The 'human givens' are the 'givens' of human nature: our innatephysical and emotional needs, as well as the resources nature gave us to help us meet these needs. They are our genetic inheritance: templates 'downloaded' from the DNA into the brain of the foetus mainly during the last trimester of pregnancy. These templates are completed into patterns, which continue to be adapted by the circumstances we find ourselves in.
We are at risk of becoming unwell, when our needs are not being met in balance or when we misuse our resources, for instance when we use our imagination to constantly worry, rather than solve our problems. Human givens therapists are well equipped to identify and deal with both, so that whatever someone's problem is, improvement is possible by bringing about positive changes in either or both sets of human givens. Invariably that means that the therapy is uniquely tailored to fit the individual.
The 'human givens' some of our essential needs:
security, which includes a stable home life and a safe environment to unfold and fulfil our potential giving and receiving attention friendships, fun, love, and physical intimacy a sense of autonomy and control over our environment being part of a wider community to feel we belong and are connected seeing meaning and purpose in life self-esteem,which results from having our basic needs met and a sense of achievement which comes from stretching ourselves to achieve meaningful goals, however small a sense of status within social groupings
The 'human givens' some of our resources :
curiosity - an innate desire to learn more memory - ability to develop long-term memory patterns - learning imagination to help us focus away from problems towards creative solutions a dreaming brain to metaphorically diffuse emotional arousal left over from the day the ability to understand the world and people unconsciously through metaphorical pattern matching an observing self that part of us that can look in on ourselves and is separate from intellect, emotions and conditioning the ability to build rapport, empathise, and connect with others a conscious rational mind
Further information on the human givens can be found at the
