Photo by Myo Minn Aung

Needs Me (vs. doesn’t need me)

The primal world belief Needs Me concerns whether the world needs you, specifically you, for an important task or to play some particular role. Its opposite holds that the world lacks any particular need for you: though the world may still have needs, you are interchangeable.

I would rather stay in bed and do nothing, but the world needs me. 

— Twitter post, 2012

Needs Me is an important part of the big-three primal Alive. Needs Me is very related to wellbeing as well as to meaning and purpose in life.  In fact, Needs Me is mainly responsible for the correlation of Alive to wellbeing and overall Good world belief.

For those high in Needs Me, the situation is a jigsaw puzzle, and they are that missing piece.

— Dr. Clifton explaining this primal in a 2023 lecture

In addition to wellbeing, Needs Me is connected to the development of many different character strengths, such as becoming a more gritty person who demonstrates perseverance and passion for long-term goals. It seems quite possible that believing that the world Needs You would increase grit (but researchers don’t know that yet; it’s currently being explored). As grit, in turn, increases your skills and competence, the world would need you more. You become more valuable. This would, in turn, increase your belief that the world needs you—a causal loop. 

Researchers are currently looking into a connection between low Needs Me scores and suicide ideation. A first study has shown a substantial relationship between low Needs Me scores and a history of attempted suicide. This makes some sense. One popular theory of suicide among researchers is the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. It holds that two major causes of suicide are the beliefs that one (a) does not belong and (b) is a burden to others. Both beliefs may be supported by a person’s belief the world has no particular need of them.

Is Needs Me related to entitlement? Maybe just the big important people think the world needs them?

No. This recent paper showed what our lab has repeatedly found: Needs Me is unrelated to race, household income, and other demographics, even poverty. The belief the world needs you is not tied to being one of the chosen, privileged few.

Is Needs Me related to narcissism? It sounds like this is a belief for people who are full of themselves.

No. This study found a very small correlation between Needs Me and narcissism. You can think the world has an important role for you to play without thinking you are the world’s salvation.

To find out your own Needs Me scores and how you compare to a national average, you can take the full 99-item survey here.

Embedded in that longer survey is a 4-item scale to measure the belief the world Needs Me. Items include:

• The universe needs me for something important.
• The world needs me and my efforts. 
• Life has an important part for me to play. 
• It feels like the world doesn’t really need me for anything. (reverse-scored)