When a baby is born, it has both physiological and psychological needs. Needs that begin in utero include the need for physical nourishment and for safety. From birth, human beings also have ongoing psychological needs that manifest more in different stages of development. These are the needs for safety and security, for physical touch, love and affection, for acceptance, for autonomy, for approval, recognition, admiration, and for order and stability. These needs don’t disappear: as adults we continue to manifest these needs, and we experience wellbeing when they are gratified or respected, and feel stress or upsets if they are threatened or frustrated.
Infants communicate their needs by their behaviours, including vocalisations – and later the use of language. Underpinning the expression of a particular need is a negative feeling. For example, the feeling of hunger arises from the need for food. The psychological needs listed also give rise to negative feelings that motivate the infant, child or adolescent to react. Their reactions are ways of trying to bring attention to their needs, to try to have them fulfilled or respected.