1. Explaining human behavior…trying to answer the “why” of what we do.
HUMAN NEEDS
Explaining human behavior…trying to answer the “why” of what we do.

2. Reflect on the statement…
We choose everything we do…and think…including our misery.

3. “If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior.”
William Glasser
“If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior.”
“I have noticed that happy people are constantly evaluating themselves, and unhappy people are constantly evaluating others.”

4. Glasser’s Choice Theory
All we do is behave
Almost all behavior is chosen
That we are driven by our genes (innate) to satisfy five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power& control, freedom & choice, and fun & learning

5. Love & Belonging Power & Control Survival Needs Learning & Fun
Freedom & Choice

6. Basic Need: Love & Belonging
Acceptance, Friendships, Social Connections
Feel part of a group
Most important because people will sacrifice more to meet this need than any other need. Example: at a party and drinking to maybe be more accepted even though they don’t want to drink.

7. Basic Need: Survival
Food, Water
Shelter, Warmth, Clothes
Safety

8. Basic Need: Power & Control
To achieve and be recognized for it
To be competent, Skilled, “Able”
Self-Esteem, Self-Worth
Example: making varsity,
trying out for a school play

9. Basic Need: Freedom & Choice
To have & make choices (classes, clothes, friends, co-curriculars, dating, etc.)
To be independent, feel unrestrained
To have control of the direction of one’s life

10. Basic Need: Fun & Learning
To participate in activities that you find pleasure & enjoyment
To play
To laugh
To learn about what you’re interested in, not necessarily in school.

11. Basic Needs
Love & Belonging is a requisite to meet any other need = it outweighs all other needs!
Survival
Power & Control
Freedom & Choice
Fun & Learning
Love & Belonging

12. Total Behavior is Chosen
Direct control = acting and thinking
You have 100% control over how you act and how you think. Do you view a situation positively or negatively? This is a choice and you are the only one who can make that choice.
Indirect control = feeling and physiology
You can influence your emotions (talking yourself down from being angry or trying to cheer yourself up).
You can influence your physiology by eating healthy, exercising, not drinking or doing drugs. However, none of this is a guarantee that you won’t get sick or that you’ll live until your 90.

13. Abraham Maslow

14. Hierarchy of Needs
Each need must be satisfied in turn (starting at the bottom of the pyramid) before you can try to meet the next need.
If our lower needs are missing or swept away, we have to go back and deal with them and then we can return to work on the higher needs.
Lower needs are physical and emotional
Higher needs are focused on personal development

15. Esteem Needs (Lower & Higher) Physiological/Physical
Being Needs
(B-Needs/Values)
Self-Actualization
Personal Growth, self-fulfillment, etc.
Personal Independence
Esteem Needs (Lower & Higher)
Achievement, status, responsibility, reputation, etc.
Deficit Needs
(D-Needs)
Dependence
Love & Belonging
Acceptance, affection, relationships, etc.
Safety
Protection, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc.
Physiological/Physical
Basic Needs – air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sleep, etc.

16. Physical Needs Real Life Example

17. D-Needs vs. B-Values D-Needs B-Values You can have “enough”
If you don’t have enough (deficit) you feel the need to have it!
Your behavior is trying to fulfill that need
If you get all that you “need” you stop feeling that need = move on to the next level
B-Values
You can never have enough”
“Growth motivation”
Search for excellence & high principles (values)
VERY FEW people get to the top of the hierarchy… Not because they are bad, but the bottom needs are not met!

18. Problems with this theory…
Individual needs seem to respond to several needs at once – not just one
The same need may cause different behavior in each person
When has a level actually been “satisfied”?