StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Theory of Self Actualization - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay discusses that Self Actualization is the highest need that motivates human behavior according to Abraham Maslow. Maslow’s 1943 hierarchy of needs suggests that the most basic needs are the first to be fulfilled, and also the most significant. …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92% of users find it useful
Theory of Self Actualization
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Theory of Self Actualization"

Self Actualization is the highest need that motivates human behavior according to Abraham Maslow (McAdams, 268-9). Maslow’s 1943 hierarchy of needs suggests that the most basic needs are the first to be fulfilled, and also the most significant. On the other hand, the highest needs are the last to be fulfilled, and the least likely to be fulfilled by any individual (373). According to Maslow, the needs that motivate a human may be categorized into physiological needs; Safety needs, need for affiliation, need for Achievement, and need for Self actualization.

A traditional understanding of Maslow’s theory represents the hierarchy as relatively rigid and step-wise, such that an individual proceeds to a higher needs only on satisfaction of the lower needs. The need for Self actualization is one that motivates an individual to attempt to attain his / her full potential in as many aspects of life as possible. Maslow spent considerable effort on understanding and describing the self – Actualized individual (McAdams, 269). According to him, such an individual is realistic about self and the world, and accepts things as they are.

He / she focuses on problems in an attempt to find solutions, is creative and spontaneous in his/her responses. While these individuals appreciate the world around them, they value their independence and privacy; and are capable of experiencing what Maslow calls ‘Peak Experiences’. In spite of the wide success of this theory, Geller (56) criticizes it as being too simplistic and an inadequate explanation of human needs and their origins; and believes the theory to be more ideological than practical.

Works CitedGeller, Leonard. The failure of self-actualization theory: A critique of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. Journal of Humanistic Psychology 22.2 (1982): 56-73. Print. Maslow, A. H. A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review 50 (1943): 370-96. Print. McAdams, D. The person: A new introduction to personality psychology. 4th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. 2006. Print.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Theory of Self Actualization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words”, n.d.)
Theory of Self Actualization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/psychology/1436100-personality-psychology-several-topics
(Theory of Self Actualization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 Words)
Theory of Self Actualization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 Words. https://studentshare.org/psychology/1436100-personality-psychology-several-topics.
“Theory of Self Actualization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/psychology/1436100-personality-psychology-several-topics.
  • Cited: 1 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Theory of Self Actualization

The Primary Source of Behavior

As indicated in Roger's theory of self-actualization, the human behavior, which is essentially an expression of human actions in the social environment actually emanates from "self.... These are products of the concept of self leading to individual perceptions and feelings which ultimately strive to maintain and enhance the person.... The concept of self as indicated in Roger is "organized, consistent, conceptual gestalt composed of perceptions of the characteristics" of self and its relationships to others and various other aspects of life along with "the values attached to these perceptions....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Analysis of Self-Actualization as Related to Happiness

Paxton and Turner paraphrase Shostrom: Overall, Shostrom's theory of self-actualization is one that emphasizes positive mental health and psychological adjustmentActualizing persons are viewed by Shostrom as individuals who are willing to take the risk of being themselves and to respond according to how they feel in the present, rather than adhering to rigid patterns of the past or to inflexible goals of the future.... Self-actualization can be described as paraphrasing the concept of self-fulfillment....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Organizational Behavior - Leading and Motivating Iranian Employees

These last years because of sanction and limitations in importing and exporting, the company faced some new problems.... Workers are not motivated anymore.... The first raw material for printing machines is not… Importation of ink and and major raw materials for printing is nowadays has been made difficult as a result of the sanctions....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

CIPD Course-Employee Relations - UK-Based System

Indicate whether a performance related bonus should be made at current rates.... (In circumstances where the full target has not been met a case must be made before any partial bonus payment can be paid, with reasons provided for that recommendation).... 9 According to Armstrong… d Baron (2004), performance management systems (PMS) can be defined as a practice for establishing common objectives, and a tactic to manage and monitor the development of people in a way that enhances the chances of achieving goals in minimum time (CIPD 2013, p....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Personality and Behavior in Examining Concepts of Emotional Intelligence

One of the most widespread theories within the scope of humanistic psychology is Abraham Maslow's theory of self-actualization developed in the 1950s.... Self-actualization included continuous and comprehensive development of human spiritual and creative potential, adequate self-esteem and perception of reality, a high level of psychological health and morality, as well as the maximally full realization of all possibilities and opportunities.... ccording to the EI theory, a human being is a self-sufficient being, and the source of his/her development is within him- or herself....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework

Abraham Maslow: An Architect of the Third Force

By showing a positive path towards the attainment of self-actualization, Maslow 's contribution to the field of psychology is immense.... Abraham Maslow, by developing a 'human' approach towards growth and self-actualization of human beings, contributed immensely to the field of psychology.... The author concludes that Maslow has changed humanity and gave new hope to the world that everyone has the potential to be self-actualized....
10 Pages (2500 words) Term Paper

Why We Need to Change for Success in The Future

In this manner, I began to realize that I was seeking a process of self-actualization and that I wanted to see the same process occur in society at large to reflect a greater change in life.... I then began to research into self-actualization through the works of Abraham Maslow and other psychologists.... Maslow defined self-actualization as “the full use and exploitation of talents, capabilities, potentialities, etc.... rdquo; In terms of what I was seeking in a process of change, I determined it was similar to what Maslow described in self-actualization....
13 Pages (3250 words) Research Paper

Marlows Hierarchy of Needs

As long as an individual is always motivated to satisfy the needs, they are moving towards growth and closer to self-actualization.... Five tiers to his theory which include the areas of physiological needs, safety and social needs, self-esteem, and self-actualization needs.... Maslow believed that if the lower needs of physiological and safety needs were not met, the individual would not be motivated to reach for social needs, self-esteem needs or self-actualization needs (Maslow, 1970)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us