Self-actualization

Self-actualization is a term that has been used in various psychology theories, often in different
ways. The term was originally introduced by the organismic theorist Kurt Goldstein for the
motive to realize one's full potential. In Goldstein's view, it is the organism's master motive, the
only real motive: "the tendency to actualize itself as fully as possible is the basic drive ... the
drive of self-actualization".[1] Carl Rogers similarly wrote of "the curative force in
psychotherapy – man's tendency to actualize himself, to become his potentialities ... to express
and activate all the capacities of the organism".[2] The concept was brought most fully to
prominence in Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory as the final level of psychological
development that can be achieved when all basic and mental needs are essentially fulfilled and
the "actualization" of the full personal potential takes place,[3] although he adapted this viewpoint
later on in life, and saw it more flexibly.[4]
Self-actualization can be seen as similar to words and concepts such as self-discovery, self-
reflection, self-realization and self-exploration.
As Abraham Maslow noted, the basic needs of humans must be met (e.g. food, shelter, warmth,
security, sense of belonging) before a person can achieve self-actualization – the need to be
good, to be fully alive and to find meaning in life. Yet, Maslow argued that reaching a state of
true self-actualization in everyday society was fairly rare. Research shows that when people live
lives that are different from their true nature and capabilities, they are less likely to be happy than
those whose goals and lives match. For example, someone who has inherent potential to be a
great artist or teacher may never realize his/her talents if their energy is focused on attaining the
basic needs of humans.[5]

Self-actualization is at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs – becoming "'fully human' ...
maturity or self-actualization"[6] – and is considered a part of the humanistic approach to
personality. Humanistic psychology is one of several methods used in psychology for studying,
understanding, and evaluating personality. The humanistic approach was developed because
other approaches, such as the psychodynamic approach made famous by Sigmund Freud,
focused on unhealthy individuals that exhibited disturbed behavior;[7] whereas the humanistic
approach focuses on healthy, motivated people and tries to determine how they define the self
while maximizing their potential.[7]
Stemming from this branch of psychology is Maslow's hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow,
people have lower order needs that in general must be fulfilled before high order needs can be
satisfied: 'five sets of needs – physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-
actualization'.[8]
As a person moves up Maslow's hierarchy of needs, eventually they may find themselves
reaching the summit – self-actualization.[7] Maslow's hierarchy of needs begins with the most
basic necessities deemed "the physiological needs" in which the individual will seek out items
like food and water, and must be able to perform basic functions such as breathing
and sleeping.[9] Once these needs have been met, a person can move on to fulfilling "the safety
needs", where they will attempt to obtain a sense of security, physical comforts and shelter,
employment, and property.[9] The next level is "the belongingness and love needs", where
people will strive for social acceptance, affiliations, a sense of belongingness and being
welcome, sexual intimacy, and perhaps a family.[9] Next are "the esteem needs", where the
individual will desire a sense of competence, recognition of achievement by peers,
and respect from others.[9]
Some argue that once these needs are met, an individual is primed for self-actualization. Others
maintain that there are two more phases an individual must progress through before self-
actualization can take place. These include "the cognitive needs", where a person will desire
knowledge and an understanding of the world around them, and "the aesthetic needs" which
include a need for "symmetry, order, and beauty".[7] Once all these needs have been satisfied,
the final stage of Maslow's hierarchy – self actualization – can take place.[9]
Classical Adlerian psychotherapy promotes this level of psychological development, utilizing the
foundation of a 12-stage therapeutic model to realistically satisfy the basic needs, leading to an
advanced stage of "meta-therapy", creative living, and self/other/task-actualization[citation
needed]. Gestalt therapy, acknowledging that 'Kurt Goldstein first introduced the concept of
the organism as a whole ', built on the assumption that "every individual, every plant, every
animal has only one inborn goal – to actualize itself as it is."[10]
Maslow's writings are used as inspirational resources. The key to Maslow's writings is
understanding that there are no quick routes to becoming self-actualizing: rather it is predicated
on the individual having their lower deficiency needs met. Once a person has moved through
feeling and believing that they are deficient, they naturally seek to grow into who they are, i.e.,
they self-actualize. Elsewhere, however, Maslow (2011) and Carl Rogers (1980)[11] both
suggested necessary attitudes and/or attributes that need to be inside an individual as a pre-
requisite for self-actualization. Among these are a real wish to be themselves, to be fully human,
to fulfill themselves, and to be completely alive, as well as a willingness to risk being vulnerable
and to uncover more "painful" aspects in order to learn about/grow through and integrate these
parts of themselves (this has parallels with Jung's slightly similar concept of individuation).