About
What makes you feel truly fulfilled? Perhaps it’s the autonomy to make your own decisions, the security of knowing you’re safe, or the joy of meaningful relationships. While we each pursue fulfillment in unique ways, the underlying drivers are surprisingly universal. There are 13 fundamental human needs that motivate all of us, regardless of culture, age, or background. These needs shape everything from our daily habits to our life’s biggest decisions. They explain why we feel energized by certain experiences and drained by others, why some environments make us thrive while others leave us feeling empty.
Understanding What Drives Us
When we understand our fundamental needs, we gain powerful insights into human behavior and motivation. We can see why a promotion might leave someone feeling unfulfilled if it doesn’t align with their need for purpose, or why a perfectly functional product fails to resonate if it doesn’t address users’ deeper needs for autonomy or beauty. This understanding helps us make better decisions about our careers, relationships, and lifestyle choices. It also enables us to design better experiences for others – whether we’re parents, managers, designers, or simply friends who want to support those around us.
The Need Typology Framework
The need typology provides a comprehensive map of human motivation. Based on decades of psychological research, it organizes the complex landscape of human desires into 13 clear, actionable categories. Each need represents a fundamental aspect of human flourishing – from our physical well-being to our deepest sense of purpose. The framework shows how these needs interconnect and how fulfilling them leads to happiness, while neglecting them creates frustration and dissatisfaction.
The need typology reveals the universal patterns beneath our individual differences.
Explore Human Motivation
The need typology is designed to be both scientifically grounded and practically useful. For each of the 13 fundamental needs, you’ll find:
- A clear definition that captures the essence of the need
- A video that visualize the need
- Practical examples from everyday life that help you recognize the need in action
- Sub-needs that break down each fundamental need into more specific components
- The “Needs on a Desert Island” thought experiment that illustrates why each need matters for human thriving
Share your insights
We would love to hear from you and learn from your experiences. Your questions and feedback will help us improve future versions of the typology. You can get in touch with us via needtypology@gmail.com.