At the core of human behavior, specific universal needs of individuals shape how we think, feel, and interact with the world. These needs transcend culture, geography, and personal background, acting as subconscious motivators in our everyday lives. Whether we are aware of them or not, they influence our decisions, relationships, and overall well-being. Understanding these needs can offer powerful insights into human nature and provide clarity in our interactions with others.
Today we’ll explore the four universal needs of individuals:
- The need to feel needed.
- The need for a scapegoat.
- The need to be right.
- The need to feel a sense of power.
These four drivers are deeply embedded in our psychology and manifest in every facet of life—from personal relationships to professional environments. Let’s explore what makes these needs so powerful and how they impact us.
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People Need to Feel Needed
At the heart of the universal needs of individuals is the need to feel needed. We all crave validation, and this validation often comes from the sense that we hold value in someone else’s life. Feeling needed is an emotional lifeline that provides purpose, security, and a sense of belonging.
When you feel needed, you believe that your presence matters, that you contribute something unique, and that people rely on you. Whether it’s in a family dynamic, a friendship, or a work environment, being needed makes us feel important.
Why Feeling Needed Matters
The impact of feeling unneeded can be devastating. One of the most common reasons for suicide is the false belief that no one will miss you or even notice your absence. When someone feels like they don’t matter, it can lead to feelings of extreme isolation, depression, and hopelessness.
Feeling needed doesn’t have to come from grand gestures or life-saving acts. Often, it’s the small, everyday ways we contribute to the lives of others that fulfill this universal need of individuals. Whether being there for a friend, helping a coworker, or supporting a family member, these actions reinforce our sense of worth.
Fostering a Sense of Being Needed
For individuals, the challenge is to recognize the importance of making others feel needed. Acknowledging someone’s role in your life, however small, can strengthen relationships and build deeper connections. Here are a few ways to foster this feeling in those around you:
- Express Gratitude: Let people know that their contributions, whether in personal or professional settings, are appreciated.
- Create Opportunities: At home or work, encourage collaboration and create opportunities for others to contribute.
- Acknowledge Dependence: It’s essential to communicate when you rely on someone, making them feel valued and significant in your life.
When people feel needed, they’re more likely to show up fully in their relationships, knowing their presence makes a difference.
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People Need a Scapegoat
We often promote personal responsibility, but our subconscious is constantly seeking a scapegoat. Deep down, humans have an aversion to blaming themselves for their problems, and this is where the concept of a scapegoat comes in.
The need for a scapegoat is one of the critical universal needs of individuals, as it provides a way for us to offload emotional burdens. It’s a survival mechanism that helps protect our ego and preserve our self-image. We feel a sense of relief if we can convince ourselves that our failures or problems are due to external circumstances.
Why We Need Someone to Blame
Our subconscious mind craves control, and when things go wrong, it doesn’t want to believe that we’re at fault. This is why we quickly look for explanations that shift the blame away from ourselves. Having a scapegoat allows us to maintain a positive sense of self without confronting uncomfortable truths.
For example, if you lose your job, it’s easier to blame your boss for being unreasonable or the economy for instability than to accept that your performance may have been lacking. Similarly, when things don’t go as planned in personal relationships, we tend to point fingers at others rather than acknowledge our own shortcomings.
The Danger of the Scapegoat Mentality
While blaming others can provide short-term relief, it comes at a cost. When we consistently shift responsibility away from ourselves, we stunt our personal growth and limit our ability to learn from mistakes. Refusing to take accountability denies us the opportunity to improve and become more resilient.
This behavior can be toxic in relationships. Constantly blaming a partner, friend, or family member for problems can erode trust and create distance. To avoid falling into this trap, it is important to practice self-reflection and accept responsibility when appropriate.
Overcoming the Need for a Scapegoat
To break free from the scapegoat mentality, start by recognizing it in yourself:
- Acknowledge Your Role: When faced with a challenge, pause and reflect on your role in the situation. This helps to build accountability.
- Seek Solutions, Not Blame: Focus on finding constructive solutions instead of blaming others.
- Accept Imperfection: Embrace the fact that everyone makes mistakes and that accepting responsibility is a sign of strength, not weakness.
By shifting from blame to accountability, you’ll foster healthier relationships and experience more significant personal growth.
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People Need to Be Right
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to back down from an argument, even when wrong? This need is one of the fundamental universal needs of individuals and stems from our desire for consistency and predictability, which our subconscious interprets as safe.
Consistency in our beliefs, opinions, and actions gives us a sense of control and stability. When we take a position on something—whether it’s a political belief, a dietary choice, or a preference for a specific type of music—we look for evidence to support that position and resist information that contradicts it.
The Psychology Behind Being Right
Our brains are wired to seek out patterns and predict outcomes. When someone’s behavior is consistent, it makes them more predictable, making us feel safe. In contrast, unpredictability creates uncertainty, which the brain perceives as a threat.
For example, if a friend loves anchovies today but suddenly despises them tomorrow, that inconsistency can create confusion. It’s not just about the food preference—it’s about the unpredictability of their behavior, which can be unsettling.
The Role of Confirmation Bias
This universal need of individuals is linked to the psychological concept of confirmation bias. It explains why people often double down on their opinions, even when presented with evidence to the contrary. The need to be right is not about ego—it’s about maintaining consistency in an unpredictable world.
If you believe a particular political leader is a poor decision-maker, you’ll likely seek out news articles and opinions that reinforce that belief while disregarding anything that suggests otherwise. It’s not necessarily an ego issue; it’s our brain’s way of protecting us from cognitive dissonance—the discomfort we experience when our beliefs are challenged.
How to Manage the Need to Be Right
While the need to be right is a natural human tendency, it’s important to recognize when it becomes harmful. Here are some strategies to help manage this need:
- Practice Open-Mindedness: Be willing to listen to opposing viewpoints and consider the possibility that you might be wrong.
- Seek Understanding, Not Victory: In debates or discussions, focus on understanding the other person’s perspective rather than proving your point.
- Embrace Change: It’s okay for your opinions and beliefs to evolve over time. Being flexible and open to growth is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.
By learning to navigate the need to be right, you can build healthier relationships and foster a more open-minded approach to life.
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People Need to Feel a Sense of Power
The desire for power is another one of theuniversal needs of individuals, but it doesn’t always manifest in the traditional sense of control or dominance. Feeling powerful means feeling in control of your own life and circumstances. It’s about autonomy, self-reliance, and the ability to influence your environment.
The need for power also ties back to the first universal need: feeling needed. When others rely on you, you feel power and importance. Conversely, if you are entirely self-reliant and no one depends on you, you may feel that you lack influence or significance.
Why Power Matters
Power gives us a sense of agency and control, which is essential for mental and emotional well-being. When we feel powerless—whether in a relationship, at work, or in society—we can experience frustration, helplessness, and even depression.
Power, in this context, isn’t about exerting control over others. Instead, it’s about autonomy to make decisions, take action, and influence outcomes. This is one of the most fundamental universal needs of individuals because it speaks to our desire to shape our lives and environments according to our will.
The Balance of Power
The desire for power can be positive and negative, depending on how it’s pursued. Healthy power is about self-empowerment, taking responsibility for your life, and positively influencing others. On the other hand, unhealthy power often manifests as control, manipulation, or dominance over others.
To foster a healthy sense of power:
- Focus on Empowerment: Seek ways to empower yourself and others rather than exerting control or dominance.
- Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries in your personal and professional life, giving you a sense of control over your environment.
- Develop Skills and Competence: Power often comes from competence. The more skilled and knowledgeable you are, the more confident and powerful you feel.
By cultivating a healthy relationship with power, you can build stronger relationships and live a more fulfilling life.
Understanding Our Universal Needs
These 4 universal needs of individuals—the need to feel needed, the need for a scapegoat, the need to be right, and the need to feel a sense of power—are deeply ingrained in our psychology and impact how we live, work, and connect with others. By understanding these needs, we can become more aware of our own motivations and the motivations of those around us.
Recognizing these universal needs can help foster deeper, more empathetic relationships. When we acknowledge that everyone around us is driven by the same core needs, we can approach conflicts with more understanding and patience and create environments that promote growth, connection, and mutual respect.
The key to navigating these universal needs of individuals is not to suppress or deny them but to manage them in a way that leads to personal development, stronger relationships, and a more fulfilling life. By understanding and embracing these needs, we unlock the potential to live more meaningful, connected, and empowered lives.
Here are similar ideas about universal human needs have been explored by several prominent figures in psychology and human development. These include:
- Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow identified a range of human needs, including physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization. His theory suggests that all humans share common needs that drive behavior.
- Tony Robbins’ Six Human Needs: Motivational speaker Tony Robbins outlines six core human needs: certainty, uncertainty, significance, connection, growth, and contribution. His framework touches on similar themes of feeling needed, seeking certainty (which can align with the need to be right), and the pursuit of power.
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William Glasser’s Choice Theory: Glasser’s theory posits that human behavior is driven by five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. His concept of power is closely aligned with the idea that individuals need to feel in control.