Common Human Needs

1
Common Human Needs Issues

• Kimberly Hinds
• Department of Sociology, Psychology Social Work
• UWI Mona---October 3, 2005

2
Objectives

• To understand the concept of need.
• To understand your role as a social worker in
  identifying common human needs.
• To develop an understanding of how concepts about
  human development are used in identifying need.

3
Definition of Need

• A/C to Johnson, need is that which is necessary
  for either an individual or a system to function
  within reasonable expectations in a given
  situation.
• Need as defined by Johnson is important to the
  functioning of the individual or system.

4
They Need vs. Felt Need

• They need refers that need that is identified
  by others. This external identification of need
  often leads to people i.e. our clients being told
  what they need. (Prescribe)
• Felt need refers to need that is identified by
  the client.
• Basic social work principle is to start where the
  client is. (what we think they want vs. what they
  want)

5
GEORGIANA!!! WAKE UP!!!

• Please share with your classmates the case of
  the gentleman over at the UHWI and his need for
  a woman.
• In your opinion is that a real need?
• If you got the chance to probe you might discover
  something else e.g. it may not a sexual need.

6
The Generation of Human Needs

• Human needs and problems are generated by the
  interchange between people and their environment.
• A/c to Johnson even though there are common human
  needs each individual will fulfill those needs in
  different ways. The way in which we address our
  needs is influenced by factors such as, age,
  gender, physical disabilities, mental
  disabilities etc.
• A/c to Compton etal individuals move through a
  series of life transitions, these require
  emotional support and coping skills and can also
  lead to stress if there is not a good fit between
  the internal and external demands and resources
  available. (Germain Gitterman, 1980)

7
Types of Needs

• C. Wright Mills Private vs. Public Issues
• Charlotte Towle Common Human Needs
• Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs
• Erik Erikson Stages of Human Development

8
Private Troubles vs. Public Issues

• Sociologist C. Wright Mills referred to private
  troubles as having to do with the individual
  and..the range of his immediate relations with
  others.
• Public issues refer to the issues that
  individuals have with the wider society and other
  systems, such as families, small groups etc.

9
Charlotte Towle

• Towle in the classic text Common Human Needs
  looked at need with respect to the factors
  affecting human development. Towle listed the
  needs as
• (a) Physical welfare--- food, shelter health
  
• care.
• (b) Opportunity for emotional and intellectual
  growth
• (c) Relationship with others
• (d) Provision for spiritual needs (Do I hear
  an Amen!)

10
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
11
Erik Erikson

• Stage I Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)
• Stage II Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
  ( Early Preschool Child)
• Stage III Initiative vs. Guilt
• ( Late Preschool Child)
• Stage IV Industry vs. Inferiority
• ( Grade-School Child)
• Stage V Identity vs. Role Confusion
• (Adolescence)

12
The Social Workers Response to Need

• The Social Worker needs to decide based on their
  assessment whether their response to the clients
  need should be on a person-to-person basis or
  should consider the bigger societal problems that
  create the unmet needs.
• MORE TO COME LATER!!!!! ?

13
Erikson Ctd.

• Stage VI Intimacy vs. Isolation
• (Young Adulthood)
• Stage VII Generativity vs. Stagnation
• ( Middle Adulthood)
• Stage VIII Ego Integrity vs. Despair
• ( Older Adulthood)

14
Next Class

• How do social workers respond to Need?
• THANKS FOR LISTENING!!!!!!!

15
References

• Compton, Beulah R., Galaway, Burt Cournoyer,
  Barry R. (2005). Social Work Processes.
  Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning
• Johnson, Louise Yanca, Stephen (2004) Social
  Work Practice. Pearson Education

16
When your PASSION and your PURPOSE are greater
than your FEARS and EXCUSES then you will find
a way!!!!