Wellbeing:
- Wellbeing is the condition or state of a human being, animal or plant. There are five types of wellbeing… * Physical wellbeing: This is a person’s physical condition, including their appearance and their internal health. * Socioemotional wellbeing: Social wellbeing involves a person’s relationships with others and how that person communicates, interacts and socialises. Emotional wellbeing relates to a person’s state of mind, emotions or mental health. * Economic wellbeing: This concerns the financial situation that a person finds themself in. Economic wellbeing (on both a personal level and a community level) is important in maintaining the other areas of wellbeing as most things require money. * Political wellbeing: Politics and the decisions of politicians can impact an individual either positively or negatively. Having a say through voting or protesting can improve a person’s political wellbeing. * Spiritual wellbeing: This relates to a person’s sense of morals, values and beliefs. A high level of spiritual wellbeing means that the person is able to develop their own sense of the world, without being influenced by society.
Needs and Wants:
- Needs are those things that we require in order to feel part of society and achieve optimal wellbeing. There are three different ways in which you can classify needs…
1) There are two levels of needs. Primary needs are those needs that are essential for survival; for example, air and water. Secondary needs are those we require to achieve optimal wellbeing, but which we don’t need in order to survive; for example, housing and education.
2) Needs can be classified into five areas – social, physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual. If optimal wellbeing is to be met, an individual must have met all of their needs. Certain needs will change over time and with different circumstances.
3) Psychologist, Abraham Maslow, developed a theory on how to