Maslow described self-actualization as being "psychologically healthy, fully human, highly evolved, and fully mature". He believed that "healthy" or "self-actualized" individuals possess the following characteristics:
1) An appropriate perception of reality
2) The ability to accept oneself, others and human nature
3)The ability to manifest spontaneity
4) The capacity for focusing concentraion on problem solving
5)A need for detachment and a desire for privacy
6) Independence, autonomy, and a resistance to enculturation
7) An intensity of emotional reaction
8) A frequencty of "peak" experiences that validates the worthwhileness, richness and beauty of life
9) An identification with humankind
10) The ability to achieve satisfactory interpersonal relationships
11) A democratic character structure and strong sense of ethics
12) Creativeness
13) A degree of noncomformance
Freud may be crazy but Maslow has it right :)
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The issue I have with Maslow's Law is that, he is telling us that all of our inner desires could bring us to "self actualization" which would be some sort of utopia. You first must take his theory with the assumption that man's nature is basically "good", this I have a hard time with. If man is basically good, and we only need to self actualize, where does the evil come from? Does it come from culture? (this is Maslows response) If so, where does culture get it? Don't the people make up the culture?
ReplyDeleteSomeone could posses those characteristics and still not be considered "self actualized" by Maslow. "An appropriate perception of reality", who's reality? What makes it appropriate or not?
I feel he focuses too much on looking inwards to solve our own problems, leaving God out of the picture. Where would you think that Maslow would tell us to look for the creativeness posted on his list? The creativeness of God or our own inner self actualized creativeness?
Wow, I feel like a jerk jumping on your blog and being critical ha ha. It just stuck out to me because I have studied and discussed Maslows law with people before and it is interesting to hear other perspectives.
Wonderful Blog by the way...
ReplyDeleteI look at it from a psychological nursing perspective (this is how I found Maslow anyway) I have been working with patients with psychological disorders and I find that some of these characteristics, if they attain them, could benefit them greatly. Most of the patients I have worked with who have major depression and suicide attempts when we have a conversation there are underlying factors like feeling unappreciated by their spouses or children, feeling like they have no purpose in life. I think applying these characteristics is like a map to help finding yourself and realizing what joy is. Appropriate perception of reality, as I view this from the nursing perspective is simply being oriented to person, time, place. It's not anything deep, just being free from delusions and hallucinations.
ReplyDeleteI agree, he didn't really leave any room for God. I would add that characteristic on the list- being spiritually satisfied and having a connection with God.
Thanks for the comments :)