Nine Basic Human Needs

Security, Adventure, Freedom, Exchange, Power, Expansion, Acceptance, Community, Expression.

Each of us has three needs that are more important than the other six needs, which we hold to a lesser degree. When looking at your motivations these can help inform you of who you really are. Importantly; when we do not meet our higher needs, we can become agitated, angry or driven to use the negative aspects of our needs to get them met.

Each need is described below, showing how they work in positive ways and how used negatively they can be forceful or destructive if we are thwarted. To deny that we have a shadow or darker side to our nature is to deny the symmetry that we have.

Each of us is responsible for seeing that we meet our own needs and these are not something that comes from others. However if others share our needs we can feel connections, bonds or call this love, partnership or a working together to achieve X.

Two people who do not share at least one common need will feel little connection with the other. Co-workers who do not share similar needs will have difficulties working together. Close friends, partners and love relationships usually share at least two or three needs.

Security

Security is the need to feel safe and assured that we know what is going to happen in the future. Security can be different things for different people, it can be money in the bank, having savings or a secure job. Owning your own home, being in a family. A good car, no debts or paying off the mortgage early.

For some religion or faith or living near family and in a secure environment may offer security. These Positive aspects help make you feel safe, grounded, connected, secure and trusting that your life is good and will continue to turn out well.

The Negative aspects of security can help make you feel over cautious, fearful, paralysed, indecisive, stuck and unable to function due to insecurity. In this situation there may be acts of aggression towards those they believe threaten their Security.

People with a need for Security are deeply affected by changes, unforeseen events, possible threats to their job and livelihood as this affects their sense of self.  Crisis causes them to react strongly to those they feel who threaten with their sense of security, this can create paralysis; being unable to react well or aggression.  Those with strong need for security tend to work in the Public sector rather than commercial enterprise, this reflects the ordered nature of  public service work rather than the short term contract and change focused needs of business.

Those needing less Security tend toward Adventure or of welcoming change.  An Adventure minded manager with staff having strong Security needs is a sure recipe for disaster!

 

Adventure

Adventure is the need for new experiences, travel, dramas and to have anticipation about the future.

Adventure is seen easily in those who Change; their jobs, moving house, buying a new car, being self-employed by changing work, being the first to try or do new things, they love the challenge of solving problems, they need to conquer mountains, win medals, set new records. Most of us find out we are Adventurers or have me an Adenturer when we recognise the Adventurer need to Change partners or spouses

Adventurer Positive aspects reflect their high self-confidence, independence, risk-taking, optimism, excitement and enthusiasm for life.

Negatively they can be reckless with low regard for life and be irresponsible. They can be viewed as arrogant and judgmental of others less adventurous than they and too can be seen as creating crisis or drama inappropriately.

Those with a need for Adventure will leading the way to newer ways to do things, places to visit, markets to open, products to sell and to new ways of organising. They can be excellent salespeople, who love making a sale or creating new markets to sell to or a flamboyant entrepreneur who starts new companies.

If things get too routine, Adventurers find excitement; positively by doing something new or negatively ways by taking risks, going off on their own or by turning against their colleagues.

Conflict between Adventure people and those who need Security can cause chaos.  Those people with Security and Adventure in their three highest needs creates challenges as they seem to hold opposites within themselves and they may find themselves torn by inner conflict.  Accepting responsibility for their own needs, these conflicts can be resolved positively by recognising that Adventure can be joined with Security; e.g. by working as a salesperson within a Security-minded department or for a Security needing manager.

Freedom

Freedom is our need for independence and spontaneity and the need to feel in control of making choices.  In some the need for Freedom is twinned with Adventure, as the need for Freedom creates choices to create more Adventures.  Freedom needs do not like plans or structure, however what Freedom is for one may be very different from another’s view of Freedom, say somebody with a twin need of freedom and security.

Freedom is about working as they feel it best, whether hours, days, approach or decisions made about work. By not making commitments or refusing to obey rules that were created others, this is felt as freedom being a basic human right and feeling free to be themselves, regardless of what they are or the situation they are in.  Answers cannot be imposed upon them

Positives include Independence, self-confidence with high self-esteem and a clarity of thought.

Negatives are seen as lack of commitment in relationship; commitment phobic, inability to understand others or not being understood themselves and of distance from others.

Those with Freedom needs will resist attempts to impose rules on them.  They can be good teachers of students expected to exercise independent thought and ideas.  To be happy, Freedom needs people must find situations that meet their need for Freedom and where it can be used appropriately.

Exchange

Exchange is the need to trade information and knowledge with others to deliver and receive value. This can be information, conversation, communication, energy, friendship, money, gifts, love or shared experience. This need for exchange is concerned with the flow of energy in all relationships.

Exchange is about building a network of contacts for discussions for building a sense of fairness and working in a way that creates equality for all. They tend to stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues from whom they feel they are valued and receive value from. In relationship they need to they feel able to communicate and interact freely.

Positives are positive role models in all relationships as they keep things in balance whether knowledge, information, communications or energy.

Negatives can be accused of keeping secrets or withholding information. Being involved in negative communications; gossip, lying, criticism, cynicism, not participating with others in an equal or balanced way and not treating all equally, because they know the rules so well, they know how to break them.

Those with Exchange needs work well with others with common goals. However if they meet someone that does not ‘fit’ with them, they may ignore the relationship as an Exchange person they need to feel there is value in all relationships and that they too are giving value. Distress will arise from unethical or discriminatory behaviour and learning that information has been withheld from them.

Power

Power people need to be in authority or hold positions of responsibility. Their need is to explore Power, leadership and accomplishment. They tend to be good organisers, accepting responsibility and setting a good example of leadership. 

Power exemplifies itself through being a leader and recognised as such, by teaching, by being responsible for people, a company, projects, events, situations and taking charge during difficult situations such as an emergency.

Positives: Leadership, accomplishment, success, organisation of others, organisations and taking responsibility.

Negatives: Viciousness; the abuse of power, dictatorship, manipulative control, anger and violence against others or objects.

Those with a need for Power find to situations that allow them to develop their leadership. If they cannot find outlets for their Power needs, they may instead  use threats or become over-controlling, if there are no work roles for their skills they may find a community or other place for them. Power people are good to put in charge when things need doing and they are happiest when they feel powerful. Conversely they are unhappiest when someone or something prevents them from exercising Power or they feel a sense of personal failure.

Expansion

Expansion needing to build, create empires, expand horizons, and to explore

Expansion is about Seeing the bigger picture, building a company, a personal or political empire, creating new buildings, cities, communities, roads or new knowledge. Expanding boundaries, science, art, medicine, music , nature or expanding the knowledge of physical and spiritual laws

Positives, growth, recognising the value of others, of art, science, nature, physical and spiritual laws, the connection with spiritual teachers or a Higher Self, working to understand how the Universe works and how they fit into it to understand themselves and others.

Negatives, weight gain, hoarding collections, confusion, loss, abandonment, betrayal, loss, suicide, atheism, evil, sin, spiritual separation.

Expansion needs people need to expand their knowledge and the boundaries of knowledge. Their energy is best used for creating knowledge or creating new products, however, If their expansion need is interrupted that need may shift into inappropriate and harmful behaviour.

Acceptance

Acceptance is about the need to be accepted by others and yourself, including a feeling of belonging, they tend to be easy-going and good to have in a group.

Acceptance is about being accepted as a valuable member of; a family group neighbours, co-workers. Being tolerant of self and others, feeling loved and accepting whatever comes up in life

Positives, Altruism, full involvement in love and loving relationships, with a strong sense of family, high self-esteem, self-forgiveness and forgiveness of others.

Negatives, fears of rejection, jealousy, prejudice, guilt, shame, hate and fear of different classes or races.

Those with Acceptance needs tend to be a valuable addition to communities, being a stabile presence and increasing tolerance within the group, however their fears of rejection may result in them avoiding necessary conflict or voicing their true opinions.

Acceptance people need to feel accepted and be accepting of others. Because of this may be regarded as ‘part of the furniture’ and their value overlooked.

Community

Community people are social people and express their enjoyment in gatherings, they are best when in charge of parties or social occasions. This need of Community is different from Exchange in that Community does not require exchange.

Community people will hold parties for any reason, they love being the centre of  networks, classes, groups, clubs and campaigns. Creating a community for people with common interests.

Positives are the need to be with social groups and the to have strong relationships. They need family, need a wider participation, having a strong sense of responsibility in their local and national politics or other organisations.

Negatives, they can be needy and be clinging with dependence attitudes or not taking responsibility for their thoughts or actions.

Community needy people will be with people every chance they can, whether in the centre or on the sidelines. They falter when isolated because socialising is who they are, others can be jealous of this behaviour if they do not understand this as an innate need rather than a choice.

Expression

Expression is the artistic, the seen, heard and felt through words, speech, actions, dress, art, it is all self-expression forms .

Expression people write, read, design, act, dance and create art, jewellery, painting, sculpture, they coach, teach, all to express the beauty, nature, horror and poetry that is life.

Positives are their creativity, balance, their creating understanding by showing through art, words, behaviour and being who they are.

Negatives, invading other’s space , being self-centred, temperamental, lying, expressing their own value whilst ignoring other’s..

Expression’ists are happiest when free to express their creativity. If their expression of individuality is controlled, this can impair their ability to function, this will drive them toward negative expressions or they will leave to find somewhere where their creativity is valued. If they cannot be creative or expressive through their need to make a living, they may find community or other arenas for their need of expression.

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If you’ve read this far, I’m guessing you have some good ideas of which of these needs applies to you, if not go back over the descriptions of all nine needs. Then rank them for yourself being as honest as you can. (ask friends if you need help, talking to them about what your needs are, how they affect your and how they affect your life with them will help gain their understanding

Rank your top three followed by the others in descending order. You may find that some needs seem to be of equal importance, this can be due to unmet needs creating a stronger pull to get them satisfied, once this happens your top three needs will come to the fore again. Then, for your top three, think how you satisfy those needs in positive ways and later; how you’ve acted from the negatives…this isn’t a beat yourself up exercise, more that doing these will give you information to do better in the future.

Once you fully understand your needs, think about the people you are closest to and what their needs might be, knowing their needs will help understand that they may be acting from their needs rather than their possibly being purposely hurtful.

You may find again that over time that your needs will change, you may change from Adventure as a younger person to Security as your life changes, you gain a family, a job, a home and that good car or motorcycle (!) do revisit these pages and rank your needs again. I want to leave you with the following questions for you as you take your newer understanding of yourself into the future:

Are some of your needs not being satisfied?

What changes can you make so higher needs are satisfied?

Have your needs changed since childhood?

Is this because you have found ways to satisfy them?

Or are they still a source of frustration?

Neil Benbow

©neilbenbow2026