Literature Review On Fundamentals For Human Happiness

X - Literature review

X.1 Fundamentals for human happiness

The well known ‘hierarchy of needs’ was suggested by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in the 1940’s. This theory suggested, in a simplified way, what humans need for living a satisfying life. The concept roughly implies that we need to meet two basic needs for survival; food and shelter, after this we have to actualize ourselves through love, belonging and self esteem. This seem fundamental and obvious for many of us, however not all demographics may have the same opportunity to reach self actualization.

The emotional needs, which Maslow divides in four groups, can be divided into ten innate emotional needs.

1) Security (Safety) — safe territory and an environment which allows us to develop fully
2) Privacy (Safety) — opportunity to reflect and consolidate experience
3) Friendship, intimacy (Social belonging)— To have family, friendships or intimacy.
4) Being emotionally connected to others (Social belonging)
5) Feeling part of a wider community (Social belonging)— taking part in a social group
6) Attention (Esteem) — a form of nutrition
7) Sense of status within social groupings (Esteem)
8) Sense of competence and achievement (Esteem)
9) Sense of autonomy and control (Self-actualization)— having the possibility of choices
10) Having meaning and purpose (Self-actualization) As stated by Schwartz (2007); social comparison is likely the most important factor when we evaluate our experiences. This means