Four basic needs have been identified by those who study human behavior: belonging, control, self-esteem, and meaningful existence.

And if those needs are not met, a person's response usually follows three stages:

• Acknowledging emotional deprivation
• Coping or compensating
• Giving up, quitting, or accepting an otherwise unacceptable condition ...

Problems arise when we strive for the fulfillment of these basic needs in unhealthy areas, or in compromising or less than desirable ways.

• We should not strive to belong to many things we often aspire to.

• Too often we try to control things we should not, or reject those whom we feel are intruding upon the control we desire.  

• Our self-esteem too often varies according to our emotional beginnings each day, and is controlled by it throughout that day ...also being a beginning criteria for tomorrow.

• We often measure our meaningful existence by a comparison to others.