Research
"The Spectrum of Needs sees itself as open and disciplinary agnostic. It therefore opens up a wide range of possibilities to deepen its theses in various directions or to open up new areas of application."
The model from a scientific perspective
Areas of needs
The Spectrum of Needs is based on the assumption that every person has an inherent complex of needs. The model aims to break down this complex into the most granular, discrete individual needs possible, which are sufficiently "self-explanatory" to be evaluated by people for themselves according to their perceived "importance". The weightings obtained then serve as indicators for mapping larger "need areas", which represent clusters of related needs.
The mapping derived in this way does not claim to represent a complete image of the personality; rather, it is intended to offer approaches for recognizing patterns in the complex, sometimes contradictory networks of needs. The human image of the Spectrum of Needs does not see this as a weakness, but rather a recognition of the reality that people are often not even aware of why they feel the way they feel and act the way they act.
A typology? Yes and no.
The core of the model is always a focus on the individual instead of a prefabricated type classification or general statements that are supposed to encompass "every" person. The needs that make up dominant areas can be completely different from person to person and therefore require different approaches in order to adequately address these needs. The trends already mentioned serve as a practical guide to these differences, but a more in-depth (self-) analysis requires an examination of individual needs. This is the reason for the tripartite division of the model system, which is intended to allow both analytical and practical work with the insights gained.
Background
The Spectrum of Needs arose from experience with and the need for a methodology that allows conclusions to be drawn as quickly and efficiently as possible about the causes of people's feelings and actions, which can be used for more positive interaction.
In accordance with its history, the Spectrum of Needs sees itself on the one hand as a psychological-communicative tool for everyday private and professional use, but on the other hand also as a way of exploring human behavior. Existing systems are often based on inductive logic and are poorly supported by empirical evidence. The Spectrum of Needs reverses this approach and starts with recordable indicators, which primarily generate the image of an individual's world of needs and will hopefully be used in the future to provide insights at a societal level by recording larger, statistically relevant samples.
What the Spectrum of Needs does not aim to do is to provide uniquely valid information about the psychological landscapes of individuals; in this respect, it is not intended to be a replacement for entire fields of psychology, but an alternative approach to existing psychological models, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs or Ryan and Deci's self-determination theory. Based on practical experience, the Spectrum of Needs is actively open to criticism and change; its theses are based on existing data, rather than on preconceived hypotheses.
Development
The indicators included in the model were based on the assumption that people act in accordance with their individual needs. Needs in the sense of the model are not identical with rationally held values, desires or neurochemical processes, but represent the lowest tangible level of psychological decision-making processes.
The identification of the majority of needs and the "work" with them preceded the development of the model and therefore had a significant influence on it; the three needs clusters anchored in the model today, for example, are merely a further development of the practical findings on dealing with individual needs.
The clustering of needs into the groups "ME", "WE" and "SYSTEM" was followed by the development of the online tool, which enables testing and, by assigning the needs weightings to the clusters, provides a rough overview of a person's needs system in generally understandable "labels".
Application
In principle, the available online tool is sufficient for working with the Spectrum of Needs, but a test form revised in accordance with scientific guidelines should be used for larger field tests. We are working on research collaborations with colleges and universities, which should also have a significant impact on the character of the first further results. This website will continuously reflect the current state of research and any necessary modifications to the model.
Data
As a side effect, the use of the online tool generates data that is used to continuously improve the Spectrum of Needs and the online tool itself to make it more accurate and self-explanatory. The statistical analysis of the data can help to make more in-depth statements than is currently possible, but in the meantime the online tool is a fully functional tool for applying the Spectrum of Needs in practice.
Good to know
Creative Commons
The entire model is subject to a Creative Commons license and can be used freely by anyone, whether in application or research. It is in the tradition of "open source" projects and can be seen as part of the public science scene. All results are freely available and all projects of which we are aware are included in our resource directory.
Interdisciplinary
Spectrum of Needs combines psychological and philosophical principles with the core ideas of non-violent communication. It is equally at home in the social sciences as it is in the humanities and cultural studies. Current research activities are practice-oriented in the field of project management, but the model is also suitable for areas such as intercultural communication or mediation.
Development
In addition to our own activities to further develop the model, we are in contact with various people and institutions in order to complete, improve and expand the model. As a non-commercial project with scientific aspirations, Spectrum of Needs will never be "finished", but will grow and change as a living piece of knowledge.