Covid-19 & the Impact on our Basic Psychological Needs

Reflection (not specifically related to technology enhanced learning)

As we find ourselves in these unprecedented times with the Covid-19 pandemic, I can’t help but think about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the impact this is having on the psychological motivation of human beings across the world. In what feels like a blink of an eye, we have all shifted downwards to the lowest level of the hierarchy. Together (yet apart) we grapple to find some stability in social isolation and to try and satisfy our most basic physiological needs. Maslow’s theory, or five-stage model, talks a lot about an individual’s need for fulfilment within each tier, as a way of motivating us to move to the next level. So, if your basic needs are met, those required for human survival, such as shelter, food, drink and warmth then we move to the next level of safety needs. To feel safe and secure we need structure and order, normality and control of our lives. This extends way beyond how we feel in our individual minds, bodies and homes. To those social norms and the society that we have constructed together, such as schools, employment, social welfare and financial stability. Our socially constructed and shared reality has quite dramatically been fractured by an invisible virus, which makes me realise how fragile our human society really is. Nature truly has the power to breakdown all of our systems, to dispel the norms and reality we have social constructed together.

So here we are together, but alone, in this new world. Asking ourselves these basic psychological questions: Do I feel safe and secure? Will my family be safe and survive Covid-19? Can I get access to food and drink? Will I have money to satisfy these basic needs? How long will I be isolated and alone?

Not least, get to grips with the fact that only weeks ago we may have been at the top of the hierarchy and achieved self-fulfilment. Perhaps in the form of a successful business, graduating from university or reaching an awesome milestone in a project. Whatever success might have looked like we are all now struggling to satisfy those basic needs. It really is a difficult time for us all. Some of us, of course, are more fortunate than others, some of us are less vulnerable. Indeed, some of us may even be able to fulfil those basic needs and find the motivation to move up the hierarchy. To discover new virtual ways of continuing to develop intimate relationships, to find a sense of belonging and love through the affordance of digital technology.

As human beings we have an innate ability to adapt, and although this will not happen without fear, anxiety and loss, it’s inevitable that we will collectively create new socially constructed norms. We can start this journey by being kind to ourselves, no personal pain is worth more than someone else’s. We should not feel guilty or compare our struggles. Be kind to each other and accept that we have all arrived at this basic psychological level together, but from different places. Let’s not judge each other’s pain or use social media shame. Let’s continue to look after the vulnerable and each other. Rather than individually moving up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, let’s continue to do this collectively by creating more sociable virtual experiences, by staying connected and supportive. Most of all, by being kind and putting the safety of all of us first.

Stay Home, Save Lives and Create New Supportive Connections.