What do we need?
One single question will determine your entire life…
Do you know which one?
Above all else, do you know the answer?
Answers from a handful of people have determined the course of our history and still, it is a question we rarely ask ourselves…
“What do I want in life?”
You may end up with success, fame, money, wisdom, maybe “happiness”. Generally though, it stops there. You probably don’t give it that much conscious thought. You unconsciously chase for the answer over your entire life, for the pursuit of happiness and then you die.
Recently, science joined the debate and the results have been astounding. Never before have we known so much about what we consciously and subconsciously look for in life.
The aim of this article is to show you which scientific building blocks exist and what we used to come to the Happonomy human needs model. We hope that it will inspire you to make those choices in life that are in line with your own well-being and will increase your own quality of life.
Previous models
The psychological foundation of human needs models
We are not the first to think of what we need in a scientific way. The grandfather of human needs, Abraham Maslow, is probably best known for his Maslow 5 dimension pyramid. It is considered to be the very first important human needs model.
Built in the 1940’s, there is a lot of merit to this model as it identifies key categories in what we need. Later on, the 5 level model was revised to add cognitive needs, aesthetic needs and self-transcendence. More recent research papers like the psychology of world views from scientists such as Mark Koltko-Rivera added to the body of knowledge.
Levels of consciousness as an alternative approach
Using the perspective of consciousness, both of an individual and group is an alternative approach to answer the question of what we need. The theory of spiral dynamics, developed by Beck and Cowan, provides an intriguing angle as they focus on levels of consciousness. They suggest that the key driver of our needs is the level of awareness we have in the world, basically a primarily spiritual perspective of life.
Evolutionary psychology and biologically-driven needs
More recent research (2010), led by Douglas Kendrick, offers a third alternative view of looking at the question what we are looking for. The studies suggest that our needs for survival and gene-transfer command our entire existence. Pro-creating, parenting and finding a mate are at the core of our existence.
Limitations to previous human needs models
We are bodies, minds and ‘souls’
Did you notice that the three model-types all have their own distinct angle on what humans are? Maslow mainly focused on the mental and psychological dimension of people – albeit “Maslow 1” covers our bodily survival needs – Beck and Cowan targeted the spiritual part while Kendrick zoomed in on our biology.
To us, human beings are not primarily biological, psychological or spiritual. They are all three. This is why focusing on one dimension constitutes a fundamental limitation which we want to transcend.
A model that has the ambition to explain what we need, should therefore encompass all three parts: body, mind and soul, whatever that latter exactly is.
All needs are innately present
There are two additional limitations to Maslow’s pyramid, which we want to transcend. First of all, the Maslow pyramid suggests a linear build up between these dimensions, as if in case we’d feel insecure, we wouldn’t yet open up the ‘levels’ that are on top of the second level of Maslow’s pyramid.
To us, all needs are simultaneously present, depending on who you are, where you are from and what specific situation you are in, one or some needs will just be more at the forefront.
That is why the Happonomy working model is a circular model.
Finally, as with the Spiral Dynamics model, we believe that a truly usable model should not only be applicable to the individual but also to a group entity, whether that is a city, country, continent or even humanity as a whole.
The Happonomy human needs model explained
If you are curious what the model is and what it encompasses, take a look at the presentation video below. 5 main spheres, divided in 21 different dimensions. Yes, people are complex beings…