The famous psychologist, John Loftus, referred to our need to “sense” in two ways: first, that we can feel when something is wrong; second, that we can feel the damage done. We cannot control the external environment, but we can control how we respond to it. So we have a need to “feel” before we can do anything about it. However, what exactly does this mean? And how exactly do we “sense” relate to environmental health? 

Although there is often a great similarity: between the work of Loftus and current psychological theory, they are both rooted in the idea that human beings have the need for self-reflection. In order to understand ourselves and others, we must be willing to look within ourselves. This requires an openness to both new and old forms of mental activity. If we fail to do so, we will remain susceptible to environmental influences which may have a detrimental effect on our health and well-being. 

According to Loftus: one of the primary purposes of psychology is to assist the development of self-reflection. He explained this concept in two terms, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection for achieving a healthy emotional balance. Self-reflection is the process by which we examine our own inner needs and desires and compare these to our expectations of others. Those whose inner needs and expectations are different from others will find that they frequently conflict with one another. Those whose needs and expectations are similar, however, will find that the conflict usually diminishes, particularly if the person has made conscious choices to cultivate a sense of interdependence or to establish a sense of a balance between self-interest and other interests. 

The second aspect of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: which relates to our relationship with the environment is the need for interpersonal relationships. There is an important difference between the need for personal needs and the need for interpersonal relationships. People differ in their needs and desires, and these will differ from one person to the next. The need for interpersonal relationships, however, does not vary from person to the next. In other words, everyone shares the basic needs and desires which are required for their survival in nature, but this need is not identical among all humans. 

To answer the question: ” Which of Maslow’s needs are related to our environmental health?” we must ask ourselves how different our interpersonal relationships are from those of the natural world. While humans display a wide range of patterns in their interpersonal relationships, the patterns which are most common in human relationships are those which are most shaped by our surrounding environment. It therefore follows that people living in a rural setting will be significantly different from those who dwell in a city or metropolitan area and that the relation between which of Maslow’s needs are related to our environmental health will vary as well.

While it may be true: that a small minority of our psychological and physiological needs relate to the quality of our relationships, it would also be equally true that we all share a basic need to belong, to be accepted, to have security, and to be understood. By understanding these two areas, we can begin to provide an answer to the question,” Which of Maslow’s needs are related to our environmental health? “.

We now have a solid foundation on which to build.