Human needs serve as a vocabulary for what drives our behaviors and emotions.
When we are able to identify our needs, we are able to connect more authentically from a place of deeper understanding of ourselves and others.
Needs are what we are longing for at our core. They are the deep-seated values you most appreciate. We experience feelings when our needs are either satisfied (met) or not (unmet). For example, when you’re frustrated that someone arrived late to a meeting, you might have a need for collaboration or mutual understanding that wasn’t met when that happened.
When we can identify and express our underlying needs clearly, we create opportunities for meaningful dialogue, reduce conflict, and build stronger relationships both personally and professionally.
Below is a list of core human needs to aid in building this awareness.
For more details on how to work with needs, explore my approach to Nonviolent Communication here
Physical Needs
- Air
- Food
- Health
- Movement
- Physical Safety
- Rest / sleep
- Shelter
- Touch
- Water
Security
- Consistency
- Order/Structure
- Peace (external)
- Peace of mind
- Protection
- Safety (emotional)
- Stability
- Trust
Autonomy
- Choice
- Ease
- Independence
- Power
- Self-responsibility
- Space
- Spontaneity
Leisure & Relaxation
- Humor
- Joy
- Fun / Play
- Pleasure
- Rejuvenation
- Stimulation
Connection
Affection
- Appreciation
- Attention
- Closeness
- Comfort
- Companionship
- Friendship
- Harmony
- Intimacy
- Love
- Nurturing
- Support
- Tenderness
- Warmth
Community
- Belonging
- Communication
- Cooperation
- Equality
- Inclusion
- Mutuality
- Participation
- Partnership
- Self-expression
- Sharing
To Matter
- Acceptance
- Care
- Compassion
- Consideration
- Empathy
- Kindness
- Mutual Recognition
- Respect
- To be heard, seen
- To be known, understood
- To be trusted
- Understanding others
Meaning
Sense of Self
- Authenticity
- Competence
- Consciousness
- Creativity
- Dignity
- Growth
- Healing
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Self-acceptance
- Self-care
- Self-connection
- Self-realization
- Mattering to myself
Understanding
- Awareness
- Clarity
- Discovery
- Learning
Engaging with the World
- Aliveness
- Challenge
- Contribution
- Creativity
- Exploration
- Integration
- Purpose
Transcendence
- Beauty
- Celebration
- Flow
- Hope
- Inspiration
- Mourning
- Peace (internal)
- Presence
This list builds on Marshall Rosenberg's original needs list, with categories adapted from Manfred Max-Neef. This list is neither exhaustive nor definitive, and it can be used for discovery about each person's authentic experience of the world.