Abraham Maslow Becoming Self-Actualized

I. Biography Growing up a Jewish boy in a predominantly non-Jewish neighborhood, Maslow sought solace in the library reading. Growing up a Jewish boy in a predominantly non-Jewish neighborhood, Maslow sought solace in the library reading. Maslow, urged by his parents (Russian immigrants), enrolled in law school in CUNY. However, he found it dull & dropped out during the 1 st year. Maslow, urged by his parents (Russian immigrants), enrolled in law school in CUNY. However, he found it dull & dropped out during the 1 st year. He attended Cornell & then the University of Wisconsin to study psychology (finished doctorate at UW). He attended Cornell & then the University of Wisconsin to study psychology (finished doctorate at UW). Initially drawn to psychology due to behaviorism, his interest in that particular field of psychology diminished. Initially drawn to psychology due to behaviorism, his interest in that particular field of psychology diminished.

Biography (contd.) Maslow worked with Harry Harlow at Wisconsin. Maslow worked with Harry Harlow at Wisconsin. After graduation Maslow went to Columbia U. to work with E. L. Thorndike. After graduation Maslow went to Columbia U. to work with E. L. Thorndike. The birth of his daughter was a peak experience for Maslow, who decided behaviorism wasn’t for him. The birth of his daughter was a peak experience for Maslow, who decided behaviorism wasn’t for him. Maslow taught at Brooklyn College for 14 yrs, where he came into contact with Neofreudians (Horney, Fromm, & Adler) & Max Wertheimer, a founder of Gestalt psychology. Maslow taught at Brooklyn College for 14 yrs, where he came into contact with Neofreudians (Horney, Fromm, & Adler) & Max Wertheimer, a founder of Gestalt psychology. He moved to Brandeis U. until his death in He moved to Brandeis U. until his death in 1970.

II. Motivation & Hierarchy of Needs Maslow was interested in what motivates us. Maslow was interested in what motivates us. He looked at the kinds of issues people worry about now (relationships with others, being happy in one’s career & life, living up to one’s potential) & in the 30’s during the Great Depression when people were literally starving to death in the streets. He looked at the kinds of issues people worry about now (relationships with others, being happy in one’s career & life, living up to one’s potential) & in the 30’s during the Great Depression when people were literally starving to death in the streets. It struck him that there are two types of motives that guide our behavior: Deficiency motives & growth needs. It struck him that there are two types of motives that guide our behavior: Deficiency motives & growth needs.

A. Deficiency motive (needs) This results from a lack of some needed object. This results from a lack of some needed object. Needs like hunger, thirst, & the need for respect from others fall into this category. Needs like hunger, thirst, & the need for respect from others fall into this category. These are satisfied once the needed object is obtained. These are satisfied once the needed object is obtained.

B. Growth needs Unlike deficiency needs, these needs are not satisfied once the target object has been found. Unlike deficiency needs, these needs are not satisfied once the target object has been found. Rather, the satisfaction comes from the growth that provides the expression of this motive. Rather, the satisfaction comes from the growth that provides the expression of this motive. Examples of growth needs include: the unselfish giving of love to others & the development of potential as a human being. The process is as important if not more than the outcome. Examples of growth needs include: the unselfish giving of love to others & the development of potential as a human being. The process is as important if not more than the outcome. Motto: “Strive to be the best person you can be!!!” Motto: “Strive to be the best person you can be!!!”

III. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslow argued that human motives can be placed in a hierarchy of prominence. Maslow argued that human motives can be placed in a hierarchy of prominence. Some needs demand satisfaction before others can be met. Some needs demand satisfaction before others can be met. Usually, we satisfy the needs at the lower levels before becoming concerned with the needs at the higher levels. Usually, we satisfy the needs at the lower levels before becoming concerned with the needs at the higher levels. (e.g., if you are hungry, your behavior will be focused on foraging. You will be less concerned with making friends with others when you are dying of hunger.) (e.g., if you are hungry, your behavior will be focused on foraging. You will be less concerned with making friends with others when you are dying of hunger.)

1. Physiological Needs-are biological needs They consist of needs for oxygen, food, water, & a relatively constant body temperature. They consist of needs for oxygen, food, water, & a relatively constant body temperature. They are the strongest needs because if a person were deprived of all needs, the physiological ones would come first in the person's search for satisfaction. They are the strongest needs because if a person were deprived of all needs, the physiological ones would come first in the person's search for satisfaction. We need these for basic survival. We need these for basic survival.

2. Safety Needs When all physiological needs are satisfied & no longer dominating our thoughts & behaviors, we progress to safety needs. When all physiological needs are satisfied & no longer dominating our thoughts & behaviors, we progress to safety needs. These include the need for security. These include the need for security. We often have little awareness of these, except in times of emergency & disorganization in social structure (war time, terrorist acts, domestic violence, natural disasters). We often have little awareness of these, except in times of emergency & disorganization in social structure (war time, terrorist acts, domestic violence, natural disasters).

3. Belongingness & Love needs When safety & physiological needs are met, we desire, to be loved by others & to belong. When safety & physiological needs are met, we desire, to be loved by others & to belong. Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness & alienation. Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness & alienation. This involves both giving & receiving love, affection & the sense of belonging (family, friends, social groups). This involves both giving & receiving love, affection & the sense of belonging (family, friends, social groups).

4. Esteem Needs After the first 3 classes of needs are met, the needs for esteem can become dominant. After the first 3 classes of needs are met, the needs for esteem can become dominant. These involve needs for both self-esteem & for the esteem a person gets from others. These involve needs for both self-esteem & for the esteem a person gets from others. Humans have a need for a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, & respect from others. Humans have a need for a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, & respect from others. When these needs are satisfied, the person feels self- confident & valuable as a person in the world. When these needs are frustrated, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless & worthless. When these needs are satisfied, the person feels self- confident & valuable as a person in the world. When these needs are frustrated, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless & worthless.

5. Need for Self-Actualization When all of the foregoing needs are satisfied, then & only then are the needs for self-actualization activated. When all of the foregoing needs are satisfied, then & only then are the needs for self-actualization activated. Maslow describes self-actualization as a person's need to be & do that which the person was "born to do." "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, & a poet must write." Maslow describes self-actualization as a person's need to be & do that which the person was "born to do." "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, & a poet must write." These needs make themselves felt in signs of restlessness (person feels edgy, tense, lacking something, in short, restless. ) These needs make themselves felt in signs of restlessness (person feels edgy, tense, lacking something, in short, restless. ) The person must be true to his or her own nature, be what you are meant to be. The person must be true to his or her own nature, be what you are meant to be.

On Self-Actualization Maslow believed that very few people reach the state of self-actualization. Maslow believed that very few people reach the state of self-actualization. Although we all have the need to move toward the goal of reaching our full potential, other needs may get in the way. Although we all have the need to move toward the goal of reaching our full potential, other needs may get in the way.

IV. Misconceptions about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 1. Maslow himself agreed that his 5-level need hierarchy oversimplifies the relationship between needs & behavior. 1. Maslow himself agreed that his 5-level need hierarchy oversimplifies the relationship between needs & behavior. 2. The order of needs makes sense for most of us, though there may be some notable exceptions (e.g., some people need to satisfy their needs for self-esteem & respect before they can enter a love relationship). 2. The order of needs makes sense for most of us, though there may be some notable exceptions (e.g., some people need to satisfy their needs for self-esteem & respect before they can enter a love relationship). 3. We may so desire fulfilling a need that we sacrifice others below it (e.g., “The starving actor/artist”). 3. We may so desire fulfilling a need that we sacrifice others below it (e.g., “The starving actor/artist”).

V. The study of psychologically healthy people Maslow was interested in studying people who are psychologically healthy. Maslow was interested in studying people who are psychologically healthy. These were people who had become self-actualized. He interviewed these people to see how they were able to satisfy all of the needs on the hierarchy. These were people who had become self-actualized. He interviewed these people to see how they were able to satisfy all of the needs on the hierarchy. He conducted what he called a “holistic analysis” in which he sought general impressions from his efforts to understand these people in depth. He conducted what he called a “holistic analysis” in which he sought general impressions from his efforts to understand these people in depth.

What are Self-Actualized People Like? 1. They tend to accept themselves for what they are. They freely admit their weaknesses, but do make attempts to improve. 1. They tend to accept themselves for what they are. They freely admit their weaknesses, but do make attempts to improve. 2. They don’t worry excessively over the mistakes they have made, but instead focus on improving. 2. They don’t worry excessively over the mistakes they have made, but instead focus on improving. 3. They respect & feel good about themselves. However, this self love is healthy & not narcissistic. 3. They respect & feel good about themselves. However, this self love is healthy & not narcissistic. 4. They are less restricted by cultural norms than the average person. They feel free to express their desires, even if contrary to the popular view. 4. They are less restricted by cultural norms than the average person. They feel free to express their desires, even if contrary to the popular view.

5. These folks are creative 6. They are innovative & creative at solving problems. 6. They are innovative & creative at solving problems. 7. They have relatively few friends, but the friendships are deep & rewarding. 7. They have relatively few friends, but the friendships are deep & rewarding. 8. They have a great sense of humor, poking fun at the human condition. 8. They have a great sense of humor, poking fun at the human condition. 9. These people have frequent peak experiences, in which time & place are transcended, anxieties are lost, & a unity of self with the universe is obtained (birth of a child, marriage, deciding to go to school). 9. These people have frequent peak experiences, in which time & place are transcended, anxieties are lost, & a unity of self with the universe is obtained (birth of a child, marriage, deciding to go to school).