Clayton Paul Alderfer (1940- 2015) was a psychologist known for his work in organizational behavior and human motivation. He is particularly recognized for reimagining Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs into the ERG Theory which distills Maslow’s five levels of needs into three categories:
Existence Needs: These relate to basic material and physiological requirements, such as food, water, shelter, and workplace safety.
Relatedness Needs: These involve relationships with others, including family, friends, colleagues, and interpersonal connections.
Growth Needs: These pertain to personal development, self-improvement, and the pursuit of fulfilling one’s potential.
Alderfer perceived that our well-being is related to how well we are navigating, maintaining, and growing in those categories. Therefore, our 6th Life Equation is –
Well-Being = ERG (existence + relationships + growth )
——
On Emotions 