Question

Every form of society has some organized form of a family unit. The family unit must come together to satisfy 6 essential needs. What are these 6 essential needs and do you think we need a family unit in order to meet these needs?

Answer 1

The Six Human Needs model describes the following as critical and essential needs:

• CERTAINTY: The need to feel safe, comfortable, secure, stable, protected, and the need to have predictability in our lives.

• SIGNIFICANCE: The need to feel important, achievement, respect, special, needed, wanted, and unique in our lives.

• VARIETY/UNCERTAINTY: The need to feel different, challenged, risk, change, excitement, surprise, and entertained in our lives.

• CONNECTION/LOVE: The need to feel togetherness, passion, unity, warmth, desire, and love in our lives.

• GROWTH: The need to feel like we are developing, learning, strengthening, expanding, and cultivating ourselves.     

• CONTRIBUTION:  The need to feel like we are giving, donating, leaving our mark, serving, offering, and contributing to others.

In this regard, although a family unit can certainly facilitate the fulfilment of these needs, it is not necessarily the sole source. Some family units do more harm than good when it comes to providing a conducive environment for an individual. Many individuals are also able to experience satisfaction from interpersonal relationships that extend beyond the family, along with their engagement in professional work.