Unit 1 Housing—Human Factors and Infl uences
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Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Rest
A basic human need is rest—a period of
inactivity that allows recovery and growth. Rest
can take the form of sleep or relaxing. Rest helps
people overcome fatigue and restore energy to
the body. The amount of sleep each person needs
varies, but most adults sleep seven and one-half
to eight hours at night. Rest and relaxation are as
important as sleep. After strenuous work, complete
rest may be necessary. At other times, people
need relaxation or a change of pace. Any activity
different from the usual routine can be relaxing.
Pleasurable and relaxing activities help a person
shed tension and remain robust.
Areas within dwellings are designated for sleep,
generally the bedrooms. These areas or others can
also provide space for relaxation. Shared common
areas, such as family rooms, offer space for group
relaxation. Hobby areas and other rooms promote
individual relaxation.
Psychological Needs
Once basic physical needs are met, people strive
to meet the psychological needs. These needs are
higher on Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs.
Psychological needs relate to the mind and feelings
that people must meet to live a satisfying life.
Security
Housing provides security from the outside
world. It offers protection from physical danger and
the unknown and helps people feel safe and protected.
Living in a dwelling that is well built and located in an
area free from crime can help people feel secure.
Love and Acceptance
Housing affects an individual’s feelings of love
and acceptance. For instance, if you have your own
bedroom or private place, you know others care
about you and accept you as a person who has needs.
When you receive task assignments, it is because of
your acceptance as part of a group—and you have
responsibilities to fulfi ll as part of that group.
Esteem
People need to feel esteem, or the respect,
admiration, and high regard of others. A person’s
housing tells other people something about him
or her and can help an individual gain esteem. A
home that is clean, neat, and attractive will gain the
approval and respect of others.
Self-esteem is another need. Self-esteem
is awareness and appreciation of worth. When
people have healthy self-esteem, they think well of
themselves and are satisfi ed with their roles and
skills (Figure 1.6). Living in a pleasant, satisfying
home can help an individual to gain self-esteem.
Self-Actualization
Meeting the need for self-actualization indicates
an individual is developing into his or her full potential
as a person and doing what he or she does best.
Think about your own efforts in striving toward self-
actualization. If your talent is sports, you will be trying
to increase your strength, stamina, and athletic skills.
If your talent is building furniture, each piece will be of
higher quality than the previous one.
For self-actualizing people, housing is more
than a place to live. It is the place where each person
can progress toward becoming all that he or she is
capable of being. Striving toward self-actualization is
often a lifelong process.
Other Needs Met
Through Housing
Recognizing the levels of human needs as
described by Maslow can help you understand how
important needs are in relation to housing. Beauty,
self-expression, and creativity are also important
needs. You can achieve these needs through your
housing decisions.
Beauty
Beauty is the quality or qualities that give
pleasure to the senses. Your concept of beauty
Fotokostic/Shutterstock.com
Figure 1.6 Ability to maintain a home and its furnishings
contributes to a feeling of self-esteem.