PQ's for CH 9

• Introduction to Humanistic/Existential Theories:

  • Beginning of discussions on Maslow.

  • Maslow’s personal background and brilliance (IQ of 195) was influenced by family dynamics.

Page 2: Maslow’s Holistic Dynamic Theory

• Holistic dynamic theory:

  • The entire person is motivated by various needs.

  • Potential for growth leads to psychological health (self-actualization).

• Historical context of psychological theory:

  • Third force in psychology, following psychoanalytic and behaviorist approaches.

  • Influenced by Freud and Watson, while critiquing their limitations in understanding healthy psychology.

• Maslow’s life:

  • Experienced childhood challenges, including maternal abuse and antisemitism.

  • Academic struggles contrasted with brilliance—he excelled in areas of interest.

  • Influenced by contemporary psychologists (Fromm, Horney, Rotter, Adler).

Page 3: Motivation and Needs

• Holistic approach to motivation:

  • Individuals are motivated by multiple needs and not just one.

• Assumptions about needs:

  • Needs emerge as one is satisfied, replaced by another.

  • All humans share the same basic needs, albeit culturally distinct in fulfillment methods.

• Hierarchy of needs:

  • Common visual is a pyramid, but Maslow did not advocate for this.

  • Lower-level needs must be relatively satisfied before higher-level ones are motivating.

• Conative needs:

  • Five basic needs: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

  • Physiological needs dominate focus when unmet (food, water, oxygen).

Page 4: Safety and Belonging Needs

• Distinctive features of safety needs:

  • Can’t be overly satisfied due to inherent risks like war or illness.

  • Children are particularly motivated by safety (fear of darkness and strangers).

• Love and belonging needs:

  • Desire for family, friendship, and community.

  • Importance of receiving love in early years versus scarcity leading to a lack of panic.

  • Unmet love needs may hinder the ability to provide love and may lead to devaluation.

Page 5: Esteem Needs

• Esteem needs defined:

  • Two levels: reputation (how others perceive us) and self-esteem (self-confidence and competence).

• Factors for transition from esteem to self-actualization:

  • It depends on embracing B-values (values associated with growth and self-fulfillment).

• Self-actualization needs outlined:

  • Fulfillment, realization of potential, and independence.

  • Cultural influences do not diminish self-esteem and personal growth.

Page 6: Additional Needs and Pathology

• Understanding aesthetic, cognitive, and neurotic needs:

  • Aesthetic needs for beauty and order, cognitive needs for understanding and curiosity.

  • Neurotic needs stem from unsuccessful attempts to meet basic needs, leading to pathology.

• Hierarchical perspectives:

  • Needs can be seen in varying percentages, not simply as all-or-nothing.

  • A higher need can sometimes take precedence, such as self-actualization driving artists to prioritize their work over basic needs.

Page 7: Understanding Motivations

• Exploration of unconscious motivations:

  • Unconscious drives might shape decisions beyond apparent needs.

  • E.g., risk-taking may fulfill deeper purposes rather than ignoring safety.

• Distinction between motivated and unmotivated behavior:

  • Expressive behavior (unlearned, spontaneous) vs. coping behavior (conscious and learned).

• Consequences of unmet needs:

  • Deprivation leads to various pathologies such as fatigue and self-doubt.

Page 8: Instinctoid and Non-instinctoid Needs

• Instinctoid needs have innate underpinnings:

  • These can lead to illness if unmet (e.g., denied love).

  • Non-instinctoid needs do not cause pathology.

• Comparison of higher vs. lower needs:

  • Higher needs emerge later and create more lasting happiness.

  • Exploration of Maslow's study on self-actualization dynamics:

    • Criteria include lack of psychopathology and full realization of talents.

Page 9: Metamotivation and Behavior

• Metamotivation defined:

  • Drive towards growth and self-actualization beyond basic needs.

• Types of behavior:

  • Expressive behavior aligns with creativity and personal passion.

  • Coping behavior aimed at fulfilling basic survival needs.

Page 10: Qualities of Self-Actualizing People

• Characteristics of self-actualizing individuals:

  • Efficient perception of reality and acceptance of self and others.

• Key qualities:

  • Tolerance for imperfections in self and others, indicative of emotional maturity.

  • Interest in external problems, privacy needs, and independence in growth.

Page 11: Peak Experiences

• Definition and nature of peak experiences:

  • Moments of joy and transcendence beyond basic needs.

• Self-Actualization traits:

  • Profound interpersonal relationships and social unity.

  • Democratic values and creative resistance to enculturation.

Page 12: Love and Self-Actualization

• Types of love:

  • D-love (deficiency love) vs. B-love (being love).

• Critique of emotionless science in psychology:

  • Maslow favored a more holistic and value-driven perspective.

• The Jonah complex defined:

  • Fear of one's own potential and success as a barrier to self-actualization.

• Aim of Maslow’s therapy elucidated:

  • Encourage embracing B-values to foster healthy therapist-client relationships.