FMST 201 - Chapter 4: Categorization of Family Needs

What is a need?

An essential resource recognized by an individual that provides them with purpose and direction to acquire their needs.

In short, necessities for you to live a healthy and safe life.

What are examples of a need?

Shelter, food, water, clothing, sleep, air

What is a want?

Something desired but not essential.

In short, what you can live without

What are examples of a want?

Specifics foods, phones, clothes, big house, etc.

What's the biggest influence on wants and needs?

Media

What else influences wants and needs?

Social groups, policy/law, and availability of resources

What is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs? (Older model)

A theory stating that resources help individuals and families achieve hierarchical needs to improve life satisfaction. You must fulfill lower levels before moving up.

What are the five levels of Maslow's hierarchy (in order)?

lowest: Physiological

Safety

Social

Esteem

highest: Self-actualization

What happens if a lower-level need is not fulfilled?

You will never fully meet higher-level needs.

What level is physiological needs?

the lowest level, level 1.

What are physiological needs?

Basic survival needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.

What are safety needs?

Being free from danger, fear, or deprivation.

When can safety needs be pursued?

When physiological needs are met, making it level 2.

What are social needs?

Love, affection, and connection to others.

When can social needs be fulfilled?

When safety needs are met, making it level 3.

What are esteem needs?

Self-respect, status, recognition.

What must a person feel for esteem needs to be fulfilled?

Personal competence, making it level 4.

What is self-actualization?

The highest level of needs involving individual motivation to achieve without family or external influence.

What percentage of the population reaches self-actualization? (discussed in lecture)

About 25%.

As of today, less than 2%.

What makes self-actualization unique?

You strive without support from anyone, you lose all support, and you still move forward; you don't need others' support.

What does the updated hierarchy examine?

How resources can satisfy the needs of multiple people.

What do individuals seek in the updated model?

Others to help acquire need fulfillment.

What three new motivations are included?

Mate acquisition

Mate retention

Parenting

What has become key to reaching self-actualization in the updated model?

Parenting

What is a problem with the updated hierarchy?

It is hard to measure or scale.

(e.g., putting it on a 1-10 scale).

Why is satisfaction difficult to measure?

Families have different perspectives on how well a need has been met.

What are second-order (intermediate) needs

Needs that influence our level of satisfaction.

Examples of second-order/intermediate needs?

Nutritional food

Clean water

Comfortable and protective clothes

Protective housing (no bugs, mold, etc.)

Appropriate healthcare

Safe physical environment

What is relative deprivation?

Comparing what you have with what society believes is necessary and appropriate, affecting satisfaction levels.

Why do needs change over time?

Because of changes in individual and family circumstances.

Factors that affect changing perceptions of need?

Personality

Lifespan/age

Gender

Geography

Education

Technology

How does personality affect needs?

Desires, motivations, and behaviors change as we grow older and engage with new social groups.

How does lifespan/age affect needs?

Needs differ between younger and older individuals.

How does geography affect needs?

It changes expectations of availability.

How does education affect needs?

Exposure influences lifestyle preferences.

How does technology affect needs?

Changes perspective from wants to perceived needs.

What is planned obsolescence?

A deliberate decision by manufacturers to produce a product that will become obsolete or non-functional within a certain time frame.

Why do companies use planned obsolescence?

So consumers buy another product when it breaks.

What is corporate influence on personal need?

Companies shaping consumer perceptions so wants become perceived needs.

What is artificial/perceived obsolescence?

A company generates dissatisfaction with an older model to create a new need, even if the old model still works.

Examples of products affected by artificial obsolescence?

Clothes

Phones

TVs

Cars

Shoes

Sports equipment

Technology