Knowing More on Basic Minimum Needs

One of the main approaches to measuring absolute poverty in developing countries is the basic needs approach. It determines how much consumption is needed to achieve long-term health, and the poverty level is defined as the income necessary to meet those necessities. This ‘basic needs’ approach was introduced at the 1976 World Employment Conference by the International Labour Organisation.

This 1976 conference was perhaps the high point of the WEP, which called for national and international policies to be driven primarily by the satisfaction of human needs. 

Governments, workers’ organisations, and employers worldwide endorsed the basic needs approach to development, influencing major international programs and policies. This concept is the precursor of the ‘human development approach’.

Humans have specific basic requirements. To survive, we require food, water, air, and shelter; failure to fulfil any of these may be fatal. Explorers had to ensure their fundamental requirements were covered before discovering new places and conquering new worlds.

Food and water were either carried during explorations or acquired along the route. Explorers carried or erected shelters, such as tents, to protect them from the weather and other natural perils.

Since the 17th century, basic human necessities have remained relatively unchanged. We continue our investigation to understand our reality better and confront the current difficulties civilisations face. As they return to the Moon, fly to Mars, and scout the outer reaches of the solar system, twenty-first-century explorers will encounter a unique set of problems.

A contemporary list of six human necessities

Food: The human body requires calories and various nutrients such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates daily to develop, function, and heal. The body atrophies when it is deprived of sustenance.

Water: Adequate hydration smoothens the body’s processes. It cannot metabolise food or eliminate waste without the aid of water.

Shelter: Refuge from the scorching sun, frigid weather, wind, and rain is crucial. Extreme temperatures injure human skin and organs if left unprotected.

Sleep: The brain requires 6–9 hours of sleep every day to process new information and deal with emotional cognition. We cannot learn or process emotional distress without enough sleep.

Others: Adults need physical and emotional contact with others to release chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin. The human touch is so vital that our brains may not develop properly during infancy without it. We preserve a sense of well-being by regularly connecting with others, allowing us to take care of our health.

Novelty: Novelty triggers dopamine release to the brain by providing learning opportunities and the risk of failure. Motivation dwindles along with a healthy sense of well-being when novelty is not encountered on a regular basis.

Coaching, counselling, and personal development are now commonplace in our society. Psychology is meant to assist everyone in accomplishing their objectives. This new list of needs assumes that if these six basic needs are addressed daily, a person will have a good drive, well-being, and physical endurance to seek out physical exercise, emotional stimulation, and creative expression as needed throughout their lives.

Unfortunately, when all six needs are not met for a more extended period, it becomes difficult to accept that they will be met. When a person does not get enough sleep, they will claim that they can function without it. A person who has grown up without a strong sense of belonging would argue that they want to be alone. When those with well-entrenched routines offer change, they will oppose it.

It is as if humans have a natural defensive mechanism that kicks in when one of these six demands is not met. We create the illusion that we are unique and somehow more capable than others because we can function without our basic needs being met.

We are, in fact, frequently in denial. To be their best selves, every person regularly requires fulfilling these six basic needs.

Conclusion

Human beings have specific basic needs. We need food, water, air, and shelter to survive. Humans will perish if any of these basic requirements are not met. Explorers had to ensure their basic needs were met before heading off to find new areas and conquer new realms. Food and water were either brought along with the walk or purchased. Explorers brought or created shelter, such as tents, to protect them from uncontrollable elements and other dangers.