What people say they want and what they specify in requirements lists are often not the real wants.  There is a simple question that reveals the point.  Think of something you want, perhaps at work or for a birthday.  Think of something someone else has said he or she wants.  Think of something you have seen written in a requirements list.  And then ask why I or they want that.  For example, I want money.  Why do I want money? Because I can buy a home with it.  Why do I want a home? Because I want shelter and a place I can call my own.  Why do I want a shelter and a place I can call my own? Because it makes me feel safe and secure.  Only these last items are truly wants.  Fundamental human wants are the real wants.  They are few in number and generally easy to recognize. 

The result of evolution has equipped us and our mammal relatives with wants that come in the form of power, position in a hierarchy, sex, comfort, security, and perhaps a few others.  It is these wants that drive us to action.  Because our ancestors had such drives they survived and left offspring - us.  It is the way of evolution.  It is a strategy that evolution discovered works.  We will discuss these further in the theoretical section

Do not misinterpret this to believe that you need to psychoanalyze your client, customer, spouse, friend, associate, boss, or subordinate.  Such an attitude will lead to great mistakes.  It is, however, useful to have a basic understanding of our human nature.  Perhaps the lack of a self-operating manual is the reason so many people seem not to understand human nature.  In any case it essential that you understand a requirements list in an engineering or business environment is not a list of what is really wanted.  It is, usually (not always), an honest list of what people believe will satisfy their real wants.  You need to respond to the requirements list, but you also need to make certain you understand the motivation and real wants behind the list.

A person's real (or biologically driven) wants will change depending on how each want is currently satisfied and how much of a want they can get satisfied.  Sometimes the change is slow and sometimes the change is rapid.  And, of course, what a person believes will satisfy a want can change.  Sometimes the change is slow and some times the change is rapid.

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