Needs To Know

Ken Fields — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:50:24 +0000

Our developmental needs can be expressed in broad-based and comprehensive terms, as depicted in the one word labels in the table below. Each word-label can be extensively elaborated upon but, for the sake of general discussion, these one word labels can suffice. They are more like over-arching themes for each psyche-socio stage of development. And, they overlap. It’s not that in late adulthood we no longer need identity, or exploration….but, the need for knowledge, both self knowledge, and knowledge of our larger environment, is more dominant. Here, knowledge refers much more to the synthesis of life experience rather than mere fact gathering.

This collection of needs, chronologically unfolding and age-based, is referred to as “the heirarchy of needs.”

Certainly, the need for sustenance is prevalent throughout the entire range of needs, as is the need for safety, but when consistently satisfied, other needs arise. Also, sustenance and safety are not limited to purely physical concerns; there are needs for psyche sustenance and psyche safety, as well as socio sustenance and socio safety.

Although this collection of 7 Needs is considered heirarchical, it is also interwoven. Even the lower level needs such as control and esteem are influenced by the higher level needs, such as the need for knowledge and beauty.

When higher needs are not satisfied, there is psyche-logical malaise in much the same way physical deterioration is the result of neglect. Malaise is like a slow psyche-logical starvation.

It’s helpful to recognize our higher level psyche-socio developmental needs. It can add to one’s sense of direction, meaning and purpose.

…

Stage	Age	Stages of Psyche-Socio Development	Spheres of Influence	Developmental Needs
7	76-90+	Late Adulthood	World	Beauty
6	41-75	Middle Adulthood	Nation	Knowledge
5	21-40	Early Adulthood	State	Belonging
4	13-20	Adolescence	City	Esteem
3	8-12	Later Childhood	Community	Control
2	3-7	Early Childhood	Neighborhood	Safety
1	0-2	Infant	Home	Sustenance

…

The Needs Of A Child

Ken Fields — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:27:46 +0000

In a sense, we are all children….the fundamental needs we had as a child don’t go away just because we are now an adolescent or an adult; those needs are still quite prevalent; but, because they have been met, are taken care of, on a daily basis, we focus on higher more pressing needs….

The needs of a child are simple: nourishment, both physical and psyche-logical and safety, both physical and psychelogical. From those needs being met, trust develops; trust in others, trust in the world, and trust in self.

Our fundamental sense of trust, formed during childhood, permeates our perceptions and we are ever responsive to threats to safety, and nourishment. For the most part, there are no or minimal threats, and we continue on our path of lessons through our gradations of developmental stages working with higher needs of self identity and engagement with the larger community. But, all the while, within us and within everyone we meet, is the child….with ongoing needs of nourishment and safety….

You might say that a child needs love, care, encouragement, etc.,etc….I agree, and have lumped those all into the psyche-logical nourishment category…..What can be more nourishing to Psyche than love, care and encouragement…..And, when it comes to those things, we are ever children….

Isle Talk Story » nourishment

Needs To Know

The Needs Of A Child