Two terms used throughout the need discussions are defined below:

Need Conflicts: Within a particular dimension some needs conflict with each other because they evoke incompatible behavior if they are expressed synchronically (simultaneously). For example, the aggression and nurturance needs evoke incompatible behavior in all three dimensions. Needs that conflict in a particular dimension are located in opposite areas of that dimension (see Target Model) indicating that they are not normally activated synchronically in that dimension.

Mal Adaptive Need Fusion: Needs that normally produce conflicting behavior when synchronically evoked in a particular dimension are sometimes combined or fused despite resulting conflicts. Mal adaptive fusion creates frustrations and problems. For example, in the combative dimension, when the aggression and succorance needs are synchronically activated, the fused behavioral expression may take the form of whining and complaining that does not effectively express either the aggression need or the succorance need.

The Nurturance Need
(The need to give aid and comfort to others)

The nurturance need motivates us to give support, help, service, and gifts to others. There are no strings attached to the giving and whatever is given must be desired by or at least acceptable to the receiver. Our actions are not directly motivated by nurturance if we impose something on another that is against the other's will, regardless of how desirable or beneficial our actions might be from our own point-of-view. Nurturance is not an exchange of goods or services. We often expect and receive appreciation from those we nurture but receiving gratitude is not a precondition for providing nurturance.

When we try to analyze our motives, there is often confusion about the role played by the nurturance need in our activities. This is partly because the nurturance need is one of the most positively valued needs so we often prefer to attribute our actions to nurturance rather than to more negatively viewed needs. For example, when parents make a child do something that is good for the child but which the child does not wish to do, there is a sequence of needs operating. The underlying and initial need in this sequence is nurturance. The parents are basically concerned with the child's welfare and this nurturing concern requires them to make the child obey their will. At the point of interaction between the motive and behavior, however, the parents are actually asserting their dominance need. The parents may prefer to attribute their actions solely to nurturance but this can be confusing to the child who probably recognizes that it is being dominated. If the parents' "reasons" or motives are clearly explained, the child may be able to recognize that nurturance was the primary motive of the parents. When the child is too combative to accept explanations, the parents may have to resort to the old standard: "BECAUSE WE SAID SO!" (obvious dominance). They may take comfort in the thought that at least there is no confusion in the motives they are presenting to the child.

The hierarchical (and sequential) function of the nurturance need can be seen in many situations. When an animal fights an intruder to protect its young, it is asserting the defendance need in the service of the nurturance need. A surgeon's immediate motive while operating is the achievement need (successfully completing the operation) although the nurturance need could be the surgeon's basic or underlying motive.

The nurturance need is more apparent in some animal species than others. Mammals and birds appear to be the most nurturing animals whereas there are less signs of nurturance among insects and reptiles. In general, the nurturance of parents and the dependency of offspring are related since dependent young cannot survive without nurturance. Caring for the young by the parents provides a period of training and learning that promotes a shift from genetically directed coping behavior to adaptive learned coping behavior and eventually to the transmission of cultural heritage. Thus, the nurturance need allows and promotes highly developed social and economic systems.

Through nurturance, propagation is more efficient. Some insects lay thousands of eggs so that a few unprotected offspring may survive in a hostile or indifferent world. By contrast, the nurturing mammal has a small number of offspring and devotes a long period of attention to the development and welfare of each dependent. Thus, a social bond, not based on sexual reproduction, is established between individuals that promotes and strengthens a social system.

The nurturance need is associated with the ability to empathize with and respond to the needs and desires of others. It is a special type of love. It is the cornerstone of cooperative and collaborative behavior by which people help each other and mutually benefit. Social systems develop complexity and strength through specialization and interdependency. When we can depend on others to supply our basic needs, we are free to pursue special interests and concentrate on the development of specialized skills. Nurturance is thus a promoter of education, culture, and science. A non nurturing society would lose many people with a special genius who could not develop their talent without the nurturing support of others. Nurturance enables us to shift from a self-centered preoccupation to a social identity. If we can identify with the problems or needs of others, we are more apt to feel nurturing toward them.

The Function of the Nurturance Need

The function of the nurturance need is to promote trust and interdependency so that both the complexity and the integrity of a social system can be developed.

Problems Related to the Nurturance Need

Problems that are most obviously related to the nurturance need involve knowing when and how to give aid and comfort to others. Some people seem to lack appropriate nurturing behavior because they are not sensitive to the needs of others. Such people may not have been sufficiently nurtured or cared themselves. Not having experienced dependency and trust, they have not learned to recognize these needs in others. Those who have been overly indulged may also have problems with providing nurturance for others. The spoiled child whose every whim has been anticipated has had no learning basis for empathizing with the needs of others.

Some people become highly resentful over responsibilities that require acts of nurturance. Their resentment may be based on an unconscious belief that being responsible for helping others is an unfair imposition.

Some people develop an absolute belief that they should always be engaged in kindness and helpfulness. Such a belief creates feelings of martyrdom and does not allow others to develop autonomy. It may also produce unrealistic guilt when the person finds it impossible to live up to such an absolute rule.

As previously noted, the nurturance need is often sequentially related to the dominance need. False nurturance is sometimes used as a cover or disguise for dominance and when the two are operating simultaneously, conflicts result. Salesmen, politicians, parents, and teachers often use a pitch of nurturing concern to disguise their real intentions to control or manipulate others.

Some people have an overly generalized belief that they are so inadequate they have nothing to offer to others. This belief can inhibit their nurturing impulses or cause them to express nurturance in an ineffective and indecisive way.

Dimension Locations of the Nurturance Need

The nurturance need is normally located in the noncombative area of the combative dimension. Nurturance is opposed to combative and self-assertive behavior. Nurturance means helping others satisfy their needs whereas the aim of combative desires is to satisfy our own desires and will. Unlike combativeness, nurturance does not involve possessive desires to control others. Instead, it is aimed at helping others fulfill their own goals and wishes. Our concern for the welfare of others inhibits our combative impulses to attack or punish others.

The nurturance need is normally located in the personal area of the personal dimension. We especially want to help and care for those with whom we have close personal ties. Nurturance is one of the types of love that is most strongly expressed in the personal area of the personal dimension.

Nurturance is normally located in the competitive area of the competitive dimension. It is fairly close to the mid-point or neutral area of the dimension. In this location nurturance is active in mildly competitive situations such as learning or collaborative achievement efforts. People help each other in cooperative competitive efforts to attain a common goal. Nurturance plays a diminished role in highly competitive activities where people strive more for individual recognition and status.

Nurturance Dislocated in the Combative Area of the Combative Dimension

When the nurturance need is dislocated in the combative area it may create conflicts between the person's desires to be caring and helpful and desires to be tough and assertive. It may reflect ambivalent feelings toward others. In this location, nurturance may maladaptively fuse with combative needs and be expressed in aggressive ways. It may also interfere with effective self-assertion because the person may find it difficult to assert combative power due to the inhibitive influence of the nurturance need.

Nurturance Located Too Near the Periphery of the Noncombative Area of the Combative Dimension

When the nurturance need is located near the periphery of the noncombative area relative to other needs, it has very strong power to inhibit combative and self-assertive behavior. If the person has any feelings of sympathy for someone they may have great difficulty in expressing any opposition to the person. Also, in this extreme location, the nurturance need is too far removed from other non combative needs to effectively support them in efforts to block combative assertion.

Nurturance Dislocated in the Impersonal Area of the Personal Dimension

When the nurturance need is dislocated in the impersonal area there is a significant loss of sympathetic caring and concern in the individual's personal-social interactions with others. In this location, helping activities are most apt to be administered impersonally with an emphasis on efficiency and assertiveness.

Nurturance Located Too Near the Periphery of the Personal-Social Area of the Personal-Social Dimension

When the nurturance need is located too near the periphery of the personal-social area relative to other needs, it becomes the supreme motive in personal-social relationships. The person tends to adopt a caring but serious and parental attitude toward all those with whom they are close. This attitude may interfere with the more carefree and playful aspects of personal-social interactions.

Nurturance Dislocated in the Noncompetitive Area of the Competitive Dimension

When the nurturance need is dislocated in the noncompetitive area there may be a loss of cooperation and helpfulness in moderately competitive activities. A lack of concern for the needs of others may cause rejection or irritation on the part of others involved in competitive activities.

Nurturance Located Too Near the Periphery of the Competitive Area of the Competitive Dimension

When the nurturance need is located too near the periphery of the competitive area relative to other needs, too much emphasis is placed being helpful to others in competitive activities. It may mean that the ultimate competitive goal is to provide care and service to others rather than support the common competitive goal. In this extreme location, the nurturance need may weaken efforts in highly competitive activities where people seek to excel, gain personal recognition, and attain individual status and dominance.