Arousal, Behavior, Stress, and Affect Worksheet
Using the text for this course, the University Library, the Internet, and/or other resources answer the following questions. Your response to each question should be at least 250 words in length.
1. What are the differences between physiological and psychological needs? Provide examples of each in your response.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs postulates that the needs of a person are organized into an ascending structure, going from the lower physiological needs to the needs of safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization (Deckers, 2010). Maslow hypothesized that the lower needs have to be addressed before the higher needs can be attended to. Physiological needs include the homeostatic balance of food intake (blood glucose levels), water consumption (intercellular and extracellular fluid levels), sleep (Circadian Rhythms), activity, and sexual needs. The internal motives created by these physiological needs manifest themselves as psychological drives, or an, “…internal push, urge, or force that moves a person into action” (Deckers, 2010). On the other hand, the concurrent physiological counterpart of psychological needs is much more speculative. Atkinson seemed to believe that psychological needs could be described as incentive categories, but Deckers cautions that the idea of internal psychological needs acting to select external incentives is not always clear-cut, or obvious. The rest of Maslow’s hierarchy would constitute a good example of psychological needs: safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization. Other drive-linked psychological needs could include the need to satisfy curiosity and the need to avoid boredom. In light of Atkinson’s explanation of psychological needs as incentive categories, incentives that lead to the satisfaction of the psychological need to avoid boredom would be chosen