Self Actualization

 

Introduction

Self-actualization is most often associated with Maslow, but the term was first introduced by “Kurt Goldstein”. Goldstein characterized the term self-actualization as individuation, or the process of becoming a “self,” that is holistic (i.e., the individual realizes that oneself and one’s environment are two pieces of a greater whole) and acts as a primary driving force of behavior in humans.

Although Goldstein’s concept didn’t get much traction at the time, it was popularized when Maslow adopted it into his theory on the human hierarchy of needs. In his seminal paper about human motivation (in which he first introduced his hierarchy of needs), Maslow discussed self-actualization by stating,

   “What a man can be, he must be. This needs we may call self-actualization” (Maslow, 1943).

Self-actualization has also been described as:

"The psychological process aimed at maximizing the use of a person’s abilities and resources. This process may vary from one person to another".

Since self-actualization is based on leveraging one’s abilities to reach their potential, it is a very individual process and will probably vary significantly from person to person. This focus on individual motivations is a key part of Maslow’s work, and what he felt differentiated it from contemporary motivational psychology.

 Abraham Maslow was a prominent psychologist most known for his contributions to humanistic psychology. His interests in human motivation and self-actualization stemmed from his experiences both early on as a timid child, and later as a father witnessing the horrors of World War II.

His hierarchy of needs was first introduced over 70 years ago–is still taught as a critical part of motivational psychology. There is a noticeable overlap between Maslow’s work and the work that underpins positive psychology, the emphasis on self-growth and self-development has a decidedly “positive” flavor to it.

The Theory of Self-Actualization and the Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow (1943) Formulated a more positive account of human behavior which focused on what goes right. He was interested in human potential, and how we fulfill that potential.

Maslow felt that human motivation needed to be studied beyond the contemporary scope of behaviorism, as he believed that the study of “[motivation should be human-centered rather than animal-centered” (Maslow, 1943).

Maslow first outlined his hierarchy of needs in his seminal 1943 paper on human motivation. He identified five needs:

• Physiological
• Safety
• Love
• Esteem
• Self-actualization

Physiological needs refer to things that are necessary for survival, such as breathable air, food, and water. Safety needs are things that make you feel healthy (like having health care and knowing your water is clean) and physically safe (like adequate shelter or being in a large group).

Love needs are met through feeling liked, loved, and accepted by others. Esteem is achieved by feeling self-confident and respected by others. Finally, self-actualization needs are met when an individual engages in self-development and personal growth.

Maslow posited that each level of need must be taken care of before the next one can be met. So, fulfilling one’s physiological needs is a prerequisite to their safety needs being met; one’s safety needs must be met before one’s love needs take priority, and so on.

 Self-actualization is the highest level, meaning that it can only be fulfilled when one’s physiological, safety, love, and esteem needs are already met.

While it was later acknowledged that there is some flexibility in the order in which these needs can be met (e.g., there are homeless people who have their esteem or self-actualization needs to be met while going hungry and/or without shelter), it’s generally considered a prerequisite to making sure your more basic needs are being met before trying to achieve self-actualization.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow (1943-1954) stated that human motivation is based on people seeking fulfillment and change through personal growth, self-Actualized people are those who were fulfilled and doing all they were capable of.

 The growth of self-actualization (Maslow) refers to the need for personal growth and discovery that is present throughout a person’s life. For Maslow, a person is always ‘becoming’ and never remains static in these terms. In self-actualization, a person comes to find a meaning in life that is important to them.

Maslow offers the following description of self-actualization:

“It refers to the person’s Self-Fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially and what he has potential

The specific form that these needs will take will of course varies greatly from person to person. In one individual it may take the form of the desire to be an ideal mother, in another, it may be expressed athletically, and in still another, it may be expressed in painting pictures or inventions” (Maslow).

Examples of Self-Actualization

Now we know what self-actualization is, but what does it look like? When first describing self-actualization, Maslow described the top of his hierarchy of needs by remarking that:

“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately happy” (Maslow, 1943).

Extrapolating from this quote, we can see self-actualization in examples like:

• An artist who has never made a profit on his art, but he still paints because it is fulfilling and makes him happy.
• A woman who finds joy in achieving mastery in a niche hobby.
• A father who gets a sense of purpose from raising his children to be a positive force in the world.
• An employee at a nonprofit who uses her ever-increasing skills to improve the lives of others.

Self-Actualization may manifest in many forms, and some of how a self-actualized person may appear can depend on their age, culture, and other factors.

 

A few examples of behavior a self-actualized person might exhibit include:

·         Finding humor in each situation.

·         Getting enjoyment and satisfaction out of the present moment.

·         Understanding what they need to gain a sense of fulfillment.

 

Characteristics of self-actualized people

The characteristics of self-actualized peoples are given below:

·        Self-Actualized People Have Peak Experiences:

 According to Maslow, a peak experience involves:

"Feelings of limitless horizons opening up to the vision, the feeling of being simultaneously more powerful and also more helpless than one ever was before, the feeling of ecstasy and wonder and awe, the loss of placement in time and space with, finally, the conviction that something extremely important and valuable had happened, so that the subject was to some extent transformed and strengthened even in his daily life by such experiences."

In other words, these are moments of transcendence in which a person emerges feeling changed and transformed.

·        They Possess Self-Acceptance and a Democratic World View:

Self-actualized people accept themselves and others as they are. They tend to lack inhibition and can enjoy themselves and their lives free of guilt.

Not only do self-actualized people fully accept themselves, but they also embrace other people for who they are. Other individuals are treated the same regardless of background, status, or other socio-economic and cultural factors.

 

·        They Are Realistic:

Another major characteristic of self-actualized people is a sense of realism

Rather than being fearful of things that are different or unknown, the self-actualized individual can view life as it unfolds both logically and rationally.

·        They Tend to Be Problem-Centered:

Self-actualized individuals are often motivated by a strong sense of personal ethics and responsibility. They enjoy applying their problem-solving skills to real-world situations and they like helping other people improve their own lives.

·        The Self-Actualized Person Is Autonomous:

Self-actualized people also tend to be very ​independent. They don't conform to other people's ideas of happiness or contentment. This original perspective allows the individual to live in the moment and appreciate the beauty of each experience.

·        They Have a Philosophical Sense of Humor:

Self-actualized individuals generally have a thoughtful sense of humor. They're able to enjoy the humor in situations and laugh at themselves, but they don't ridicule or joke at the expense of another person's feelings.

·        They Fully Enjoy the Journey, Not Just the Destination:

 While self-actualized people have concrete goals, they don't see things as simply a means to an end. The journey toward achieving a goal is just as important and enjoyable as actually accomplishing the goal.

·        They Enjoy Solitude and Privacy:

 Self-actualized individuals value their privacy and enjoy solitude. While they also love the company of others, taking time to themselves is essential for their discovery and cultivating their potential.

 

Values of Self-Actualization

Maslow (1971) held that self-actualizing people are motivated by the “External Vertices”, what he called B-Values. These “Being” Values are indicators of psychological health and are opposed to deficiency needs, which motivate non-self-actualizes. B-values are not needed in the same sense that food, shelter, or companionship are. Maslow termed B-Values “Meta needs” to indicate that they are the ultimate level of needs.

Self-actualization requires the embracement of the B value. Therefore, being values include truth, goodness, beauty, wholeness, aliveness, uniqueness, perfection, completion, justice and order, simplicity, richness, effortlessness, playfulness, and self-sufficiency.