How do we understand human needs?
the Chilean development economist Manfred Max-Neef’s (with colleagues) proposed a theory of ‘needs and satisfiers’ that distinguishes between needs and the ways in which people satisfy them. They argue that needs are few, finite and universal, but the ways in which they are satisfied are limitless. They identify ten material and non-material needs ... See more
Designing Systems Interventions – Transition Design Seminar CMU
In 1943, the psychologist Abraham Maslow published his hugely influential paper “A Theory of Human Motivation,” which famously described people as having a hierarchy of needs. It is often depicted as a pyramid. At the bottom are our basic needs—the essentials of physiological survival (such as food, water, and air) and of safety (such as law, order
... See moreAtul Gawande • Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End (Wellcome Collection)
the basic need to give and receive care has been a feature of the human condition since the dawn of time. The goal of a humane, effective and sustainable care system – something that is set to touch the lives of millions of us – continues to defy resolution and in some respects we have gone backwards.
Richard Humphries • Ending the Social Care Crisis: A New Road to Reform
In practice, I prefer Clayton Alderfer’s version of Maslow’s hierarchy, which he called “ERG theory”: people seek existence, relatedness, and growth, in that order.
Josh Kaufman • The Personal MBA: A World-Class Business Education in a Single Volume
What we often think of as needs are actually strategies for addressing our needs. For example, you might want a cup of coffee in the morning. That’s not a need (much as it might feel like it is!). The need might be to feel more alert. Or to warm up. Or to engage in a shared social activity with a loved one in the kitchen. The cup of coffee is a str... See more