The Nine Basic Human Needs

Security, Adventure, Freedom, Exchange, Power, Expansion, Acceptance, Community,

Expression
Each of us has three primary needs, meaning three needs that are more important than the other
six needs, which we have to a lesser degree. When people do not get their needs met, they can
become agitated, belligerent or driven to use the negative aspects of their needs.
Each of the needs is described below, with their positive aspects (how they work in positive
ways) and their negative aspects (how people use more forceful or destructive ways to get their
needs met).
Each person is responsible for seeing that they get their own needs met - this is an inside ob, not
something that is fulfilled by another person. !eople who share the same needs will feel a
connection or common bond.
"wo people who do not share at least one common need will feel little connection with another
person. #o-workers who do not share similar needs will have a hard time working together.
#lose friends, partners and mate relationships will usually share two or three needs in common.
Security is the need to feel safe, to feel assured that they know what is going to happen, to know
ahead of time what the plans are. What constitutes $ecurity can be different for different people.
Examples of how $ecurity manifests for different people%
&'aving lots of money in the bank
&'aving a planned savings(retirement program
&'aving a secure ob
&'aving a house, home and family
&'aving a dependable car
&!aying off the mortgage or having no debts
&'aving excellent personal and family health, or health insurance that covers any possibility
&'aving life insurance to protect their family
&'aving deep personal faith or personal conviction that they will be )* regardless of what
happens in the world
&#arrying a gun or having a way to protect themselves
&*nowing their personal family history, or ethnic background
&+iving in a gated(guarded community
&+iving near friends and family.
Positive aspects! Whatever makes you feel safe, balanced, grounded, connected, safe, secure,
trusting that things will be )* in your life.
Negative aspects! )verly cautious, fearful, paraly,ed, indecisive, fro,en in place, unable to
function due to insecurity, retaliation against someone who they believe destroys their sense of
$ecurity.
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople who have a need for $ecurity will be more deeply
affected by sudden changes, unforeseen events, real or perceived threats to their ob, their
livelihood, or their sense of self. "heir fear will keep them from functioning in times of crisis or
potentially cause them to react strongly to someone that they feel is threatening their sense of
security. !eople who have a high need for security will be drawn more to working in
government or public sector obs than to entrepreneurial enterprises.
!eople who have a low $ecurity need or have a need for -dventure may welcome change of any
kind, while those with a high $ecurity need may react very strongly at even minor changes. -
manager who has a need for -dventure with a staff with high $ecurity needs can create havoc
and traumatic reactions very .uickly.
Adventure is the need for an adrenaline rush, to have new experiences, to travel, to have /01
experiences, to have drama in their life, to have a sense of anticipation about upcoming events.
Examples of how -dventure manifests for different people%
&!lanning new trips (even if they are never taken)
&2e-organi,ing a department or company
&$tarting a new company or division
&#reating new markets, new products or new industries
&#hanging partners or spouses
&#hanging obs fre.uently
&3oving fre.uently
&/uying a new car every year
&/eing an entrepreneur or being self-employed
&#hanging work assignments or locations
&#on.uering something (climbing the highest mountain, winning the gold medal, setting new
records)
&Experimenting with new techni.ues or materials
&/eing first to do something or try something
&+oving the challenge of solving problems
&2acing sports of all types (the thrill of victory4)
Positive aspects! $ense of higher self-confidence, independence, risk-taking, optimism,
excitement, enthusiasm for living.
Negative aspects! 2eckless regard for life and limb, irresponsibility, cutting themselves off from
people (hermit), udgmental of others who are less adventurous, creating crisis or drama
inappropriately.
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople with a need for -dventure will be leading the
pack to find new things to do, new places to visit, new markets to open, new products to sell,
new ways of doing things, new ways of organi,ing the company.
"hey make excellent sales people, who love the thrill of making a sale or opening doors to new
clients(customers. "hey could be a customer service representative who gets a thrill every time
the phone rings with a new problem, or they could be an entrepreneur who starts companies over
and over.
0f things get too boring, people with a need for -dventure will find a way to liven them up -
either in a positive way by initiating something new or in negative ways by going off on their
own, taking great risks or by critici,ing others who can5t see that the new -dventure is
wonderful4
-s mentioned in $ecurity, the conflict between people with a need for -dventure and those with
a need for $ecurity can create havoc. $ome people have both $ecurity and -dventure in their
highest three needs6 this creates a particularly challenging situation for them as they seem to be
opposites. "o handle both appropriately, a person might enoy travel to new places (-dventure)
yet will carefully plan out the trip ($ecurity) - satisfying both needs in a positive way for
themselves. )r, they might find themselves constantly torn by conflict between the two. 0f they
reali,e they are responsible for resolving their own needs, the conflict can be managed in a
positive way.
Freedom is the need for independence and spontaneity. 0t is also the need to have choices and to
feel in control of making those choices. 0n many people, 7reedom might be combined with
-dventure, since a person who has a need for 7reedom might be willing to partake of more
-dventures, than a person who has both 7reedom and $ecurity. 7reedom does not care for plans
or heavy structure. What constitutes 7reedom for one person may be very different from
another5s need perception of 7reedom.
Examp$es o" how Freedom mani"ests "or di""erent peop$e!
&'aving choices and making their own choices
&7eeling free to move around without restrictions
&7eeling free to make decisions in their ob
&3aking choices about relationships
&#hoosing where they live
&#hoosing what work assignments they will accept
&"eaching others how to be self-sufficient
&2efusing to obey rules that were created by someone else
&3aking or enforcing rules that allow 7reedom and free choices for others
&-dvocating 7reedom as a basic human right
&*eeping their options open by not making decisions
&2e-arranging their work space
&#hanging their appearance, hair style or way of dressing
&7eeling free to be themselves, regardless of what they are doing or what situation they find
themselves in
&7eeling free to search or seek out answers rather than having answers imposed upon them
&'aving the freedom to work as they feel is best - either by what hours they work, what days
they work, or by how they approach a ob or a proect
&2efusing to 8make a commitment8 (an easily recogni,ed example of the need for 7reedom)
Positive aspects! 0ndependence, self-confidence, high self-esteem, teaching others, clarity, a
way out of martyrdom (feeling stuck, trapped or sorry for yourself)
Negative aspects! 2elationship avoidance, fear of commitment, separation and distancing from
others, inability to understand others and be understood, manipulative (imposing on people5s
freedom).
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople with a need for 7reedom may resist any and all
attempts to impose new rules on them. 0f they work in an 8open8 environment, they may excel at
proects that re.uire or reward independent thinking and spontaneity. "hey will make good
teachers of people who are expected to exercise independent udgment.
$omeone who manages a person with a need for 7reedom will get along best with them when
they recogni,e and respect that person5s to make choices for themselves. !eople with a need for
7reedom must recogni,e that need in themselves and not take obs that are very rule-oriented6
rather they must look for situations where their need for 7reedom can be exercised appropriately.
Exchange is the need to trade information and knowledge with others, not ust to mingle or
sociali,e, but to deliver and receive something of value. "hat something of value may be
information, conversation, communication, energy, friendship, services, money, gifts, love,
ustice, shared experiences. !eople with a need for exchange are concerned about the flow of
energy in all types of relationships. "hey like to see things 8moving8 in some way that expresses
balanced e.uality, integrity and an e.ual exchange.
Examp$es o" how Exchange mani"ests "or di""erent peop$e!
&!articipating with others in discussions of all types
&$taying in touch with friends, family and business associates (phone calls, letters, e-mail, in-
person visits, gifts, etc.)
&7eeling a sense of camaraderie with coworkers
&Working with others who have a common goal
&!articipating in groups (teams, committees, clubs, boards, etc.) where they feel they are valued
and receive value from others
&$eeing that ustice is done
&7eeling a sense of fairness and balance in interactions with others
&Working in a way that creates e.uality for all participants
&7eeling a sense of integrity and trust with others
&$haring information with others and receiving information in return
&Working with contracts and agreements
&$tudying (and working with) situations and people related to ethics, integrity and ustice
&/uilding and maintaining an active network of contacts
&3aking introductions to others through their network.
&$haring a deep relationship with another person, where they feel able to communicate and
interact freely and easily.
Positive aspects! !ositive role model for relationships6 maintaining an e.ual balanced flow of
9whatever: in a relationship6 keeping things moving (knowledge, information, communication,
energy)6 promoting e.uality in all interactions6 working with money, contracts, ustice, ethics,
integrity, wholeness, balance.
Negative aspects! *eeping secrets, withholding communications, engaging in inappropriate
communications (gossip, lying, criticism), cynicism, general negativity, stinginess, not
participating with others in an e.ual or balanced way, unethical behavior or treatment of others.
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople who have a need for Exchange work well with
others with common goals. 0f a person who has a need for Exchange meets someone that does
not interact well with them, they will 8write off8 the person and the relationship, finding no
common ground for interaction. 0f this other person is a boss, client or coworker it will be very
hard for them to continue any further interaction with the person.
- person with a need for Exchange needs to feel they are getting something of value from
someone else and that they are giving something of value. "hey will be very distressed by
unethical or discriminatory behavior, or learning that information has been withheld from them.
Power. !eople with a need for !ower need to be in a position of authority and responsibility.
"hey need to explore !ower, leadership and accomplishment. !eople with a need for !ower tend
to be good organi,ers and accept responsibility, setting an example of leadership.
Examp$es o" how Power mani"ests "or di""erent peop$e!
&3anaging a company, a division or a department
&/ecoming a leader in a civic organi,ation or professional group
&)rgani,ing events, trips, proects
&-chieving success
&'elping others feel empowered
&/eing a well-known speaker
&/ecoming an authority on some topic
&Writing a book that expresses leadership
&/eing responsible for people, things, proects, events, situations
&/eing a leader and recogni,ed as a leader
&"eaching others about leadership and responsibility
&"aking command of an army or a military unit
&"aking over a country
&2escuing a company in trouble
&"aking charge during an emergency or crisis
Positive aspects! $elf-empowerment, leadership, accomplishment, success, organi,ation of
others and things, responsibility.
Negative aspects! ;iciousness, abuse of power, dictatorship, inappropriate control and
manipulation, anger, violence against others or things.
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople with a need for !ower will gravitate to situations
that allow them to exercise their leadership skills and responsibility. "his may be on a grand
scale or on a smaller level. When they cannot exercise their need for !ower, they may become
manipulative through coercive power, threats or over-control. - person with a need for !ower
may exercise it in the workplace, find outlets in a community setting or in teaching others about
the use of appropriate !ower.
!eople with a need for !ower may be noticed when they enter a room because they carry a
strong sense of leadership and are used to be in command. "hese are good folks to put in charge
when something needs accomplishing. "hey will be happiest when they feel powerful. "hey will
be unhappiest when someone or something prevents them from exercising !ower in some way,
or if they feel a sense of personal failure.
Expansion is the need to build something, to add onto, to create an empire, to expand hori,ons,
to go where no one has gone before.
Examp$es o" how Expansion mani"ests "or di""erent peop$e!
&/uilding a company
&/uilding a personal or political empire
&#reating a personal fortune
&Expanding a collection of any kind
&$aving rare art, rare books or historic buildings from destruction
&!rotecting the environment because it benefits humanity
&/uilding new buildings, cities, communities, roads
&Expanding a market niche
&#reating new knowledge
&<iscovering new ways of doing things
&Expanding the boundaries of science, art, medicine, music or nature
&Expanding the knowledge of physical and spiritual laws
&=nderstanding how the =niverse works and explaining it to others
&$eeing the bigger picture
&/ecoming an astronaut, oceanographer, medical researcher or scientist focused on exploring
new worlds
&Exploring uninhabited lands or regions
&/ecoming a minister, preaching about people5s connection with a larger spiritual reality
&#reating new breeds of animals or plants
Positive aspects! 1rowth and expansion6 recogni,ing the value of others6 recogni,ing the value
of art, science, nature, physical and spiritual laws6 working with cosmology6 recogni,ing a
connection with great spiritual teachers (#hrist, /uddha, the 'igher $elf)6 working with the
study of intuition and psychic interests6 understanding how the =niverse works and how they fit
into it6 understanding themselves and others.
Negative aspects! 0ndiscriminate growth (cancer, huge weight gains, hoarding things, large
collections of odd things), confusion, loss, abandonment, betrayal, loss, suicide, atheism, evil,
sin, spiritual separation.
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople with a need for Expansion will constantly be
trying to expand their knowledge and the boundaries of that knowledge. "his is good if they are
in positions where that energy can be focused on assisting a company grow, creating new
knowledge or creating new products. 0t can be bad if their only outlet for expansion is to take
from others. When their need for expansion is thwarted, they may turn that need into
inappropriate and harmful ways.
Acceptance is the need to accept yourself and be accepted by others. "his includes a feeling of
belonging. !eople with a need for -cceptance are usually very easy-going and pleasant to have
in a group.
Examp$es o" how Acceptance mani"ests "or di""erent peop$e!
&!articipating with situations that are open and accepting of everyone
&7eeling a sense of acceptance by coworkers
&/eing accepted by neighbors
&/eing accepted as a valuable member of a family group
&/eing accepted into a club or group
&Working with people who need extra attention and acceptance
&7eeling loved
&-ccepting whatever comes up in life
&<oing things that make others feel good
&/eing nice regardless of the situation or the person
&/eing tolerant of self and others
Positive aspects! =nderstanding and participating in love and loving situations, romance,
bondedness, sense of family or tribe, self-esteem, self-forgiveness, forgiveness of others,
altruistic, humanitarian.
Negative aspects! 2eection, ealousy, preudice, guilt, shame, hate, xenophobia (group
preudice, fear of different classes of people)
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople who have a need for -cceptance are a valuable
addition to any group. "hey will often be a stabili,ing presence and help others tolerate each
other a little better. "hey may 8go along8 to whatever proposals are made to avoid any conflict in
a group. 0t is very hard for them to express any different opinion because of their fear of being
reected.
- person with a need for -cceptance needs to feel they are accepted, as well as accepting others.
"hey can be seen as a 8doormat8 with no opinion of their own or their time may be abused since
they will rarely critici,e others or say 8no.8 /ecause of this, they may be reected by others,
which causes them more severe pain because of their high need for -cceptance.
Community. !eople with a need for #ommunity like having people around. "hey are highly
social and will express their enoyment of gatherings. "hese are the best folks to put in charge of
parties and company gatherings. "hey will seek out people and are able to maintain large
numbers of relationships. "he need for #ommunity is different from the need for Exchange in
that the need for #ommunity does not re.uire the exchange of anything.
Examp$es o" how Community mani"ests "or di""erent peop$e!
&"hrowing parties for the slightest of reasons
&/eing the center of the office network
&!articipating in classes, groups, clubs
&1oing to a shopping mall or concert ust to be around large groups of people
&/eing the cook for large family gatherings
&'osting family gatherings, groups of friends
&)pening their home to people with common interests that may be in town for some reason
&2unning for public office
&1athering signatures for a petition or ballot initiative
&/eing part of a campaign to save the rain forests or a wild life area
&#reating a learning center for people interested in political, social, environmental or spiritual
goals
Positive aspects! >eed to be around other people6 highly social6 need to be tribal6 ability to have
and relate to children, grandchildren, distant relatives6 need for family6 need for bonding at a
wider level6 political and ecological participation6 responsibility as a citi,en6 sense of one5s own
importance and dignity in relation to the rest of humanity.
Negative aspects! 0ndiscriminate contact, neediness, clinging, dependence, irresponsibility,
criminal behavior, short-term thinking.
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople with a need for #ommunity will be with people
every chance they can get. "hey may be the center of the gathering or on the sidelines. "hey may
be the ones bringing forth proposals that point out a company5s responsibilities to the
environment or the community.
"hese are not people to be sent to work in an isolated laboratory, work the midnight shift or sent
on a mission where they will not be able to sociali,e with others. /ecause sociali,ing is such an
innate talent with them, others may feel ealous and not understand the high need to be with
other people. )thers who are less social may be compared inappropriately and told, 80f they can
do it, so can you.8 "hat5s not necessarily so. >ot everyone has an inherent need (or even
tolerance) for very high social contact. "he less-social folks may want tag along occasionally,
letting those with #ommunity gather the crowds.
Expression is the need to be artistic, to be seen, to be heard, to be felt. 0t is the need to express
oneself through words, speech, actions, dress, art and self-creations of all types.
Examp$es o" how Expression mani"ests "or di""erent peop$e!
&Expressing through the 0nternet (creating web sites, writing newsletters, creating graphic art,
stating opinions)
&Writing books, poems, articles
&2eading poetry at coffee houses
&Writing opinion articles for newspapers and maga,ines
&!ublic speaking about topics that are near and dear to the speaker
&#reating art in all forms (painting, ewelry, crafts, interior design, graphic design, furniture
design, architecture)
&"eaching creative thinking classes or workshops
&<esigning company logos or ad campaigns
&#oaching children in creative arts
&<ancing or teaching dance in all forms
&-cting in movies, plays or local theaters
Positive aspects! <emonstrating individual creativity, showing balance, getting in touch with
creativity, promoting understanding (by revealing self) through art, words, behavior6 being a
living expression of 8who 0 am.8
Negative aspects! 0nvasion of other5s space (too much self-expression), self-centered,
temperamental, blind to other5s value, lying, creating or expressing a false image.
How this need a""ects the wor#p$ace! !eople with a need for Expression will be happiest when
they are free to express their inherent creativity. Examples might be through writing or designing
a company newsletter6 creating a company logo6 developing company brochures6 designing a
new work space arrangement6 creating designs for new products , services or related materials6
designing or maintaining a company5s 0nternet web site6 giving speeches on behalf of the
company5s values, goals and mission (if they reflect the person5s values and beliefs).
0n many companies, expression of individuality is rigidly controlled and monitored. "his may
lead to destruction of an individual5s ability to function fully and productively in that
environment.
7or a person with a need for Expression, such an environment will either drive them toward
negative expressions or they will go where their creativity is valued. !eople who cannot be
creative or expressive through their work, may find outlets in community activities that are
sufficient to satisfy their need for Expression.
How to use this in"ormation "or yourse$" and "or understanding others
?.2ead over the descriptions of all the nine needs.
@.<etermine which of the needs are highest to lowest for you (rank them ? - A, with ? being
highest), if you can.
B.)r, group your needs into top tier (B highest), middle tier (B middle) and lowest tier (B lowest).
C.7or each need of your top tier, think about how your life has been driven to satisfy those needs
in positive ways.
D.-nd(or, how you5ve acted from the negative aspect of those needs.
E.-sk yourself the following .uestions% What is happening in your life today that satisfies your
highest needsF
G.-re there strong needs that are not being satisfied for youF
H.What changes can you make so that your highest needs are satisfiedF
A.'ave your needs changed much since childhoodF 0s this because you have found ways to
satisfy them easily, or have they been constant sources of frustrationF
Iou may find that some needs seem to be of e.ual importance or that you can5t decide between
the Brd and Cth highest. "hat5s )*. 0f the needs are very strong, consider them to be in your 8top
tier.8 $ometimes, unmet needs exert extra force so we pay attention to them for a while.
)nce you are fairly sure about where your needs rank, think about the people you are closest to
and what their needs might be (spouse, partner, coworkers, close friends, children, etc.)
"alking to others about what your needs are, how they affect your life and how they affect your
interaction is a valuable exercise to gain understanding. 7or working teams, learning what is
important to each member of the team helps reduce friction and improves communication.
*nowing the needs of others helps us understand that they may be acting from their own highest
needs, not ust doing something to frustrate us4
$ources% >ine needs material adapted from various workshops by Jose K +ena $tevens, !ivotal
2esources and J! ;an 'ulle, 3ichael Education 7oundation.
"his page is http%((www.itstime.com(unAG.htm !rinter-friendly version
!age updated% <ecember @H, @L?B