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What Is Self-Actualization

Maslow described self-actualization as the desire to become fully what one is capable of becoming. He viewed it as the highest level need in his hierarchy of needs. Characteristics of self-actualized people include acceptance, problem-centering, spontaneity, autonomy, appreciation of experiences, and peak experiences that inspire and transform. While some research supports Maslow's theories, most studies have not found evidence that needs follow a strict hierarchy. Criticisms also note the difficulty testing self-actualization scientifically and Maslow's limited sample size.

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670 views

What Is Self-Actualization

Maslow described self-actualization as the desire to become fully what one is capable of becoming. He viewed it as the highest level need in his hierarchy of needs. Characteristics of self-actualized people include acceptance, problem-centering, spontaneity, autonomy, appreciation of experiences, and peak experiences that inspire and transform. While some research supports Maslow's theories, most studies have not found evidence that needs follow a strict hierarchy. Criticisms also note the difficulty testing self-actualization scientifically and Maslow's limited sample size.

Uploaded by

Malak Kinaan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What Is Self-Actualization?

What exactly is self-actualization? Located at the peak of Maslow’s hierarchy, he


described this high-level need in the following way:
"What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization…It
refers to the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become
actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire
to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable
of becoming."1
While Maslow’s theory is generally portrayed as a fairly rigid hierarchy, Maslow noted
that the order in which these needs are fulfilled does not always follow this order.1 For
example, he notes that for some individuals, the need for self-esteem is more important
than the need for love. For others, the need for creative fulfillment may supersede even
the most basic needs.

Characteristics of Self-Actualized People


In addition to describing what is meant by self-actualization in his theory, Maslow also
identified some of the key characteristics of self-actualized people:

• Acceptance and Realism: Self-actualized people have realistic perceptions of


themselves, others and the world around them.

• Problem-centering: Self-actualized individuals are concerned with solving


problems outside of themselves, including helping others and finding solutions to
problems in the external world. These people are often motivated by a sense of
personal responsibility and ethics.

• Spontaneity: Self-actualized people are spontaneous in their internal thoughts


and outward behavior. While they can conform to rules and social expectations,
they also tend to be open and unconventional.

• Autonomy and Solitude: Another characteristics of self-actualized people is the


need for independence and privacy. While they enjoy the company of others,
these individuals need time to focus on developing their own individual potential.

• Continued Freshness of Appreciation: Self-actualized people tend to view the


world with a continual sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple
experiences continue to be a source of inspiration and pleasure.

• Peak Experiences: Individuals who are self-actualized often have what Maslow
termed peak experiences, or moments of intense joy, wonder, awe and ecstasy.
After these experiences, people feel inspired, strengthened, renewed or
transformed.3
Criticisms of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
While some research showed some support for Maslow’s theories, most research has not
been able to substantiate the idea of a needs hierarchy. Wahba and Bridwell reported that
there was little evidence for Maslow’s ranking of these needs and even less evidence that
these needs are in a hierarchical order.4
Other criticisms of Maslow’s theory note that his definition of self-actualization is
difficult to test scientifically. His research on self-actualization was also based on a very
limited sample of individuals, including people he knew as well as biographies of famous
individuals that Maslow believed to be self-actualized, such as Albert Einstein and
Eleanor Roosevelt. Regardless of these criticisms, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
represents part of an important shift in psychology. Rather than focusing on abnormal
behavior and development, Maslow’s humanistic psychology was focused on the
development of healthy individuals.

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