what is human want? explain its characteristics
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Characteristics of Human Wants:
1. Wants are Unlimited:
Man is a bundle of wants and his wants are numerous. Man remains busy throughout his life in order to satisfy these wants. When one want is satisfied, another want crops up. In this way, wants arise one after another. The second want arises after the satisfaction of the first want, the third after the second and so on. This endless circle of wants continues throughout human life. Thus wants are unlimited.
2. Each Particular Want can be satisfied:
We cannot satisfy all our wants because the means to satisfy them are limited. But a person can satisfy a particular want. For example, hunger can be satisfied by taking food. He may take one, two, three or more pieces of bread. Ultimately, he will say that he does not want more bread.
3. Wants are Competitive:
We can satisfy only a few wants and not all wants because our means are limited. Therefore, we always have to make a relative comparison of the intensity of our different wants. Only that want is satisfied first which is the most urgent. For example, suppose, a student has Rs. 20 with him. With this amount he can purchase either a copy or see a picture. Now there will arise a competition between his want for a copy and for a picture. If his intensity for the copy is more intense, he will purchase the copy, instead of seeing the picture. In this way, there is always a competition among our various wants.
4. Wants are Complementary:
Wants are competitive but a few wants are complementary to each other. To satisfy one want for a good, we have to arrange for another good also. For example, the want for a car can be satisfied only when we fulfill the want for petrol also. Such wants are called complementary.
5. Some Wants are both Competitive and Complementary:
Certain wants are competitive as well as complementary to each other. For instance, labourers are required to operate machines. Therefore, the demand for labour is a complementary want for machines. But, at the same time, machines can be used in place of labour for the production of goods. Here, machines reduce the want for labour and thus wants for machine and labour are also competitive to each other.
6. Some Wants Recur:
Most wants recur. If they are satisfied once, they arise again after a certain period. We take food and our hunger is satisfied. But after a few hours, we again feel hungry, and we have to satisfy our hunger every time with food. Therefore, hunger, thirst, etc. are such wants which occur time and again.
7. Some Wants become Habits:
Certain wants become habits. For example, the continuous use of opium, liquor, cigarettes, etc. become habits.
8. Wants are Alternative:
Some wants are alternative. We can satisfy our hunger either with rice, bread, vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, milk, etc.
9. Hidden Wants:
Hidden wants are those about which we do not know apparently. They lie hidden in our sub-conscious mind. But per chance, when we come across it or get satisfaction from the use of certain things, it becomes a necessity or a want for us. For example, a worker goes to his factory on foot and he does not need a bicycle. Suppose he gets a bicycle in the lottery, then he thinks that the bicycle was an important want for him.
Wants are Relative:
Certain human wants are relative to time and place. We need woollens during the winter and cotton clothes during the summer. But when we go to a hill station during the summer, we need woollens. So wants change from time to time, from person to person and from place to place.
1. Wants are Unlimited:
Man is a bundle of wants and his wants are numerous. Man remains busy throughout his life in order to satisfy these wants. When one want is satisfied, another want crops up. In this way, wants arise one after another. The second want arises after the satisfaction of the first want, the third after the second and so on. This endless circle of wants continues throughout human life. Thus wants are unlimited.
2. Each Particular Want can be satisfied:
We cannot satisfy all our wants because the means to satisfy them are limited. But a person can satisfy a particular want. For example, hunger can be satisfied by taking food. He may take one, two, three or more pieces of bread. Ultimately, he will say that he does not want more bread.
3. Wants are Competitive:
We can satisfy only a few wants and not all wants because our means are limited. Therefore, we always have to make a relative comparison of the intensity of our different wants. Only that want is satisfied first which is the most urgent. For example, suppose, a student has Rs. 20 with him. With this amount he can purchase either a copy or see a picture. Now there will arise a competition between his want for a copy and for a picture. If his intensity for the copy is more intense, he will purchase the copy, instead of seeing the picture. In this way, there is always a competition among our various wants.
4. Wants are Complementary:
Wants are competitive but a few wants are complementary to each other. To satisfy one want for a good, we have to arrange for another good also. For example, the want for a car can be satisfied only when we fulfill the want for petrol also. Such wants are called complementary.
5. Some Wants are both Competitive and Complementary:
Certain wants are competitive as well as complementary to each other. For instance, labourers are required to operate machines. Therefore, the demand for labour is a complementary want for machines. But, at the same time, machines can be used in place of labour for the production of goods. Here, machines reduce the want for labour and thus wants for machine and labour are also competitive to each other.
6. Some Wants Recur:
Most wants recur. If they are satisfied once, they arise again after a certain period. We take food and our hunger is satisfied. But after a few hours, we again feel hungry, and we have to satisfy our hunger every time with food. Therefore, hunger, thirst, etc. are such wants which occur time and again.
7. Some Wants become Habits:
Certain wants become habits. For example, the continuous use of opium, liquor, cigarettes, etc. become habits.
8. Wants are Alternative:
Some wants are alternative. We can satisfy our hunger either with rice, bread, vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, milk, etc.
9. Hidden Wants:
Hidden wants are those about which we do not know apparently. They lie hidden in our sub-conscious mind. But per chance, when we come across it or get satisfaction from the use of certain things, it becomes a necessity or a want for us. For example, a worker goes to his factory on foot and he does not need a bicycle. Suppose he gets a bicycle in the lottery, then he thinks that the bicycle was an important want for him.
Wants are Relative:
Certain human wants are relative to time and place. We need woollens during the winter and cotton clothes during the summer. But when we go to a hill station during the summer, we need woollens. So wants change from time to time, from person to person and from place to place.
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