ABSTRACT
There are two types of hunger that we experience. The first is biological hunger and the second is psychological hunger. Biological hunger involves a chemical reaction in the body that tells us we need to eat. It is sated by eating what is needed for us to carry out our daily lives and a little extra for emergencies. It is understood from birth, in so far as the infant will cry when hungry and drop the nipple or teat when she/he is full. Gradually social demands of eating during prescribed mealtimes lessen our ability to distinguish genuine hunger. Psychological hunger is stirred when there is something missing or worrying in our lives. In Transactional Analysis, we recognise three basic psychological hungers: Stimulus hunger, Structure hunger and Recognition hunger. It is important to address these hungers, throughout life. There are, of course, times when these hungers are not satisfied. A whole range of deficits, therefore, rest upon such unresolved psychological hungers. The physical sensations that accompany psychological hunger can be mistaken for biological hunger pangs and therefore lead to overeating. The author explains each hunger, how to recognise them and encourages readers to find solutions to satisfy those hungers other than with food or size.
