance it is invisible, but over time it manifests itself in a person’s communication and actions.

It often happens that an outwardly unattractive person still evokes sympathy due to his inner qualities. Conversely, a beautiful person quickly causes disappointment if he behaves stupidly, impudently, and selfishly. So the inner world and appearance, actions - form a single whole, making up a general idea of ​​\u200b\u200ba person.