# need (psychological)

a state that diverges from a persistent condition of an object

- Computed level: L5 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: psychological  ·  Arena: need

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [state](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-state.condition), [difference](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-difference.relation), [persist](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-persist.continue), [condition](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-condition.state), [object](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-object.entity)

**Through:** When a difference is perceived between an object's current state and the condition it persists in, psychological need emerges.

**Novel properties:**
- perceived lack
- motivational pressure
- state discrepancy

## Examples
- The International Space Station maintains attitude control using gyroscopes and thrusters to counteract atmospheric drag. *(engineering)*
- A neuron fires only when membrane potential crosses -55mV, differing from its resting -70mV state. *(biology)*
- The 2008 US Federal Reserve interest rate drop aimed to close the gap between actual and target economic output. *(economics)*

## Used by
- [care](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-care.emotional) (L7)
- [enough](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-enough.sufficient) (L8)
- [goal](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-goal.purpose) (L6)
- [love](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-love.emotional) (L8)
- [required](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-required.obligation) (L6)
- [the three tiers](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-three-tiers.structure) (L19)
- [want](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-want.desire) (L6)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-need.psychological*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-need.psychological.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*