Ashley Montagu told me the book he authored that pleased him most was Growing Young. In it, he identified 26 basic behavioral needs that must be met for optimal health and well-being:
The Basic Behavioral Needs
1. Love 15. Flexibility
2. Friendship 16. Experimental-Mindedness
3. Sensitivity 17. Explorativeness
4. Think Soundly 18. Resiliency
5. To Know 19. Sense of Humor
6. To Learn 20. Joyfulness
7. Work 21. Laughter and Tears
8. Organization 22. Optimism
9. Curiosity 23. Honesty and Trust
10. Wonder 24. Compassionate Intelligence
11. Playfulness 25. Song
12. Imagination 26. Dance
13. Creativity
14. Openmindedness
These aren’t abstract ideals—they’re biological imperatives validated by decades of research. Love isn’t sentiment; it’s what our nervous systems require to regulate stress. Play isn’t frivolous; it’s how our brains stay flexible. Dance and song aren’t entertainment; they’re how we maintain social bonds and emotional resilience.
Modern neuroscience has confirmed what Ashley spent his career proving: we’re designed to remain in a state of development throughout our entire lives. The traits we associate with childhood—curiosity, wonder, playfulness—aren’t things we outgrow. They’re what keep us healthy as we age.
Through his letters, Ashley gave me far more than an education—he gave me a blueprint for living well at any age. His 26 needs weren’t abstract theory; they were his daily practice, the habits that kept him vital and creative until his death at 94. This is an excerpt from a longer essay exploring how modern neuroscience has validated what Ashley spent his career proving: we’re designed to grow young.
This is an excerpt from a longer essay exploring Ashley Montagu’s scientific framework for optimal aging and well-being.