Editing Maslow's hierarchy of needs (section)

=== Love and social needs ===
After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third level of human needs is interpersonal and involves feelings of [[belongingness]]. According to Maslow, humans possess an effective need for a sense of belonging and acceptance among social groups, regardless of whether [[Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft|these groups are large or small]]; being a part of a group is crucial, regardless if it is work, sports, friends or family.{{sfn|McLeod|2021}} The sense of belongingness is "being comfortable with and connection to others that results from receiving acceptance, respect, and love."<ref name="MJC" /> For example, some large social groups may include clubs, co-workers, religious groups, professional organizations, sports teams, gangs or online communities. Some examples of small social connections include family members, intimate partners, mentors, colleagues, and confidants. Humans need to love and be loved – both sexually and non-sexually – by others according to Maslow.{{sfn|Maslow|1943}} Many people become susceptible to [[loneliness]], [[social anxiety]], and [[clinical depression]] in the absence of this love or belonging element. This need is especially strong in [[childhood]] and it can override the need for safety as witnessed in children who cling to abusive parents. Deficiencies due to [[hospitalism]], [[neglect]], [[shunning]], [[ostracism]], etc. can adversely affect the individual's ability to form and maintain emotionally significant [[Interpersonal relationship|relationships]] in general. 
Mental health can be a huge factor when it comes to an individual's needs and development. When an individual's needs are not met, it can cause depression during adolescence. When an individual grows up in a higher-income family, it is much more likely that they will have a lower rate of depression. This is because all of their basic needs are met. Studies have shown that when a family goes through financial stress for a prolonged time, depression rates are higher, not only because their basic needs are not being met, but because this stress strains the parent-child relationship. The parent(s) is stressed about providing for their children, and they are also likely to spend less time at home because they are working more to make more money and provide for their family.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Crandall |first1=Aliceann |last2=Powell |first2=Elizabeth A. |last3=Bradford |first3=Grace C. |last4=Magnusson |first4=Brianna M. |last5=Hanson |first5=Carl L. |last6=Barnes |first6=Michael D. |last7=Novilla |first7=M. Lelinneth B. |last8=Bean |first8=Roy A. |year=2020 |title=Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a Framework for Understanding Adolescent Depressive Symptoms over Time |journal=Journal of Child and Family Studies |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=273–281 |doi=10.1007/s10826-019-01577-4 |s2cid=204353035}}</ref>

Social belonging needs include:
* [[Family]]
* [[Friendship]]
* [[Intimacy]]
*[[Trust (social science)|Trust]]
*[[Acceptance]]
*Receiving and giving love and affection

In certain situations, the need for belonging may overcome the physiological and security needs, depending on the strength of the peer pressure. In contrast, for some individuals, the need for self-esteem is more important than the need for belonging; and for others, the need for creative fulfillment may supersede even the most basic needs.{{sfn|Kenrick|Griskevicius|Neuberg|Schaller|2010}}