What are the physiological needs of a person?

What are physiological needs

Human physiological needs are the most important driver of behavior for both individuals and entire nations. We know from history how, fleeing hunger, tribes on barren lands went to war against their neighbors, recapturing their fields and livestock. The thirst of those lost in the desert could push them to kill if another person stood between them and the water. Therefore, no one will argue about the importance of these human needs. However, fortunately, people do not live only by them. Otherwise, absolutely nothing would distinguish us from animals living by instincts. What, besides food and water, does a person need? Let's look below.

What needs does a person have besides physiological? Maslow's pyramid

This concept is interpreted differently in many branches of science. The famous American psychologist A. Maslow even created the so-called “pyramid of needs”. This is a unique model of human motivation. This pyramid has gained enormous popularity; it was literally taken brick by brick by marketers, psychologists and psychiatrists, advertising creators and management luminaries. However, the professor himself never used it to explain his theories. He considered the physiological needs of a person to be leading only when they were pathologically dissatisfied. Simply put, food becomes the main thing for a person during its (possibly long) absence. If the individual is full, then that need gives way to higher and more valuable ones.

At the heart of the diagram we see human physiological needs, such as hunger and thirst, as well as key sexual instincts (or libidinal, as the great Freud called them).

Safety comes second. The concept is somewhat vague, it includes the well-known concept of comfort, coziness, stability of the habitat (home), protection from external factors and possible enemies. And only in third place are social needs, that is, a person will think about their satisfaction after satiation and being in comfort. That is, the physiological need is key. After social ones (communication, care, general affairs), the fourth level of the diagram depicts the so-called “prestigious”, or needs for prestige, that is, for respect and self-esteem (whether these concepts are related or not, we’ll let psychologists figure it out). The crown of the pyramid is spiritual needs.

Advantages and disadvantages

As is easy to see, the pyramid of needs is not just a classification of them, but reflects a certain hierarchy: instinctive needs, basic, sublime. Every person experiences all these desires, but the following pattern comes into force here: basic needs are considered dominant, and higher-order needs are activated only when the basic ones are satisfied. But it should be understood that needs can be expressed completely differently for each person. And this happens at any level of the pyramid. For this reason, a person must correctly understand his desires, learn to interpret them and adequately satisfy them, otherwise he will constantly be in a state of dissatisfaction and disappointment. By the way, Abraham Maslow took the position that only 2% of all people reach the fifth stage.

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Why do you need to satisfy physiological needs?

Satisfaction of needs according to Maslow comes from the bottom up. That is, only with the most complete satisfaction of the lower level is a transition to the highest possible. The spiritual and social development of a person is important, but in the grip of hunger he simply will not have time for them. These schemes were used by tyrants and generals in ancient powers even before our era. Hungry people are easier to manage than well-fed people. The unsatisfied physiological needs of the human body prevented him from thinking, much less striving for freedom or independence. Fortunately, tyranny and the slave system have been almost eradicated today, but marketers and creators (creators of advertising) have taken possession of the truly magical secret pyramid. They construct their texts by appealing to the lower instincts of man.

Social needs

According to the definition, this is the need for something, the need for something that will satisfy the desires and requests that have arisen. The social essence of human needs is manifested in what is not characteristic of animals and is explained by his belonging to the human race:

1. He needs communication and recognition of the merits of his personality by other members of society, self-respect, achieving a certain position in society, in power.
2. He wants to be useful to others, to help the weak and sick, to love and be loved, a good friend.
3. He is ready to defend freedom, peace and justice.

Of course, these and other personal needs are not expressed clearly enough in all people. A person can have various negative qualities: to be selfish, with hypertrophied self-esteem, in critical situations - a coward, a traitor. His personal qualities and social needs are the result of family and public upbringing, education, and cultural development.

Physiological needs of the child

Why are we given physiological needs? The answer is simple - for survival. Without these needs, we simply would not be able to survive and live. A person is already born with these needs. This can be seen especially clearly in the example of newborns. Eating for a baby is usually caused by a demanding loud cry. And this is understandable, the child cannot say or demand what is necessary in any other way. The baby’s key needs are food, maternal warmth (which replaces several needs of our pyramid at once: safety and social contact), good sleep and normal well-being. When these needs of the child are met, we will get a calm, smiling child who wants to play and see something interesting; when dissatisfied - a continuously screaming and crying lump, reminiscent of a wounded animal.

Physiological needs of an adult

The needs of an adult repeat the needs of a child in everything, only one more particularly important instinct is added to them - reproduction (sexual, libidinal). This “basic instinct,” if dissatisfied, can turn a person into a real aggressor. With adequate hormonal background, of course. Nowadays, due to environmental pollution, poor nutrition and other factors, this need is muted for many. However, there are also people for whom it exceeds other needs, which pushes them to crime. Fortunately, there are only a few of them, and they most likely have a history of psychiatric pathologies.

As for healthy people, where this physiological need is in its rightful place, it is worth saying that it is wrong to both underestimate its importance and exaggerate it. The latter is characteristic of cinema and pop stars, who appeal with their appearance and creativity to this ancient instinct. A healthy, appropriate attitude is very important here. Intimate relationships are important for a person, but this does not mean that you need to indulge in them at every opportunity. The ideal option is marriage or a stable relationship with a loved one.

Details

Abraham Maslow

According to the theory of American psychologist Abraham Maslow, developed in 1943 (the so-called personality motivation model), the most basic human needs that play a major role in human behavior are physiological. The normal state of the human body depends on the satisfaction of these. Simply put, the main thing for a person is food in the absence of it. When a person is full, this need fades into the background, making room for others that are more valuable and spiritual.

This scheme is based on the highest priority physiological needs, such as hunger and lack of water, as well as the satisfaction of natural instincts that promote procreation.

Second place belongs to the need for security, which has a serious impact on human behavior and his perception of reality. This concept is very vague and consists of different aspects: comfort, protection from enemies, from environmental pollution, from natural disasters and the inability to resist them, etc.).

The third place belongs to social needs (communication, general activity, care, etc.), that is, this type of need is important for a person after he is satisfied and in comfortable conditions. Communication influences the formation of the human psyche. Through communication, a person perceives behavioral norms, rules, life values ​​established by society, and acquires skills. Through communication, people learn about the world around them. This need appears from birth and develops throughout life, manifesting itself in various forms. First, this is communication between mother and child, then pedagogical, playful, professional, etc.

The fourth place is occupied by the so-called “prestigious” needs (respect, self-esteem).

The final needs are those of a spiritual nature.

According to Maslow's theory, satisfaction of needs occurs from the bottom up, that is, in order to satisfy the higher levels, complete satisfaction of the lower ones is necessary. Spiritual development of the individual is very important, but it is impossible when all a person’s thoughts are absorbed in satisfying hunger.

Application

These schemes were put into practice by despots and ancient generals. A hungry person is easier to manage than a well-fed one. The thoughts of hungry people are primarily occupied with satisfying their physiological needs, and not with the desire to gain freedom and independence.

The modern world has a slightly different model, where such schemes are losing their relevance, however, it must be said that the theory of the “secret pyramid” is quite successfully used by marketers and craters. Their advertising texts are based on appeals to lower human instincts.

Let's talk about how important physiological instincts are. Undoubtedly important! After all, we simply could not survive physically. A person is born with these needs, and every child’s meal is accompanied by a demanding cry.

The baby's basic instincts are mother's milk.

..., warmth, sleep and well-being.
Having satisfied these needs, the child is happy and cheerful. For an adult, children's physiological needs are supplemented by the reproductive instinct. Without satisfying this instinct, a person can be aggressive. In the modern world, this need is somewhat muted; it depends on many factors: nutrition, lifestyle, environmental pollution. But, it must be said, there are individuals for whom this need exceeds all others, which pushes them to commit sexual crimes.

Fortunately, there are few of them in society and often these characters have mental disorders. If we talk about healthy people, then the importance of the need for intimate relationships is undeniable, however, this does not mean that it should be satisfied at the first opportunity. The ideal solution is marriage or an established relationship with a loved one.

In the civilized world, the concept of hunger is known only from historical literature. And recently, in popular culture, the other extreme is very often advertised - fasting, using various methods: diet pills, diet, etc. People who take advertising projects as the basis of their lives often do not understand the consequences of their excessive weight loss. Increasingly, cases of bulimia (mental and physiological disorders) and anorexia (mental disorder expressed in refusal to eat) are being recorded. It is important to remember that unmet needs of the body can develop into mania and addiction.

The most important physiological need of a person is sleep. Its importance should not be underestimated. Lack of sleep or lack of it leads to psychological discomfort, makes a person more vulnerable and sensitive to pain, negatively affects performance, and in some cases leads to hallucinations (auditory and visual). The brain of a person who has not rested for a long time is capable of “switching off” for a short time, however, this is enough and can be deadly both for the person himself and for others if the person is driving a car or working in production with complex mechanisms.

Food. How to prevent a need from becoming an addiction

Hunger and thirst, as we said above, were even the cause of wars and the nomadic life of our ancient ancestors. Fortunately, in civilized countries the concept of famine is familiar only from history textbooks. In popular culture, the other extreme is promoted - constant weight loss, pills to reduce appetite, health-improving fasting have become fashionable and popular things. But people who are led by advertising are often not aware that fighting the cornerstones laid down by nature is fraught with consequences for both physical and psychological health. Against the backdrop of the mass pursuit of the ideal body, clinical cases of bulimia (a mental or physiological disorder characterized by a constant desire to eat) and anorexia (refusal of food due to psychological personality disorders) are increasingly emerging. It is worth remembering that an unsatisfied need in the body can become addiction and mania.

What classification of physiological needs exists: examples of manifestation in humans

Achievement orientation implies demands to be stronger, more responsible, smarter, and to have the best-paid job. Sometimes, in order to achieve as much as possible, a person puts biological needs in the background, forgetting to fulfill them. But unfortunately, there are cases when they push aside not only their own needs, but also the needs of their children, enrolling them in various clubs from birth: music section, drawing, dancing. The result of such haste may be failure to eat or rest. This will lead to the manifestation of psychological disorders.

Nutrition

Food brings energy, pleasure, and satisfaction to the body. A refreshed person is more balanced and cheerful than a hungry person. Having the opportunity to have a snack is not enough; it is necessary that the food be high in calories and harmless. If an individual is engaged in physical labor and often attends training, he should consume as many calories as possible, and those who carry out activities through mental labor should consume less. The need is considered satisfied if the diet contains enough nutrients to lead a normal life, without quickly getting tired and without exhausting the body.

Digestive functions:

• Filling the body with the necessary beneficial elements that help maintain vital activity and produce new cells.
• Providing energy for the struggle for existence and an active lifestyle.
• Transferring information to maintain connection with nature.

In the history of mankind, hunger and thirst are the causes of wars and the formation of nomads, but we know this only from textbooks. Currently, another problem has arisen - diet pills that reduce appetite; the desire of girls to become thin, which leads to anorexia.

The human body is designed this way: in order to avoid a lack of essential carbohydrates, it focuses on preserving energy reserves, turning them into fat deposits, which retain beneficial properties in the organs. During a prolonged fast, the body will use stored reserve substances so that the person can exist for some more time.

Psychologist Daria Milai

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Without food, a person will live from 1 to 2 months if she drinks liquid. Without water you can only function for 3-7 days, and then you die. In the process of exhaustion of the body due to lack of nutrients, the psyche begins to deteriorate, this leads to:

• hallucinations;
• delirious;
• irritability;
• aggressiveness.

If children starve, their development begins to slow down.

Hidden fasting is eating food that does not contain the required amount of beneficial properties. This is a common problem for people who are experiencing financial difficulties. They constantly develop various types of diseases.

Diet standards for physiological nutritional needs

• Liquid - from 1.5 to 2.5 liters per day (a lot of water comes with food).
• Kcal - depends on gender, weight, type of physical activity. The norm may vary, but on average it ranges from 2,000 to 3,000 kilocalories.
• Protein - from 35 to 87 g per day.
• Fats - daily intake from 60 to 150 g.
• Carbohydrates - from 255-585 g per day.

Liquid

When engaging in sports or work, a person loses a large amount of water during the day with:

• urination;
• sweating;
• breathing;
• defecation.

The consequences of dehydration are very serious as it can be fatal. It is necessary to constantly monitor the water balance and restore it in time. An individual can live without fluid for only a few days. That is why such a need is one of the first on the list of basic needs, without which it is impossible to properly perform one’s functions. To correctly calculate your daily water intake, be sure to take into account your individual characteristics and lifestyle.

Sleep and rest

The absence of these two components leads to poor functioning in society. During night or daytime sleep, our brain processes all the information received during the day and helps maintain immunity. Also, when a person falls asleep, all toxicity disappears from the brain organ.

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Rest is no less important, a person will not be able to do one thing for several hours without breaks, it quickly exhausts him, so it is necessary to periodically give himself the opportunity to rest and be distracted from work for at least a few minutes.

If a person constantly spends sleepless nights, does not sleep when he really wants to, does not take rest when he needs it, a gradual mental disorder will occur - neurosis, depression. Stress may also arise, which is extremely difficult for such a person to resist.

If an individual often lacks sleep, his cognitive qualities will noticeably decrease and the likelihood of developing various infectious diseases, mental illnesses and emotional imbalances will increase.

Inadequate sleep (less than 5-6 hours a day) can lead to:

• obesity;
• oncology;
• stroke;
• diabetes mellitus;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• early death.

If you suffer from insomnia due to your activities, do not allow yourself the required number of hours of sleep, and experience discomfort, be sure to make an appointment with a doctor to prevent negative consequences - hallucinations and delusions. Such a person always feels tired, is unable to fix attention on one thing, becomes extremely irritable and has an increased pain threshold.

Microsleep is a sudden falling asleep for just a few seconds, which occurs in people who are accustomed to denying themselves rest. This is a serious deviation that contributes to accidents. For example, you might fall asleep momentarily while driving and cause a traffic accident. However, you don't even realize that you've fallen asleep for a while. The rest rate should be 7-9 hours a day.

Air

We cannot live even 5 minutes without such a need. Lack of oxygen will kill an individual in a very short period of time. An important condition is the absence of toxic impurities in the air, otherwise the risk of many diseases will increase sharply, including oncology.

Sexual attraction and procreation

If such a desire is not satisfied, no negative consequences will occur; he is able to continue living, but the quality of life may decrease, especially if libido is overly expressed. Nowadays, the great need to leave behind heirs is slowly fading away, and making love is a sign of a love relationship, intimacy and pleasure.

Several centuries ago, the need for procreation was almost the most important, since during periods of wars and incurable diseases people were threatened with gradual extinction. The evolutionary process proves that those species that produce large numbers of offspring have a high rate of survival.

If sexual desires are not fulfilled, the person becomes unhappy. However, for some, this need is reduced, so they do not have attachment to these love sensations.

Assexuals are a type of people who do not strive for sex (and if they practice it, it is only to conceive a baby).

The excitement gradually builds up and then turns into an angry and aggressive state. Such anger penetrates the mind and can be the cause of illegal negative actions - crimes. Also, dissatisfaction of desires develops mental illness.

Healthy sleep as the most important need

Sleep is on a par with the needs for food and water, satisfaction of the sexual instinct and breathing. However, many downplay its importance, which is done in vain. The example of Napoleon, who slept several hours a day, will fade if we remember the unstable psyche and panic attacks of this historical character. Do you want to experience these “joys” for yourself? Hardly. Lack of sleep deprives us of psychological comfort, lowers the pain threshold (makes us more sensitive to pain), and negatively affects performance. An unsatisfied physiological need for sleep can even lead to visual and auditory hallucinations. Moreover, a sleep-deprived person working with machinery or transport can be deadly to those around him during the microsleep phase (a phenomenon when a person’s brain, which has not known rest or sleep for a long time, “turns off” for a split second).

How not to become addicted

Sometimes a person experiences a constant desire that develops into addiction, for example: to eat or sleep a lot. This is facilitated by psychological and physical health problems. There is a whole list of mental illnesses that are associated with food. Such diseases have the abbreviation Eating Disorder, which stands for eating disorder. This includes:

• excessive thinness (anorexia);
• bulimia with unhealthy weight control;
• binge eating;
• desire for healthy and proper nutrition;
• bigorexia.

A specialist will help you cope with such deviations. If you do not contact him in time, additional mental disorders may occur:

• depression;
• neurosis;
• anxiety;
• PTSD.

Excessive appetite also indicates hormonal diseases in the body that occur when taking any medications. If you notice a constant craving for food and this has been going on for a long time, immediately consult a doctor for help. Such a frequent need for food and sleep is a sign of various kinds of psychological or physical disorders. For example, people suffering from chronic health problems need rest more than healthy individuals. However, in a strong body, a condition such as hypersomnia (excessive sleep and the manifestation of constant drowsiness) can occur. It manifests itself after stressful situations, during a long period without relaxation, or when taking medications. It can also occur for the following reasons:

• head injury;
• depression;
• uremia;
• apnea.

In order not to be a hostage to the needs of physiology, listen to your body and prevent alarming signals by contacting a doctor or psychotherapist.