What is satisfying about satisfying events? Testing 10 candidate psychological needs

Three studies compared 10 candidate psychological needs in an attempt to de termine which are truly most fundamental for humans. Participants described "most satisfying events" within their lives and then rated the salience of each of the 10 candidate needs within these events. Supporting self-determ ination theory postulates (Ryan & Deci. 2000)-autonomy, competence. and rel atedness. were consistently among the top 4 needs, in terms of both their s alience and their association with event-related affect. Self-esteem was al so important, whereas self-actualization or meaning, physical thriving, pop ularity or influence, and money-luxury were less important. This basic patt ern emerged within three different time frames and within both U.S. and Sou th Korean samples and also within a final study that asked. "What's unsatis fying about unsatisfying events?" Implications for hierarchical theories of needs are discussed.