Safety Needs Mediate Stressful Events Induced Mental Disorders

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Mental Health

Background:

• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs posits physiological needs precede safety needs.
• This study challenges this established hierarchy, proposing safety needs are more fundamental.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate the foundational elements of human needs, specifically the placement of safety needs.
• To explore the psychological and neural underpinnings of safety and its relation to mental health.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical re-evaluation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
• Analysis of the neural circuitry associated with safety, including the amygdala and LC/NE system.
• Application of Appraisal Theory to emotional responses related to safety and coping.

Main Results:

• Safety needs (personal security, financial security, health) are proposed as more fundamental than physiological needs.
• Safety concerns are identified as a primary driver of mental disorders such as anxiety, phobia, depression, and PTSD.
• The neural basis of safety involves the amygdala, LC/NE system, and corticotrophin-releasing hormone system, forming a 'safety circuitry' linked to 'fight or flight' and emotional responses.

Conclusions:

• A revised understanding of human needs places safety as a primary motivator.
• Understanding the neural basis of safety is critical for addressing mental health disorders.
• Emotional responses like fear and anger are intrinsically linked to the appraisal of safety and coping mechanisms.