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Questions and Answers on Physiological and Psychological Needs

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What are the differences between physiological and psychological needs? Provide examples of each in your response. Maslow's hierarchy of needs hypothesizes that an individual's needs are structured into an ascending order. It is first required to meet the lower physiological needs i.e. food intake, water consumption, shelter, sleep, activity and sexual desires (Deckers, 2005). People must have food to consume, water to drink, and a place to live before giving a consideration to anything else. In case of the absence of any of the physiological necessity, people strive to meet it above all. For instance, if one is hungry, other things become unnecessary and the individual begins to look for food to satisfy his/her physiological need. Thus, Maslow defines a physiological need as "the need for the body to work in unison to accomplish the task of basic survival" (Poston, 2009). After the physiological needs are satisfied then the psychological needs of safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization are to be fulfilled (Deckers, 2005). The need to feel secure remains with one throughout his/her life. This psychological need is different for each individual, depending on his/her current position in life. A child would yearn for a safe family environment whereas an adult may need to be economically stable for security. Thus, stability in life is the prerequisite for meeting the need for safety. When a person's physiological and safety needs are met, he/she then tries to

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