In their book, Born to Win, Muriel James and Dorothy Jongeward introduce the chapter on the human need for recognition and affirmation (strokes) with the words of a nine-year old boy, Bradley, who says,
“If you touch me soft and gentle,
If you look at me and smile at me
If you listen to me talk sometimes before you talk,
I will grow, really grow.”
To be recognized, to be affirmed, to be listened to is one of the basic needs of human beings. This is one of the needs that must be satisfied for people to really grow and blossom.
Our Basic Needs
Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, popularized the theory of a hierarchy of needs that have to be satisfied for people to attain psychological health.
Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB
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