Maslow's First Level, sex?

[MEDICJOHN]

I get the whole maslow thing. The first level is stuff you MUST have to survive, air, water, food, excretion..... But how is sex included in that list? I have gone a year without sex and....I'm still alive.....

Seems like it should be in the "love and belonging" category...

[SCSUStudent]

Basic need for a man.

Love & Belonging for a woman.

:-0)

As a woman, I have to disagree. I would find it very hard to feel romantic love in a relationship without an adequate sexual relationship.

As far as the actual question goes, I do think that sex belongs in the basic physiological need, if only because its a basic instinctual physiological function instilled in our DNA. It was put on the bottom with procreation in mind, and it's what drives us as "animals". It should also be mentioned that Maslow's hierarchy of needs was not created to fit the ill population ; he performed his study on a healthy sample. So, of course, a hospitalized patient won't be needing sexual gratification, but may need it when he/she feels better.

[nursel56]

Human sexuality is a lot more complex than an "instinct", and it is not a physiological need for an individual person, it is for the species. The reason I don't drop this is that it seems as though people are saying that because they think it's a need in their life, that must mean it's a need for everyone else. It isn't.

There are even married couples who say they are happy with no sex/ infrequent sex. Who are we to say they are "unhealthy". You can not want to have a sexual relationship and still be healthy!

[sandyfeet]

This is what I have learned from this thread, to paraphrase The Breakfast Club:

If I say that sex is a basic need, I am sex-crazed. If I say sex is not a basic need, I am a prude.

It's like a double-edged sword. :)