Showing posts with label Klaus Grawe and the four basic human needs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Klaus Grawe and the four basic human needs. Show all posts

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Klaus Grawe and the four basic human needs



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                  Klaus Grawe and the four basic human needs

Klaus Grawe (2004, 2007), one of the founding fathers of Neusopsychotherapy, describes our brain as a network of processes between neurons and synapses (Grawe, 2007, p. 31,40). As the person seeks to satisfy their basic needs, every sensory experience has a meaning and will be stored in the memory system, creating a pattern of behaviour in the brain (Grawe, 2007, p. 5). According to Grawe, the four basic human needs are orientation and control, attachment, pleasure maximisation and distress avoidance, self-esteem enhancement and self-esteem protection (Grawe, 2007, p. 171). These needs can only be satisfied through a mental process called consistency regulation, by developing, from childhood, motivational schemas and goals of approach or avoidance (Grawe, 2007, p. 168).

Drawing on the extensive work of Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1988, 2008), Grawe's Consistency Regulation model describes how we develop avoidance or approach schemas and goals in order to satisfy our basic needs, as well as the different types of attachment relationships that we will have with people throughout life:

Secure attachment relationship
A baby who has their needs satisfied by their mother, experiences positive emotions, which are stored in the baby's memory system, activating patterns of approach schemas and goals, secure control expectancy, as well as developing secure attachment relationship (Grawe, 2007, p. 175).
Insecure avoidance attachment
If the baby does not have their needs satisfied, but instead, is constantly rejected or neglected, fear response is activated in the brain (Grawe, 2007, p. 175). Approach schemas and goals are inhibited and they will develop an insecure avoidance attachment (Grawe, 2007, p. 175). They will avoid intimacy, with no signs of distress (Grawe, 2007, p. 175).
Insecure ambivalent attachment
When the mother attends the child's needs erratically, they will develop an insecure ambivalent attachment (Grawe, 2007, pp. 175-176). The approach and avoidance schemas and goals are concurrently activated (Grawe, 2007, pp. 175-176). The child will seek closeness, but have no secure control expectancy, resulting in them being stressed by constantly being concerned about losing intimacy with the loved object (Grawe, 2007, pp. 175-176).
Insecure and disorganised attachment
When the baby is rejected and abused, the attachment will be insecure and disorganised, causing bizarre behaviour (Grawe, 2007, p. 176).

Insecure and disorganised attachment and stress
Throughout life, every person experiences stressful moments (Grawe, 2007, pp. 218). When a threatening situation arises, a signal is sent to the limbic system via sensory experiences (Grawe, 2007, pp. 220). This increases the production of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, initiating the fight-or-flight response to threat and regulating the body's response to stress and danger (Grawe, 2007, pp. 220). However, long term stress exposure (which is the case of those with insecure and disorganised attachment relationships) increases the production of stress hormones, damaging several neural areas, producing symptoms of anxiety or panic, as well as increasing the risk of physical and psychological disorders (Grawe, 2007, pp. 220-224).

There is hope
Due to the plasticity of the brain, where synapse connections are modified by experience, the network of neurons is continually changing (Grawe, 2007, p.8). One of Grawe's most important findings is that psychotherapy can change this neural brain activity (Draguns, 2007). 
 

                                 Klaus Grawe and the four basic human needs:

         Attachment - Control - Self-esteem enhancement -  Pleasure Maximisation
In order to satisfy these needs or protect them from violation we develop:

                                          Motivational Schemes and Goals:
 
                       Approach:                                                    Avoidance:
  1. By sensory experiences, a child                 1. By sensory experiences, a child
        who has their needs of love, protection,             who does not have their needs
        security, support satisfied by her mother           satisfied by their mother
     2. Will experience positive emotions,               2. Will experience negative
        which will become part of their memory            emotions, which will become part
        system                                                          of their memory system, activating
    3. The child will develop neural                            fear response, incongruence and
        pathways which will facilitate activation of         constant stress
    4. Approach schemas and goals,                    3. The child will develop neural
        secure control expectancy, no fear                   pathways which will facilitate
        response, safety and secure                           activation of avoidance patterns
        attachment                                                   and goals, incongruence, fear
    5. The child's mental state will be                        response and constant stress
        regulated and achieve well-being                  3.1 Constantly rejection develops:
                                                                         Insecure Avoidance attachment
                                                                         (*approach schemas and goals 
                                                                             are inhibited
                                                                             * the child will avoid proximity
                                                                             with no signs of distress)
                                                                         3.2 Rejection only sometimes:
                                                                         Insecure Ambivalent Attachment
                                                                             (*approach and avoidance schemas
                                                                             and goals will be activated
                                                                             *child will seek contact and
                                                                             avoid loss of intimacy, seeking
                                                                             intimacy with aggressive
                                                                             rejection, anxiety, tension, no
                                                                             control of results.
                                                                         3.3 Rejection and Abuse:
                                                                         Insecure Disorganised attachment
                                                                            (*bizarre and stereotyped behaviour
                                                                            *child's mental state inconsistent
                                                                            *child will not achieve wellness but
                                                                            pathology, with social insecurity,
                                                                            tension, stress, no control
                                                                            expectancy, constant vigilant, their
                                                                            perceptual system will be oriented
                                                                            to detect negative events in order
                                                                            to avoid them) Rossouw (2011)

Mrs Glaucia Barbosa,
PACFA Reg. Provisional 25212 
MCouns, MQCA(Clinical)  

ABN: 19 476 932 954



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