Humans crave many things throughout their lives. Some cravings are simple, like food and water. Others are more complex, like love, success, and meaning. While cravings differ between individuals, there are a few key things that most humans desire.
Belonging and Love
One of the most fundamental human cravings is the need for belonging and love. Humans are social creatures, evolved to live in groups and families. We yearn for close personal relationships and to be accepted by others. This starts from birth, with an infant’s attachment to caregivers, and continues throughout life as we seek romantic relationships, friendships, and community.
Our longing for belonging is so strong that lack of social connection takes a major toll on health and happiness. Loneliness is now recognized as a significant public health concern. On the flip side, people who feel more connected and cared for tend to have less anxiety and depression, stronger immune systems, and may even live longer.
Love, the most intimate type of human connection, is something most people desperately want in their lives. The need to give care and affection and receive love in return is a powerful craving. Research suggests that feeling loved boosts mood, reduces stress, and promotes overall well-being. The universal desire for love is why human culture is so full of love stories, songs, and art depicting this singular human experience.
Security and Safety
Along with social bonds, humans also crave security and safety. Our species evolved in environments where survival was a constant challenge. Danger lurked in prehistoric jungles and savannahs, from predators, natural disasters, and tribal warfare. Nutritious food was often scarce.
This shaped a human brain wired to constantly scan for threats and seek refuge, food, and other resources to minimize vulnerability. While modern life is much safer, our brains haven’t caught up. We still feel tense and uneasy when our safety seems uncertain.
Money and financial security are very common human cravings because they provide protection from harm, hunger, and instability. We long for safe homes, neighborhoods, and access to healthcare to stay healthy and reduce risk. Psychologically, we also yearn for certainty and predictability to feel less anxious about the future.
A Sense of Meaning and Purpose
Humans don’t live by bread alone. We also crave a sense of meaning, purpose, and participation in something bigger than ourselves. Having guiding values and goals helps organize our lives and infuses ordinary tasks with significance. Discovering our life’s purpose provides a profound sense of fulfillment.
This craving explains the universal human interest in religion, spirituality, philosophy, and culture. Participating in shared belief systems and ethical values unites us and provides an explanatory framework for existence. When people report their lives feel meaningful, they are much more motivated, satisfied, and resilient in facing life’s trials.
Creative and altruistic pursuits are also linked to a sense of purpose. Expressing ourselves artistically or working to make a positive difference in the world helps leave a lasting legacy, reminding us that our lives matter.
Success, Mastery, and Achievement
Humans are driven to improve, progress, and achieve. Striving for success and mastery over our circumstances is built into our competitive nature. We want to better our situation, accomplish goals, and feel competent in activities that matter to us.
This craving propels us to excel in school, sports, careers, hobbies, and other challenging pursuits that test our abilities. Gaining new skills and overcoming obstacles brings a profound sense of satisfaction. Recognition from others also feeds this craving for success and fuels ambition.
Some neuroscience research suggests the brain’s dopamine reward system is especially active when we anticipate achieving goals and mastering difficult tasks. The promise of success keeps us motivated to persevere.
Pleasure, Enjoyment, and Fun
Even with all of life’s difficulties, humans are still driven to experience pleasure, joy, and fun. Laughter and play are universal emotional expressions, even across cultures. We love stimulating our senses – splashing in the ocean, gathering with friends, listening to music, enjoying a delicious meal.
While often portrayed as indulgent, pleasure-seeking behaviors serve important psychological needs. Our mood lifts when we participate in enjoyable activities, especially with people we like. Novel and exciting experiences trigger the brain’s reward system, leaving us eager for more. Make no mistake – human beings will go to great lengths to experience satisfaction and pleasure!
Freedom and Autonomy
As much as we crave the comfort of belonging, humans also have an innate desire for self-direction and freedom. We want to make our own choices, travel freely, and shape life on our own terms. Restrictions and excessive control lead to frustration, rebellion, and diminished motivation.
In fact, some argue the human urge for freedom and autonomy is so strong that we would rather suffer pursuing our own path than feel controlled – even if a restrictive authority promises an easier life. Philosophers and psychologists believe the will for personal liberty is integral to human identity and emotional health.
Democratic societies, human rights ideals, and teen rebelliousness all demonstrate this deep craving for freedom. It drives us to assert ourselves as independent beings entitled to make our own way in the world.
Self-Esteem
While not discussed as much as other needs, self-esteem is a powerful human craving. We all want to feel worthy, valuable, and competent. Self-esteem helps us cope and bounce back when faced with life’s hardships. It enables us to assert our needs and pursue fulfillment.
Conversely, chronically low self-esteem sabotages human potential and breeds anxiety, depression, and self-loathing. A deficit of self-worth causes people to undervalue their gifts and tolerate abuse or exploitation.
That’s why we crave positive reflections of ourselves from others, in the form of compliments, validation, and expressions of love. We also boost self-esteem internally by pursuing greater competence, making admirable choices, and accepting ourselves unconditionally.
Excitement, Variety, and Novelty
While humans do crave some predictability and routine, we never enjoy absolute sameness. The brainquickly becomes bored when stimuli remain constant. We are wired to seek variety, novelty, and diverse experiences. This propels us to explore, learn, and master new skills.
Craving excitement and novelty is what motivates us to travel, seek out new music and foods, and adopt the latest technologies. Climbing mountains, thrill-seeking, and adventures stimulate our biology. Even reading fiction rather than the same genres allows us to visit new worlds.
A monotonous existence simply doesn’t suit the human spirit. Thankfully, the world is full of infinite permutations encouraging us to encounter new people, places, and perspectives.
Creativity and Self-Expression
Expressing our authentic selves is a deep human need. We all want to create, innovate, and contribute unique gifts only we can offer. Creativity provides meaning by transforming the mundane into something beautiful or thought-provoking.
Pursuing creative interests also allows us to tap into flow states, where we become fully immersed in projects utilizing our highest talents. Scientists now believe the brain is specially wired for innovation and self-expression. Evidence suggests creative work enhances quality of life and even boosts immune function.
Meaningless conformity stifles the human spirit, while unfettered self-expression liberates it. We crave painting, writing, singing, dancing, and playing simply for the joy of creating.
Conclusion
Human cravings reflect our evolutionary origins as social, competitive, freedom-loving creatures seeking security, enjoyment, and purpose. While cultures may shape how these longings manifest, core human needs remain constant. Satisfying them leads to greater health, happiness, and resilience.
By understanding what humans universally require, we can thoughtfully shape families, organizations, and societies to nurture our shared humanity. Each of us can also gain insight into what we crave as individuals, and why particular things bring us satisfaction and meaning.
The richest human lives artfully balance multiple needs – freedom and security, pleasure and purpose, belonging and self-determination. Continuing to explore the science of happiness helps us understand how to thrive.