In addition to the basic needs for food, rest and procreation, inherent in all animals, humans have existential needs. They are related to the definition of human nature and directly affect the level of satisfaction with life.
The need to make connections
Man is a social being. It is by nature itself that people have friends, mentors and family. To satisfy this need, it is necessary to constantly communicate and get to know new people, take care of loved ones, take care of the less experienced. Communication can take place at work or school, in entertainment establishments, in fitness centers, at training seminars, and so on. Through communication, a person learns new things and gets to know himself better. If this need is not met, there is a risk of being locked in only on their own interests.
Existential needs were first identified by the philosopher and sociologist E. Fromm.
The need to overcome oneself
Animals are lazy by nature - they need to conserve energy in order to hunt or flee from pursuit. A person is devoid of such problems, but laziness remains his companion. Feeling the need to overcome themselves, people strive to overcome their animal nature and become one step higher. Satisfying this need is easy enough - you need to learn to create. Otherwise, you can lose respect for your life and the fate of other people.
Need for roots
A person needs to feel like part of a kind or social group. In ancient times, expulsion from the tribe was considered the most terrible punishment, because without their roots, a person became nothing. People dream of a big family home, stability and security - this reminds them of childhood, when a person is most closely connected with his relatives. Failure to meet a need leads to loneliness, but at the same time, too much attachment to parents interferes with the acquisition of personal integrity.
Need for self-identification
Despite the desire to belong to a certain social group, a person feels the need for recognition of his own personality. Self-identification implies that an individual has clear ideas about himself, an assessment of his activities and formed principles. Satisfying this need makes life easier, since a person clearly knows what he wants. Conversely, copying someone else's behavior can lead to depression and low self-esteem.
The need for self-identification was absent in early societies - then people completely identified themselves with their clan.
The need for a value system
This existential need is considered by many to be the most important. The formation of a value system occurs from an early age and changes throughout life. The emerging views of a person are influenced by upbringing, impressions of certain events, communication with other people. The presence of a system of values gives meaning to life and explains the path of a person throughout his existence. Without satisfying this need, a person acts aimlessly and often finds himself in a dead end in life.
