Reversing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to generate anxiety
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a theorized hierarchical order that humans put all of their needs into. If I say I need to go shopping, while that may be true on some minor level, it is not even close to how much I need to drink water, and I would certainly not go to the mall if I was completely dehydrated.
- Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.
- Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc.
- Belongingness and Love needs - work group, family, affection, relationships, etc.
- Esteem needs - self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility, etc.
- Self-Actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.
It follows that humans' fears are directly related to their needs. Fear of pain is the fear of not being able to fulfill our Physiological needs. Fear of public speaking is a mixture of our fear of losing our current Self-Esteem, not being loved, or losing out feeling of belonging.
With every monster and scary situation, look at it in terms of what needs it threatens. A possessed house? Considering we need shelter, and on a lesser level need safety and stability, this can be a scary prospect. Possessed daughter? That threatens our need for family and affection.
How can I use this?
If you're writing a horror story for a game, film, or book, consider what immaterial things your audience treasure most. If the crazed killer in your story keeps the protagonist from a source of water and food, the audience has a real empathic understanding of the desperation the protagonist is in. When your characters call the police to warn them of the imminent danger, as anyone in the audience would do, have the police brush them off, tell them it is probably nothing to worry about. This will get your audience's anxiety levels climbing as the characters run out of choices (the same choices your audience would want to rely on in a similar situation).
For examples on how to use Self-Esteem needs against the audience, watch the movies Se7en, and Carrie.
