Definition
In the context of human needs and motivation, secondary refers to needs that are learned or acquired through experience, culture, and social interaction rather than being biologically required for survival. Examples include the need for achievement, recognition, belonging, and self-esteem.
Plain English
Secondary needs are the wants people develop as they grow up and live in society — things like wanting to be respected, to belong, or to succeed. They aren't needed to stay alive, but they strongly shape how people behave.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructor training when discussing student motivation, human needs, and why a learner may continue, struggle, or lose interest in training.
Derivation
From the Latin secundus, meaning 'following' or 'second in order.' These needs are called secondary because they come after — and build on top of — the primary (physical survival) needs.
Why Pilots Care
An instructor who understands secondary needs can recognize what's really driving a student — the desire to feel competent, respected, or accepted — and use that to keep the student engaged and motivated through difficult phases of training.
Intuition Check
Do not read secondary as “minor” or “optional.” Here it means “not first-level survival,” but it can still strongly influence learning and motivation.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor recognized that the student's drive to earn her certificate was tied to a secondary need for personal achievement.
Example Sentence 2
Satisfying secondary needs such as a sense of achievement helps a new pilot stay committed through the later stages of training.