Maslow Self- Actualization

Theory of Self-Actualization

process whereby the healthy development of people’s abilities enables them to fulfill their own true natures

The hierarchy of human Needs

Self- Actualization and Growth Need

Esteem Needs

Belongingness and Love Needs

Safety Needs

Physiological Needs

2 Basic sets of needs rooted in our biology

deficiency needs (basic needs) & Growth Needs (Meta Needs)

Deficiency Needs (Basic Needs)

physiological drives

Deficiency Needs (Basic Needs)

safety needs

Deficiency Needs (Basic Needs)

belongingness and love needs

Deficiency Needs (Basic Needs)

esteem needs

Growth Needs (meta Needs)

the need for self- actualization

Growth Needs (meta Needs)

cognitive understanding

Physiological needs

include hunger, thirst and sex

physiological needs

When hungry will think of nothing else. Few poor people have a quest for self- actualization.

Safety needs

need for security

safety needs

protection

Safety needs

structure

Safety needs

law

Safety needs

order

Safety needs

limits

Safety needs

freedom from fear, anxiety, and chaos

belongingness:

need to feel wanted and accepted by others

Love

begins selfishly with seeking love from others, referred to as D-Love (deficiency Love)

B- Love (being Love)

once capable of loving others

Esteem Needs (Divided into 2 sets)

1. Esteem based on respect for our own competence, independence and accomplishments

Esteem needs (Divided into 2 sets)

2. Esteem based on others’ evaluations (recognition, status, fame, dominance,
appreciation)

Meta Needs

Self actualization

Self Actualization

Need to reach one’s fullest potential and highest level of functioning

Meta Needs

cognitive understanding

Maslow believed those high in self actualization

more capable of giving affection, intimately relating to others, more capable of mature love and are less resentful to former lovers.

The Jonah complex:

as a result of fear, reluctance to make full use of one’s intellectual abilities and potential because achievement may bring on new responsibilities and duties we
cannot handle and the fear of the unknown

Condition for Self- Actualization

poor socialization practices among young people as the main source that hinders movement toward self-actualization

Conditions for Self- Actualization

the environment must allow for those basic needs to be met as well as be supportive and guide behavior toward positive methods

Conditions for Self- Actualization

without basic freedoms such as freedom of speech, satisfaction of the basic needs is virtually impossible

Self- Transcendence:

seeks to further a cause beyond the self and experience a communion with others and nature and goes beyond the boundaries of the self.

Transcending self-actualizing person

the most fully developed psychologically healthy person who can transcend their own selfish concerns and work to better humankind

Personal Orientation Inventory (POI)

self-report questionnaire that reflects the values and behavior of major importance, determines extent of self-actualization

Therapy

Acted as friends

therapy

Provided client with respect, love and feelings of belongingness

therapy

must be nonthreatening and supportive

Problems with Maslow’s assessment techniques

Assessment provesure for self-actualizers are ambiguous and imprecise

Problems with Maslow’s assessment techniques

no one knows how Maslow assessed those he used in his research

Problems with Maslow’s assessment techniques

It is believed that Maslow simply based self-actualizing characteristics on his own value system