The 13 types of human needs: what are they?

While human beings develop and our needs evolve, becoming their source of motivation, what leads us to act as we do.

Surely, one of the most important theorists regarding human needs and motivation is Abraham Maslow, a humanistic psychologist who proposed the "Theory of Human Needs", better known as Maslow's Pyramid.

• If you want to know more about this figure of humanistic psychology, you can read our article: "Abraham Maslow's theory of personality”

Types of human needs

In his famous pyramid, Maslow tells us about five human needs that are ordered in different levels, from the base of the figure to the highest part of it. These needs must be covered one by one to get to feel satisfied with ourselves and our lives. According to him, it is only possible to access the upper part of the pyramid if the previous needs have been met one by one.

However, there are other criteria for classifying human needs. Below we show you the different ways of classifying these needs. They are as follows:

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According to its importance or nature

Needs may or may not be vital, that is, they may carry an organic risk if they are not satisfied in some cases, and may be accessory to the survival of the individual in others.

1. Primary Needs

They are the vital needs, that is, are those whose satisfaction depends on the survival of the person. For example, eat, sleep, breathe, hydrate, etc. These are needs related to maintaining the minimum standards that allow the body to function well.

2. Secondary Needs

They are not vital but increase the level of satisfaction and well-being of the person. They usually have a cultural component, so they can be different depending on the culture and even the moment in time. For example, have a car, have a mobile phone. etc.

According to its origin

Depending on the origin, human needs can be:

3. Individual needs

They are the needs that an individual or person has, and they can be of two kinds:

• Natural: They are the primary needs: eat, drink water, etc.
• Social: Those of a cultural nature: wear a watch, celebrate a wedding, wear a tie, etc.

4. Collective needs

They are the needs of individuals as a group or society, that is, as citizens: public transport, security and order, etc.

According to its economic significance

Depending on whether they have an economic function or not, the needs may be ...

5. Financial needs

They are the needs that to carry them out it is necessary to carry out an economic activity. For example, the mobile or eating (buying food at the market).

6. Non-economic needs

These needs do not require an economic activity. For example, breathing, and fundamentally any area of ​​life that is beyond commercial transactions.

According to its nature

Maslow's theory also talks about deficit needs and the development of the person.

7. Deficit needs

They refer to the fact that there is a lack if we do not satisfy them, that is, we cannot live without them. They are the physiological, security, affiliation and recognition needs. Meeting deficit needs is important to avoid unpleasant feelings or consequences.

8. Development of being

They are important for personal growth, and they do not have to do with the deficit of something, but with the desire to grow as a person. Therefore, they are basically based on ideas about The I and the way in which these have an effect on the emotional states of the person.

According to Abraham Maslow

According to Maslow's theory, there are different human needs:

9. Physiological needs

The first level of Abraham Maslow's pyramid is made up of the basic needs that humans require every day: food, clothing and shelter. These daily needs are primary and physiological, and consist of the physical requirements for the human body to function properly, including air, water, and sleep. In other words, they are necessary for our survival, and if they are not satisfied, we could not stay alive. Therefore, human beings always need to cover them.

10. Security needs

In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid, second-level needs are security needs. Human beings need to be sure of their well-being and safety. For example, we do not like to worry about thieves in our home or that we do not have a house to be safe in. People value good health, as well as personal and financial security.

11. Membership needs

The third level in the hierarchy of human needs is the needs of affiliation or social needs. People need to love and be loved in return, they need to feel that others value them and need affection. Human beings also feel the need to belong to social groups and, consequently, we like to have a sense of connection and belonging with others.

We all need to fit in, interact and be accepted by the people around us. Family, friendship and the relationship are important for us to satisfy our social needs.

12. Recognition or esteem needs

People need to be respected and esteemed. This need for respect and self-respect constitutes the fourth level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. As with other people's needs, these needs are interrelated with other human needs and build a continuum with them. As a consequence, esteem needs have two phases.

The first, which extends from a person's social needs, is the need to earn the respect of others. This kind of need for respect drives individuals to seek fame, honor, and prestige. The second, which requires respect for oneself, not only from other people.

13. Self-actualization needs

These are the needs that are at the highest level of the pyramid. They have to do with what people want to become. When individuals have met their previous needs, they feel a strong desire to be the person they dream of being.

In other words, they feel the need to self-fulfill, to update their potentialities and to bring out their talent and the fullness of its nature. Maslow thinks that whatever potential a person has, they should bring it out. It is what the individual is born to do and what will make him happy.

• If you want to know what self-actualized people are like, you can visit our post: "13 characteristics of self-actualized people according to Abraham Maslow”