Self- actualization Theory

By Abraham Maslow

Abraham Maslow’s theory of self-actualization

contends that individuals are motivated to fulfill their
potential in life. Self- actualization is typically
discussed in conjunction with Maslow’s hierarchy of
needs, which posits that self-actualization sits at the top
of a hierarchy above four lower needs. Maslow
believed that people are motivated to search for
personal goals which make their lives meaningful and rewarding. He had judged
psychoanalysis and behaviorism for having a pessimistic, negative, and limited
conception of individuals. In Maslow’s belief, things could be better if people were free
to express and be themselves.
Maslow suggested a view of human motivation that distinguishes between
biological and psychological needs. These needs were arranged in a hierarchy from basic
physiological needs to important psychological needs.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs consisted of five levels of basic human needs further
supporting that all human needs are innate, or instinctive. Additionally, in this hierarchy,
people must satisfy lower-level needs before they can satisfy higher- level needs.

The Hierarchy of Needs

The hierarchy represents five needs arranged from
lowest to highest, as follows:
1. Physiological needs: these are biological
requirements for human survival such as air,
food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, and
sleep.
2. Safety Needs: these are the safety needs, and
include security, safe circumstances to live, in
self-protection and so on.
3. Love and Belongingness Needs: the needs of
affiliation and acceptance
4. Esteem Needs: the need to feel both (a) self- esteem based on one’s achievements
and abilities and (b) the desire for reputation or respect from others
5. Self- actualization Needs: this level as the desire to accomplish everything that
one can, to become the most that can be.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be separated into two types of needs:
1. Deficiency Needs: Physiological, security, social and esteem needs are deficiency
needs, which arise due to deprivation. Satisfying these lower level needs is
important to avoid unpleasant feelings or consequences.
2. Growth Needs: Maslow called the needs at the top of the pyramid growth needs.
These needs don’t stem from a lack of something, but rather from a desire to grow
a person.
In short, once motivation increases the growth needs are met, on the contrary, as
motivation decreases the deficiency needs are met. In general, a person’s motivation lies
in the level of the hierarchy that they are currently pursuing.
Example situation I have experience was that the pandemic reminded me that
physiological needs take precedence over everything else because Maslow’s hierarchy of
needs states that basic needs have to be fulfilled like food, shelter and safety before other
needs. At that moment, staying alive was our number one priority.