Integration of Social Interaction and Psychological Needs: A Maslow-Based Analytical Model for Children’s Literature

Abstract

This study aims to develop an integrative analytical model that connects social interaction and psychological needs in children’s literature using the framework of Abraham Maslow. While previous studies have examined social relations and psychological development separately, limited attention has been given to how these dimensions interact systematically within narrative structures. This research employs a qualitative interpretive approach combined with cross-case analysis of ten contemporary Indonesian children’s novels by Sherina Salsabila. Data were collected through close reading and document analysis, and analyzed through coding relational domains (interpersonal, familial, and environmental) and mapping them onto hierarchical psychological needs. The findings reveal consistent patterns across texts. Interpersonal relations are primarily associated with belongingness needs, particularly through peer interaction and social acceptance. Familial relations are predominantly linked to safety needs, reflecting emotional support and parental roles. Meanwhile, environmental interactions correspond to higher-level needs, including esteem and self-actualization, especially in contexts involving aspiration, community participation, and symbolic engagement with nature. These patterns demonstrate that social interaction in children’s literature functions as a structured mechanism for fulfilling and negotiating psychological needs. This study concludes that children’s narratives serve not only as representations of social reality but also as frameworks of psychological development. The proposed integrative model contributes theoretically by linking relational structures to psychological needs and offers a transferable analytical framework for future research. The findings highlight the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding children’s literature across cultural contexts.