Communication and relationships play an important role in shaping everyday life. For deaf individuals, however, the experience of relationships is influenced by different communication pathways and the use of sigh language. This master s thesis explores the expression of relational needs among deaf and hearing individuals and their experiences of exploring these needs through clay work. The theoretical framework is based on Richard G. Erskine s theory of relational needs, which emphasizes the importance of connection, emotional safety, acceptance, and validation within interpersonal relationships.
The aim of the study was to examine how relational needs are expressed among deaf individuals in comparison with hearing individuals and to explore the potential of clay as a supportive medium for investigating inner experiences. The research employed a qualitative methodology. Ten adults participated in the study, including five deaf and five hearing individuals. All deaf participants had been deaf since birth. Data were collected through a creative clay workshop, spatial arrangement of clay figures, and semi-structured interviews. The collected material was analyzes using thematic analysis.
The findings indicate that relational needs are important for both groups of participants. Differences were observed not so much in the presence of specific relational needs, but rather in the ways these needs were expressed and organized within relationships. Among deaf participants, relational needs were more frequently connected to a smaller number of significant relationships, particularly with partners and close family members. Hearing participants, on the other hand, more often included a broader social network in their descriptions of important relationships. The findings suggest that communication accessibility and the possibility of mutual understanding play a particularly important role in the relational experiences of dead individuals.
Clay work proved to be a useful method for exploring relationships and inner experiences. It enabled participants to express emotions, memories, and relational experiences in a symbolic, sensory, and nonverbal manner. For some participants, the process led to new insights and reflections about their relationships, while for others it mainly reinforced existing understandings. Differences were also found in the way participants engaged with the creative process. Deaf participants tended to approach the activity more directly, spontaneously, and through bodily engagement, whereas hearing participants were more likely to engage in reflection and verbal processing of their experiences.
This study contributes to a better understanding of relational needs among deaf individuals and highlights the potential value of creative and communication-accessible approaches in counselling and therapeutic work with deaf people. At the same time, the findings suggest that the fundamental human needs for closeness, acceptance, and connection do not differ substantially between deaf and hearing individuals; rather, the differences lie in the ways these needs are expressed and fulfilled.
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