The crossword solution for the term 'IT MAY NEED STROKING' is EGO, which is a three letter word. EGO is a term used in psychology to refer to a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance. It is often used to describe someone who has an inflated sense of their own importance or abilities. In some cases, it can be seen as a positive trait, but in others, it can lead to negative behaviors such as arrogance and narcissism.