Self Actualization

He has a heart and feelings. He is not cold and impersonal. When he looks at a situation he takes the person and/or event into account. It’s like not having a one size fits all mentality as in a lot of our laws and punishments today. (Novak, pg. 221)

According to Abraham Maslow, the needs of man begin with the primal – food, water, air, shelter, and move upwards, up and all the way to the elusive quality of self-actualization. To self-actualize is to become all or most of that which one imagines, or perhaps desires, himself to be. It is to realize the ego ideal which rests within, that abstract and fabled construct of an ideal you.

Funder (2007), states that personality is a combination of how people think, feel and behave, with the psychological mechanisms behind those patterns. Therefore, it can be defined as consistent behaviour patterns and processes which happen in the mind of the individual. These behaviour patterns suggest that there are individual differences and that personality is consistent. The combination of these areas, and confliction of these is what psychologist’s try to understand.

“No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are.”

A factor that causes important changes in a person’s life is when one experiences the self-realization

Personality and how we behave have been of much interest to psychologists for a long time now and because of this there have been many theories and theorists that have been developed. Personality is defined as consistent behavior patterns and intrapersonal processes originating within and individual (Fritzley, 2012, p. 10). There are six main approaches to personality psychology they include: biological approach, humanistic approach, behaviorist approach, trait approach, psychoanalytic approach and cognitive approach. Each approach shines a little light onto why we behave the way we do and how our personalities are formed, the approaches contain many different theories from

things that others do not see. He possesses a deeper wisdom of what is important and

-What he tries to do and how he responds to events and situations (create order, lead the others, get rescued) - how this helps him grow up learn responsibility (positive)

According to Psychologist Abraham Maslow in “Self-actualization and Beyond,” self-actualization is a process in which one identifies his inner ability to do something productive. Once this inner talent comes out, that’s when a person actualizes himself. He believes that every individual self-actualizes, and while doing so one might make many wrong choices. Sonny and his older brother are faced with several obstacles while being on a journey to self-actualization in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin. However, these obstacles not only come from their surroundings, but within themselves as well. The narrator himself and his younger brother, Sonny struggle with, and gradually develop their own

Self-actualization refers to the desire to achieve one’s greatest potential or as Maslow writes “what a man can be, he must be” (Maslow). Abraham Maslow, a researcher and a pioneer in the field of psychology, strongly believed that people can control their own behavior and have the abilities to reach their full potential. Maslow is perhaps best known for his “Hierarchy of Needs” that culminates in self-actualization. This hierarchy begins with so-called “basic needs” - psychological, safety, social, and esteem - and concludes with the “growth need”. Among other characteristics, Maslow describes self-actualized people as highly creative, independent, genuine individuals who are resistant to enculturation and accept themselves for who

Wolfgang Laib demonstrated his artistic potential through self-actualization. His use of natural materials and resources is very unique. He created art out of beeswax, various types of pollen and other natural unlikely products.

Maslow (1962) describes a peak experience as being some of the most exciting, fulfilling, and meaningful moments in an individual’s life. Multiple researchers have suggested that by using LSD as a tool for therapeutic benefit, there is an increased chance of triggering a peak or transcendental experience (Mogar, 1965; Savage, Terrill & Jackson, 1962). Such experiences are likely to contribute to reaching the fullest creative capacity while achieving feelings of insight and inspiration. His analysis further states that individuals who are refractory to peak experiences tend to be less acquainted with their internal psyche and incapable of understanding their creative potential. Maslow (1964) believed that everyone is capable of a peak experience,

When we do so, self actualisation will occur. Rogers likened this actualisation process to the growth of plants, having an innate tendency to grow from a seed to full potential when exposed to favourable conditions. Rogers believed that for a person to achieve self-actualisation they must be in a state of congruence, thus, self-actualisation occurs when a person’s ideal self is congruent with their actual behaviour and self-image. For the client to self actualise; key principals must be employed during the counselling process. Outlined as follows:

Express your devotion. Let go of yourself to experience the joy and love within your faith. Service is another way. Do something that will help people and will make you sacrifice time, energy and resources. Gathering with other like-minded people is also a way. You can spend this time to learn, worship, serve, or just be together. Rituals are another way of improving yourself spiritually. Though these are usually thought as an old-fashioned way of expressing belief that we often regret, these are still pathways to greater faith when practiced wisely. The fourth aspect of self development is the social aspect. Do you remember to say please and thank you? These simple words may not seem like a skill in and of themselves, but the ability and the consistent habit of remembering to say please and thank you indicates an understanding and acceptance that society requires a polite response. Here are some ways to develop you social skills. One way is to listen. It seems like this one is an underrated skill in social interaction. Forget about yourself. In a conversation, focus more on the outward things rather than on the inward things. Another way for improvement is to be interested to other people. By this, you’ll be a better listener since you want to know what’s on their mind. Another way is not to babble too much. This is somehow related to listening because when you babble too much there will be less time for listening. Lastly,

Self concepts begins in childhood but it continues to develop throughout life. As we observe how other people react to us, we modify our “self.” The “self” is never a finished project, and it continues to change as our life takes different turns. Our “self” reacts to the environment that we are in.