Developing Relationship Skills

What are some basic needs all people have in life?

Abraham Maslow, a famous psychologist, identified several basic human needs. His work has been influential in how we think about health. Maslow believed that there were certain lower-level needs that had to be met before a person could meet other, higher-level needs.

Psychological Needs Are those we need to live. They include air, water, food, shelter and sleep.

Safety and Security Are things that protect us from harm.

Love and Belonging Help us feel connected to others.

Self-Esteem Is the feeling of respect or worth you have in regard to yourself. People also need attention and recognition from others.

Self-Actualization Is the highest need, and the most difficult to achieve. This means that you are doing the best you can and developing yourself to help society and other people.

Do people have to meet all these needs to live? Why or why not?

A person can live without having all of these needs met. But the more needs that are met, the happier and more fulfilled a person’s life will be. Good health depends on having these basic needs met.

We’ve already talked about some of these needs, such as self-esteem. During this class, we’ll talk about the need for love and belonging. This need has to be met for you to build healthy relationships.

There are many people with whom you build relationships. Some of these relationships are with people that we only talk to or see occasionally.

Turn to “My Relationships” on page 28. You are going to identify people in your life with whom you have a relationship. Read the directions and complete the worksheet.

Is each person whose name you wrote in the boxes equally important in your life?

Some relationships are more important than others. You need to develop certain skills to maintain all of your relationships.

Relationship Skill Empathizing with others. – Empathy means that you can understand how other people might be feeling. Being Honest and Respectful – People need to know that they can trust what you are telling them. When being honest, however, you also must try not to hurt the person’s feelings. You must treat others with courtesy and respect.

Relationship Skills Listening – Listening is a hard skill to learn, but it’s important. Listening skills include making eye contact, listening without interrupting, listening without constantly thinking about your own response, and empathizing with the person who is speaking. Keeping Confidences – This means you don’t gossip. Relationships depend on loyalty and trust. If trust is violated, relationships suffer.

Turn to “Relationship Skills: How Do You Rate?” on page 29. complete the activity sheet by following the directions. You will share some of your answers with the class.

A sense of love and belonging is one of the basic human needs. Building relationships can help you meet the need to belong.