Synonyms
Definition
The taxonomy of psychogenic needs systematically describes the dynamic inner states that arise when an organism must have something in order to survive or feel satisfied. These needs represent a state of disequilibrium that motivates an organism to move to a state of equilibrium. They “move” the organism in a particular direction, with a particular energy or vigor.
Introduction
Ryckman (1993) suggested that personality psychology has been blessed with an array of creative thinkers whose insights have been of immense value in helping us to understand how people function. This entry reviews the work of one such creative thinker, Henry Murray, and his contributions that have had an enduring impact on the field. The focus is primarily on his taxonomy of psychogenic needs, beginning with the historical and empirical basis of the taxonomy, and then proceeding to the classification of needs, how they are assessed, and ending with a...
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References
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Xu, X., Mellor, D., Read, S. (2017). Taxonomy of Psychogenic Needs (Murray). In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_557-1
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