What's the difference between needs, expectations, and wants?

[Caren-Field]

Can you describe the distinction between needs, expectations, and wants?

[HandsomeRaj]

I MUST mention that I'm in love with your questions :-D

1. Needs - something that may be a luxury for someone may be a need for another. Something that nature has ordained as 'meant to be' for that person is a need. It's something that the individual or anyone else has no control over absolutely whatsoever
2. Expectation - something that we have nurtured and fixated upon in our minds and mostly owing to the way we grow up perceiving things, things that society has taught us through eons etc. These can be changed and these tend to be the root cause of all misery in everyday life. This is something that we expect more of others than just ourselves
3. Wants - these are desires and not necessarily a need or an expectation. Simply like something that we've dreamt of since childhood, gathered along the way. Want is something that is not necessarily a need nor need it be an expectation. We may be ok with it if we don't achieve or beget or acquire it :-)

[MothMonsterMan]

Needs = Things essential for your SURVIVAL. You need food, water, air.

Wants = Things that you enjoy or make your life simpler but are not required for your survival. You want a nice TV, a nice car.

Expectations = What you think will happen in any situation. Many people have the expectation they'll be millionaires after they get their degrees.

[aleigh]

Need: Something You can't live without.
Expectation: If you don't get this you will get hurt "expectation is root of all heartache"- Shakespeare
Wants: Something you can live without but most of the time you will do anything to get it. < that's just only my opinion.