Understanding Various Factors that Affect Human Needs for a Prosperous Life
YOGYAKARTA - It is important for us to understand what factors affect daily needs. This helps in managing limited resources so that all basic needs are met.
Starting from the difference in environment, culture, to the level of income, each individual has a unique standard of living.
Factors Affecting the Need forDilansir VOI dari laman Psychology Today, mari kita bedah lebih dalam mengenai variabel apa saja yang menentukan prioritas konsumsi seseorang.
Internal Factors Affecting the Need forEvery human is born with different conditions and preferences. Internally, there are several main points that determine what is needed:
Income LevelThis is the most dominant factor. The higher a person's income, the more complex their needs will be. People with high incomes tend to have more secondary and tertiary needs.
Age and Stages of LifeThe needs of an infant are certainly different from those of an adult. As people get older, their priorities will shift from toys, education, to health insurance in old age.
Level of EducationEducation will also affect mindset. Someone with a high level of education often has additional needs in the form of literacy, work support tools, or self-development courses.
External Factors of the Environment and CultureApart from within oneself, external conditions are also a factor that significantly affects needs, including:
Living EnvironmentGeography determines the needs. For example, people living in the mountains need thick clothes and room heaters, while those on the coast need thinner clothes and air conditioners.
Technological AdvancementsPreviously, the internet may have been considered a luxury. However, today, technology is a basic necessity for work and study.
Culture and CustomLocal traditions often require certain expenditures, such as customary ceremonies or certain standards of dress in community societies.
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Knowing Maslow's Hierarchy TheoryTo understand the psychological side behind the factors that influence needs, you can refer to Abraham Maslow. In his 1943 paper, A Theory of Human Motivation, Maslow explained that humans have a hierarchy of needs in the form of a five-level pyramid.
The bottom four levels are referred to as deficiency needs, which include physiological needs (eating, drinking, sleeping), security, social (friendship), and ego (self-esteem). The point is, if these factors are not met, humans will experience anxiety and stress.
After these basic needs are met, then humans will move to the highest level, namely self-actualization. This is a growth need to reach one's true potential.
Interestingly, many people who have met their physical needs still feel anxious because they fail to achieve self-actualization. This proves that psychological factors and courage to face existential anxiety also determine the quality of one's life.
How to Wisely Arrange the Priority ScaleConsidering the many factors that affect the needs, you must be smart in arranging the priority scale. Here are some simple tips that you can apply:
Prioritize basic needs (clothing, food, board). Evaluate whether a desire arises due to real needs or just environmental influences (trends). Set aside savings for unexpected future needs.Thus, the factors that affect human needs are dynamic and influenced by a combination of physical factors, the environment, to the deepest psychological conditions. By understanding this, you can be wiser in managing finances and achieving well-being.