Take all the safety, love, etc. Maslow's quote refers to self-actualization, which is the highest level or stage in his model of human Motivation : the ' Hierarchy of Needs '. According to the Hierarchy of Needs , self-actualization represents the highest-order motivations, which drive us to realize our true potential and achieve our 'ideal self'.
Self-actualization needs are also referred to as our 'being' needs; these include personal and creative self-growth, which are achieved through the fulfilment of our full potential. Maslow studied 'exemplary' people, or individuals considered to have realized their full or near to their full potential in their particular area of expertise or focus.
Self-actualization is the final stage in the linear growth of an individual. Maslow believed that in order to achieve this state of personal fulfilment, the person must first satisfy the preceding needs i.
He contested that self-actualized individuals possess a number of characteristics that enable them to, first, satisfy the four initial categories of needs and, second, to contend with the dissonant relationship between free will i. Below is a list of the characteristics possessed by self-actualized individuals as outlined by Maslow :.
This layer of human Motivation represents the toughest nut to crack for designers. It would be fair to say no one product can provide us with an experience or series of experiences which allow us to achieve self-actualization.
However, they can facilitate the realization of our true potential. The better products are, the better we can be. Conversely, if the products we are using are inefficient or ineffective, we are obstructed in our efforts to improve and reach our pinnacle.
While 'a good workman never blames his tools', when performance on many tasks in the modern world depends on the objects we have at our disposal, the workmen and women of today would be forgiven for blaming their tools to a certain degree.
Therefore, your products may not satisfy all Human Needs or carry users to the peak of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but they can enable and support the process. As the conditions that impinge on or constrain products differ, we cannot isolate any qualities which guarantee the transition from disaffected user to self-actualized human being. However, a bottom-up approach, taking into consideration the factors, qualities, and characteristics that constrain all users e.
Products that allow us to connect, communicate, learn, and share knowledge have the capacity to improve and, unfortunately, negatively affect our lives. The sharing of knowledge is of particular importance; in order for us to reach our true potential, most pursuits require knowledge.
For example, if we want to learn a new language, we need resources that help us commit the rules and patterns of this new language to memory. Likewise, keep-fit fanatics may seek dietary information to help them develop a meal-plan so as to achieve their peak physical strength and ensure they maintain good health in the process.
The things we use and consume may satisfy the first four levels of needs in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but they will never provide us with the characteristics, outlined above, which help us identify the attainment of self-actualization — or being the best we can be.
For this reason, we as designers must focus on how we can support our users in their activities. Indeed, while we cannot produce any single Artifact with which a user can actually achieve self-actualization, we always have the chance to design in order to make it easier for our users to realize their potential. The insights we gather from considering the factors, qualities, and characteristics that restrict all users e. Maslow examined the lives of each of these people in order to assess the common qualities that led each to become self-actualized.
Some of such characteristics which distinguish self-actualized individuals from the rest of humanity are as follows Maslow, , Despite the popularity of self-actualization as a concept associated with positive psychology and motivation theories, it does not cease to draw criticism. The Canadian psychiatrist Eric Berne for instance, has called self-actualization the game of self-expression based on the belief that good feelings are to be pursued Berne, Additionally, critics have pointed out that self-actualizing tendencies can lead to a positive but non-relational approach to human beings Thorne, Vitz has contended that Maslow and Rogers have turned the psychological concept of self-actualization into a moral norm.
Finally, the possibility of self-actualization has also come to be seen as a special privilege reserved only for a select few. In response to these concerns, Maslow has acknowledged that expressions of unrestrained whims and the pursuit of private pleasures have often been mislabeled as self-actualization Daniels, Maslow too, shared the concern that the concept might be misunderstood.
In fact, when many people wrote to Maslow describing themselves as self-actualized persons, Maslow doubted whether he had sufficiently articulated his theory Steven, However, Maslow did not hold that only an elite few could attain the state of self-actualization. On the contrary, he pointed out that often people living in strikingly similar circumstances experience enormously different outcomes in life.
Ayesh Perera recently graduated from Harvard University, where he studied politics, ethics and religion. He is presently conducting research in neuroscience and peak performance as an intern for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, while also working on a book of his own on constitutional law and legal interpretation. Prera, A , Sept Simply Psychology. Berne, E. Penguin Life. Daniels, M. Shadow, self, spirit: essays in transpersonal psychology p. Imprint Academic. Psychology 6th Ed.
New York: Norton. Maslow, A. A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50 4 , Toward a psychology of being.
Princeton: D. Van Nostrand Company. Martela, F. Significant work is about self-realization and broader purpose: defining the key dimensions of meaningful work. Frontiers in psychology , 9, Take chances within reason and be open to trying new things. Thinking back to your younger years can help you tap into your inner spontaneity.
Maybe you used to roll down hills instead of walking along the footpath. Or you threw an impromptu picnic in the backyard, because why not? Your heart can be a great guide, so pay attention to any gut instincts you feel.
Your relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners play an important part in your life. How you spend this time may matter less than what you get from it. Self-actualized people typically feel calm and at peace on their own, so aim to reconnect with yourself until you look forward to your moments alone as much as or more than the time you spend with others. Take time to appreciate aspects of your day-to-day life that often go ignored in the busyness of living.
This phrase gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? Living authentically involves honoring your truth and avoiding things like dishonesty, manipulation, or denial of your needs. Instead of living according to what other people say or suggest you should do, you follow insight gained from personal experience and live according to the guidance of your heart.
You respect the rights and needs of others, of course, but you work to achieve your goals as only you can. Self-actualized people have deep feeling for other living creatures. Their compassion extends beyond their immediate social circle and those they know in their daily life to humanity and the world as a whole. If you struggle to understand and empathize with people who are very different than you, try learning more about people who have different life experiences through reading books or consuming other media produced by people from a different background.
Therapy can help you take steps toward any of your goals, and self-actualization is no exception. Wanting to develop compassion, spontaneity, and authenticity are totally acceptable reasons to seek therapy. In therapy, you can also learn more about self-actualization in general terms, since the concept can be a difficult one to grasp. Committing to the process of becoming self-actualized can feel overwhelming.
Plus, past challenges or present life circumstances can make things like growth, self-reflection, and authenticity more difficult.
Recognizing this need for continued growth is also — you guessed it — part of self-actualization. No two people are exactly alike, so everyone will probably have a slightly different path.
True self-actualization may be more of a long-term even lifetime goal than a quick road to self-improvement. That said, working to maximize your potential and become your best self is a great way to lead a more fulfilling life. Take each day as it comes and keep an open mind.
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