June 14, 2022

What are the stakes?

What do the following have in common: A hermit crab looking for a new shell on a beach crowded with seagulls. A butcher deciding whether his newfound veganism is a problem for his profession. An old lady who loses her only friend left in the world.

The answer is – the stakes are high. The hermit crab needs to risk her life to find new shelter. The butcher needs to decide between principles and livelihood. The old lady stares down the barrel of loneliness. Underneath all of them is fear – and, it seems, we like a bit of that in our storytelling.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs gives us a really clear view of what’s important to humans, in order of importance. The more basic the need, the higher the stakes.

Take, for example, level 1: Biological and Physical needs. This includes things like air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep etc. This is the level at which our hermit crab is scrapping for survival. She’s outgrowing her shell, and needs to find a new home. This basic requirement for shelter raises the stakes. Will she brave enough to dash to a new shell, risking her life as the seagulls circle looking to pick her up as soon as she leaves?

Our butcher is playing at level 2: Safety. His job is the way he makes money so he can afford the basics. We know that our job provides us security, so it’s easy to relate. Does he feel strongly enough about the safety and treatment of animals to risk his own safety?

And lastly, our old lady. She’s alone in the world. She plays at level 3: love and belonging. With no one left, how will loneliness play out in her life now. She’s old, so she’s frail, less mobile. This isn’t a good combination and probably a fear we all have at some point in our life as we head in to old age.

To improve the level of conflict, urgency and relatability in my storytelling, I often consider Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a way to step back from the story and understand what’s really going on. The more basic the need, the more relatable and urgent the story. It’s not the only lens through which to think about a story, but it’s a usefu one.

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