PRIMARY AND SECONDARY NEEDS: CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - PSYCHOLOGY - 2024

Human needs are the part of our personality from which our motivation, desire and goals arise. There are different theories about what exactly they are and the importance of each of them. However, one of the most widespread classification is the one that differentiates between primary and secondary needs.

According to most theories, the primary needs of the human being would be those related to the most immediate survival and physical well-being. Thus, within this category we usually find some such as the need for food, water, shelter, sex or sleep.

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On the other hand, secondary needs would be those that, despite not being necessary for survival, are extremely important for the mental and emotional well-being of a person. Because of this, they are almost entirely psychological in nature. Secondary needs vary quite a bit between different theories.

In this article we will look at two of the main theories about human needs, Maslow's and Murray's. In addition, we will study the way in which both present both primary and secondary needs, as well as the similarities and differences between them.

characteristics

Primary needs

Primary needs, both in Maslow's hierarchy and in Murray's theory, are those that humans have to meet frequently to survive and be physically well. These are aspects of our life based entirely on biology; and many of our urges are destined to satisfy them.

Primary needs are part of the category known as "deficit needs." This means that we feel them when we lack something essential for our survival. In addition, they are the only ones whose absence can cause physical health problems or even death.

The primary or basic needs are fundamentally the same in both theories: sleep, food, water, and shelter. However, Maslow also added to this category the need for sex, which differs slightly from the others in the sense that its absence cannot kill us, but does significantly affect our physical health.

Primary needs are regulated by the oldest parts of our brain. When some of them are not covered, we are highly motivated to try to solve the problem. This gets to the point where we can forget about all the other elements of our life to try to satisfy them.

Both Maslow and Murray believed that before they could move on to work on the needs of the following categories, it was necessary to satisfy the primaries at least for the most part. Otherwise, it is practically impossible for us to focus on anything else, and our health rapidly deteriorates.

Secondary needs

Contrary to what happens with primary needs, the absence of secondary needs does not directly endanger our life or physical health.

However, the lack of any of these elements has a very negative impact on our mental well-being. Covering them, then, is also essential to have a satisfactory existence.

This is where Maslow's and Murray's classification differ. Although both speak of similar elements for the category of secondary needs, the specific elements that they include in it are slightly different.

However, both psychologists agree that most secondary needs are also deficits; that is, they are motivated by the attempt to avoid the lack of some important element for our well-being (in this case psychological).

Thus, Maslow spoke of five types of secondary needs, which were classified in the form of a pyramid. For this researcher, it is necessary to fulfill those that are lower in the hierarchy before moving on to the next ones. The five categories are: security, affiliation, recognition, self-actualization, and cognition.

Murray, on the other hand, spoke of secondary needs as "psychogenic." For this author, they are all similarly important, so we generally try to cover them at the same time. The categories included in this group are: ambition, materialistic, power, affection, and information needs.

Examples

Next we will look in more detail at the classifications that Maslow and Murray created on the primary and secondary needs of the human being.

Maslow's pyramid

Maslow's pyramid is a theory developed by the psychologist of the same name in 1943. In it, the author classifies the different human needs according to their importance, thus creating a figure similar to a pyramid in which the primaries are at the base and the most advanced at higher levels.

In his theory, Maslow considered that it is necessary to meet the needs of the lower levels before you can move on to the next. Thus, if someone does not have their food needs covered, for example, they will not have time to worry about their relationship with their parents.

In total, Maslow initially spoke of five different needs: basic, security, affiliation, recognition, and self-fulfillment. Later he added an extra category, in which are cognitive needs. Next we will see what each one of them consists of.

Basic needs

As we have seen, Maslow considered primary needs to include hunger, thirst, sleep, and the need for shelter and sex.

All of them work by deficit; that is, humans are motivated to pursue them when we lack any of these elements. Furthermore, they can be momentarily satisfied.

Security needs

One level above the primary needs are those that make us seek security. They may have to do with aspects such as our physical well-being, our economic situation, or the absence of threats to our integrity.

Although not as important as the basics, security needs are extremely important, and they generate very high levels of motivation. Thus, if someone lives in a neighborhood where a lot of crime occurs, they will be very driven to move or to find some way to protect themselves.

Membership needs

The next level in Maslow's hierarchy refers to the need that people have to belong to a group, and to give and receive affection. The absence of close ties with friends, family or partner can cause such negative effects as depression, anxiety or social phobia.

According to Maslow, sometimes the affiliation needs can be so strong that they make us make decisions contrary to the previous categories, due to the effect of social pressure. However, in the end our primary and security needs always prevail over them.

Need for recognition

In addition to belonging to a group, humans have to feel valued both by other people and by ourselves to be well. Maslow said that these two components form the fourth group of needs, those that have to do with recognition.

On the other hand, the psychologist said that first we need to be valued by others, and only later can we worry about increasing our own self-esteem.

Need for self-realization

The fifth level of Maslow's pyramid is the first in which the needs are not deficit. It is about the impulse that people have to become the best version of ourselves, to live according to our values, to meet goals and to constantly move towards what we believe in.

Maslow thought that, in order to reach this level, it was necessary not only to have all the previous needs covered but to have mastered them completely. According to him, most individuals are not able to function at this level for very long periods of time.

Cognitive needs

Finally, Maslow added a category separate from the rest, which is produced at the same time as all the others. It is about our need to seek the truth, to explore, and to know better the world and ourselves. This motivation is present at all times, and can never be fully satisfied.

Murray theory

Unlike Maslow, Murray believed that all secondary or psychogenic needs are of equal importance. Putting the focus on one or the other will depend on factors such as the personality of each individual or the moment in life in which they are.

Next we will see the categories in which Murray divided the secondary needs of the human being.

Ambition needs

The needs in this category are related to achievement and external recognition. To cover them, it is necessary to meet objectives, overcome obstacles and succeed, in addition to acquiring social status and showing our triumphs to the rest of the world.

Materialistic needs

This second category focuses on the acquisition, construction and retention of tangible assets. Thus, to fulfill them it is necessary to acquire objects, or create them with our own hands, while making sure that we do not lose them.

Power needs

Power needs focus on acquiring our own independence and control over other people. Some of those that fall into this category are resistance to outside influences, desire for autonomy, aggression, dominance, and cooperation.

Affection needs

This category focuses on our drive to be loved and to love others. We have the need to seek the company of other people, to connect with them and to take care of them and be cared for by them. Furthermore, Murray also believed that fun fell into this category.

Information needs

Finally, Murray believed that people also need to acquire knowledge about the world and share it with others. Thus, our innate curiosity would be part of this last category of needs, which would also include an inclination to teach others what we have learned.

References

1. "Maslow's hierarchy of needs" in: Simply Psychology. Retrieved on: January 17, 2019 from Symply Psychology: simplypsychology.com.
2. "6 types of human needs" in: Cosmons. Retrieved on: January 17, 2019 from Cosmons: cosmons.com.
3. "Maslow's hierarchy of needs" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on: January 17, 2019 from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.
4. "Murray's theory of psychogenic needs" in: VeryWell Mind. Retrieved on: January 17, 2019 from VeryWell Mind: verywellmind.com.
5. "Murray's system of needs" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on: January 17, 2019 from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.