Secondary Needs

Secondary needs lead to psychological or social motives. They are called social motives because they are learned in social groups, particularly the family. As children grow up and interact with others they acquire certain needs which can be fulfilled in a group setting. For example, achievement motivation is acquired by children through their parents, role models and socio-cultural influences.

Some common social motives are:

• Achievement: To strive for success and excellence, carry out difficult tasks.

• Affiliation: To seek and enjoy the company of others, to make friends.

• Power: To strive for impact on others, to influence, control and persuade others.

• Nurturance: To help and take care of others such as children, elderly or sick persons.

• Aggression: To fight, forcefully overcome opposition, to hurt and ridicule.

• Exploration: To seek a variety of stimulation, to explore novel things.

The type and strength of social motives differ from person to person. For example, you may have high needs for achievement and affiliation, whereas your friend could have a moderate need for achievement and a low need for affiliation. Or, you could have a high need for affiliation and your friend a high need for exploration.

We can also classify needs into three basic types: existence needs that include all primary needs that are essential for survival; relatedness needs include safety, belongingness, esteem and other social relationships needs; and, growth needs include those aspects that help people to develop their full potential.

Biological and psychological needs do not work in isolation. They influence each other and determine human behaviour.