The 3 must-have, hard-wired psychological needs.

Travis Knowlton LCSW
5 min readMar 2, 2023
Luana Azevedo -Unsplash

Safety, nurturing, and comfort are essential for our psychological well-being

Safety refers to the feeling of being secure and protected from harm. When we feel safe, we can relax and focus on other aspects of our lives, such as building relationships or pursuing our goals. In contrast, when we don’t feel safe, we may feel anxious, stressed, or fearful.

Nurturing refers to the care and attention we receive from others, particularly in our early years. This includes things like affection, encouragement, and positive feedback. Nurturing helps us develop a sense of self-worth, confidence, and resilience.

Comfort refers to feeling at ease and free from discomfort or pain. This can include physical comfort, such as having a comfortable place to sleep or being free from hunger, as well as emotional comfort, such as having someone to talk to when we’re feeling upset.

When these basic needs are met, we are more likely to experience positive emotions, build healthy relationships, and feel a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives. On the other hand, when these needs are not met, we may experience negative emotions, struggle to form relationships and feel a sense of despair or hopelessness.

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Travis Knowlton LCSW

I'm a husband, father, veteran, and licensed clinical social worker that is here to enjoy and share!