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 Rejection Need
(The need to resist pressures to do things we do not wish to do)

Rejection is resistance to the will or desires of others. A person may reject ideas, suggestions, orders, pleas, requests, demands, commands, petitions, proposals, unwanted merchandise, the candidacy of someone with different political views, etc. The most frequent expressions of rejection are saying "no" and shaking one's head sideways. The thumbs down gesture is another expression of rejection. Rejection is often expressed indirectly by the acceptance of an alternative. When we vote yes for candidate A, we reject candidate B. At the United Nations, some nations have used the strategy of the walkout to express rejection. A similar tactic is sometimes used in personal relations by refusing to discuss or hear a request or proposition.

The rejection need is expressed very early in human development. Infants spit out unwanted food and turn their heads and bodies to avoid noxious stimuli. It has been observed that shaking the head from side to side is a fairly universal expression of refusal. This action may originate in infancy because it is the best way an infant or young child can avoid unwanted food.

The Function of the Rejection Need

A good way to assess the importance of a need is to imagine life without the need. The primary function of the rejection need is to maintain autonomy when faced with unwanted demands or controls. A person who could not say no to a request or command would become a slave to the desires and whims of others. Our need for autonomy is so basic that even an infant can express rejection in matters that affect its own body. Later, the child gains additional power to reject requests or commands. As adults, we are able to reject pressures extending from basic physical impositions to psychological beliefs and ideas that others may try to impose on us. As with other needs that function strongly in the combative zone, rejection must also be applied to many of our own thoughts and impulses. We must frequently say no to ourselves when it comes to acting out inappropriate thoughts or impulses. Without this control our behavior could have many bad consequences.

Problems Related to the Rejection Need

Some young children go through a "negative stage." A negativistic child seems to exercise its rejection need on every possible occasion. For some people this "stage" persists into adulthood. Negativistic stages in childhood and adolescence tend to coincide with the development of the autonomy need. One cannot be independent if one cannot resist unwanted external pressures. The fact that the rejection need supports autonomy does not mean that the more we reject the more independent we are, however. There are times when our own needs are in accord with external demands or requirements. Rejection of desirable and beneficial pressures would lessen our true autonomy as with the negativistic child (or adult). An overly negativistic person is subject to manipulation through "reverse psychology" (suggesting the opposite of what you really want the person to do).

Some people cannot say no to a request or plea that appeals to their sympathy. This problem centers in the personal dimension and may involve difficulty in differentiating the rejection need from the nurturance and blame avoidance needs. Panhandlers can exploit people with this problem. Another problem occurs when a person cannot resist direction or control by others who are domineering. This problem centers more in the combative dimension and may involve lack of differentiation between the need to assert rejection and the need to defer (deference need) to others. Resolution of this conflict calls for strong differentiation of these needs so that in conflict situations it is easier to make a decision to express either deference or rejection.

Another common rejection problem involves over-generalized rejection in personal-social situations. In personal- social interactions, rejection is most appropriately expressed with reference to a specific action or issue rather than toward a person. We can reject a person's idea without rejecting the person as a whole. Personal rejection may be based on an implicit assumption that any defect is cause for total rejection. This is an all-or-nothing over generalized response that represents what Maslow called dichotomous thinking. Dichotomous thinking is usually unrealistic. Over-generalized rejection may also take the form of extreme stubbornness and negativism. Few issues require life-or-death resistance.

When rejection is expressed in disguised or passive ways, it usually reflects an internal conflict that also creates interpersonal problems. Sulking, pouting, the "silent treatment", avoiding others, procrastination, sloppy work, overt or covert sabotage, being "spacey", noncommittal, indifferent, pretending not to hear or understand, are some passive and disguised ways of avoiding the direct expression of rejection. Some passive-aggressive people hold a belief that if they are very rejecting, people will give them what they want in order to placate them. This strategy is usually counter productive even though it may occasionally work with those who have problems with saying "no".

Some examples of unrealistic (conscious or unconscious) beliefs that can cause problems related to the rejection need are:

"If I act in a rejecting negativistic way, people will always give me what I want."
"If I say no to a request or command, I'll be totally rejected."
"When people ask me for something, I must not say no to them."
"I should never refuse to do anything people with authority tell me to do."
"No one will ever boss me. I will not take orders from any one."
"Unless I'm perfect I will be totally rejected."
"If I see anything wrong with a person, I should have nothing to do with them."

Dimension Locations of the Rejection Need

The rejection need is located in the combative area of the combative dimension. In this location, the rejection need provides support for and receives support from the ego combative needs clustered in the same area. The motivation to resist pressures helps us assert and maintain autonomy and to be more effective in our assertion of aggression, defendance, and dominance. The rejection need can operate to resist undesirable sexual advances or attention.

The rejection need is located in the impersonal area of the personal dimension but it is located fairly close to the neutral midpoint of the dimension. In this location, the rejection need is only moderately opposed to personal needs and neither does it strongly enter into impersonal conflict resolution efforts. In other words, good personal relations are not threatened by opposition in either personal or impersonal interactions.

The rejection need is located close to the neutral midpoint of the competitive dimension. In this location, the rejection need plays a fairly neutral role in either entering or avoiding competitive activities.

Rejection Dislocated in the Non Combative Area of the Combative Dimension

If the rejection need is dislocated in the non combative area of the combative dimension, the other combative needs (aggression, defendance, dominance) lose strength to resist pressures when the person is attempting to be forceful and assertive. Dislocated in the non combative area, the rejection need is apt to create conflicts with non combative needs or mal adaptively fuse with some of these needs and be expressed in disguised ways.

Rejection Located Too Near the Periphery of the Combative Area of the Combative Dimension

When the rejection need is located near the periphery of the combative area relative to other needs, it becomes the controlling need in a combative situation. In this location, the person's rejection may be very strong but ineffective because it is not closely supported by the other combative needs. In turn, it is also too distant to effectively support the other combative needs.

Rejection Dislocated in the Personal-Social Area of the Personal-Social Dimension

When the rejection need is dislocated in the personal-social area it is apt to cause contentiousness, negativism, and disagreeableness in personal-social interactions. In some cases, the rejection need may be mal adaptively fused with affectionate personal needs (such as nurturance) so that it is expressed in seemingly benevolent ways that are confusing to others.

Rejection Located Too Near the Periphery of the Impersonal Area of the Personal-Social Dimension

When the rejection need is located too near the periphery of the impersonal area relative to other needs, it may create too much negativism and resistance in efforts to resolve personal-social conflicts in a rational objective way.

Rejection Located Too Near the Periphery of the Noncompetitive Area of the Competitive Dimension

If the rejection need is located low in the noncompetitive area of the competitive dimension, the person may be overly negativistic and resistant in avoiding competitive challenges and situations.

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

If the rejection need is located too near the periphery of the competitive area relative to other needs, it may cause stubbornness and negativism when engaged in competitive activities and situations.