The concept of self-actualization of personality is also key for. The emergence and formulation of the basic principles of the theory of self-actualization is associated with the name of the American psychologist A.

from lat. real, real) is one of the conceptual concepts of humanistic psychology. According to A. Maslow, S. is the desire to become more than you are; it is a need for self-improvement, for realizing one's potential. This path is difficult, it is associated with the experience of fear of the unknown and responsibility, but it is also the path to a full, internally rich life. A person who has reached the level of S. is not burdened with envy, anger, cynicism, bad taste, he is not prone to depression and pessimism, egoism, etc. The concept of “self-actualization” was proposed by the psychotherapist K. Goldstein in the book “Organism. Holistic Approach (1939). The author believed that any organism, and especially the human one, strives to actualize those possibilities that are inherent in it by nature. Goldstein called the process of revealing these possibilities self-actualization, considering it as the main motive and goal of human life.

The concept of "S." in the center of the concept of one of the popular psychologists of the XX century - C. Rogers (1902-1987). For him, S. is a force that makes a person develop at various levels, determining both his mastery of motor skills and the highest creative ups. Man, Rogers believes, has an innate tendency to live, grow, develop. All needs are subject to this trend - they must be satisfied in order to develop positively. The child must know that he is loved, no matter what he does, then the need for a positive attitude and self-relationship will not be in conflict with the need for self-actualization. Rigidity, antisociality, immaturity are the result of fear and psychological protection. The task of a psychologist is to help a person discover his positive tendencies, which are present at deep levels in everyone, to awaken, support the desire for the fullest possible identification and development of his personal capabilities. V. Frankl believed that the realization of oneself as a life goal, in fact, is extremely egocentric. It is necessary to turn to other, semantic categories of being, and then self-actualization will be only a means of achieving special "semantic", "transpersonal" goals of being.

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There is a lot of controversy regarding this term. Even the inventor of the concept, Maslow, believed that only 1% of the world's population achieves self-actualization. And even these geniuses are not without problems. Analysis of the problem of cognition of the process of personal growth is more relevant than ever.

In this article, we will understand why people need self-actualization and methods to achieve it.

Self-actualization - what is it?

The process of achieving significant goals in professional and personal activities.

The fathers of the self-actualizing personality were A. Maslow and K. Rogers, the lion's share of whose work contained the aspect of humanization. Specialists were aimed at exalting the essence of man. At the same time, Maslow argued that one should explore the essence of man on the best "samples", and not be content with neurotic or average personalities.

This branch of psychology originated in the 20th century in the United States. It gave impetus to the belief that each individual can reveal himself fully, given certain conditions and the right to choose. There are active, passive, deep, superficial, as well as cautious and energetic self-actualization.

personality traits

Despite the need for favorable conditions, this is not always the key to success. Psychologist Lyudmila Petranovskaya believes that the process of self-development is inextricably linked with growing up. In her opinion, modern young people grow up much later - at about 21-23 years old. This is due to too good conditions and rising living standards.

There is a grading absence of the need to develop oneself. Improvement is not necessary - and so everything is fine.

But it was Maslow who put the desire for development at the forefront in the questionnaire of the University of Minnesota. According to the results of the questionnaire, characteristic signs of people who have embarked on the path of development are noticed. Each self-actualizing personality:

  • He knows what he loves and does what he loves.
  • It is difficult to give in to third-party persuasion and influence.
  • Has a desire for development.
  • He considers books to be the best source of knowledge.
  • Shows creativity.
  • Has a positive mindset.
  • She has confidence.
  • Her work brings joy and benefit.
  • Emotionally open.

Maslow's self-actualization

In addition to the questionnaires, the American psychologist set up experiments. During one of them, the famous pyramid of needs was born:

  1. Physiological (food, sleep).
  2. Security.
  3. Love and belonging (not only family, but also professional environment, friends).
  4. Respect and recognition (including self-respect).
  5. Spiritual (self-realization).

According to the results of Maslow's work, there are eight principles of self-actualization. All of them come down to the concepts of honesty to yourself and the world, inner harmony and being in the present moment.

To reach the highest rung of the pyramid, one must first satisfy all previous needs.

This approach was repeatedly criticized and subsequently refuted by the examples of Mozart, Dostoyevsky and other geniuses. He also initially called for abandoning illusions on the path of self-actualization - one should strive to perceive everything and everyone as they are.

development man

Understanding the traits of a self-actualizing person gives a picture of what a person becomes. However, the need for development must come from within. Otherwise, coercion leads to a blow to the extreme: man. Because of the impossibility of achieving the ideal, he criticizes himself and others, anger arises in him, and frequent breakdowns are possible.

In the presence of a natural impulse, the problem goes away.

You must immediately ask yourself what this stage of life and these efforts are for.

When the answer makes one look forward to future work and joyfully enlivens the imagination, the understanding comes that the first step on the path of self-actualization has already been taken.

What prevents you from achieving maximum growth

Self-realization is the path of the spirit. And there are obstacles on every path. On the way to the top can happen:

    Laziness

    Even when a person goes about his business, he still has to overcome himself, and this does not suit everyone. The problem of short motivation also applies here.

    Fear

    Failure is inevitable. With each of them, the old complexes will press with all their might and inspire fear.

    Third Party Tips

    Often even close people dissuade from the victims on the path of self-realization. "Who needs it?" they say. Moreover, no one is insured that his dream will be beneficial to others, then you need to be able to stand up for yourself.

    Low self-esteem

How to develop self-actualization

Marketer Alexander Higham claims that only 2% of employees remain motivated to further development after 40 years. This leads to the conclusion that the desire itself has a limit. But it's not.

Over the years, a person loses the flexibility of consciousness, it is harder for him to rebuild and learn new things. And this is necessary on the path of self-development.

The concept of self-actualization has firmly entered our daily life. More and more people are seriously thinking about how to fully realize their potential. Modern psychological science has proved that the real ones are inexhaustible and limitless.

In other words, we often do not suspect what kind of inner power is hidden behind our physical shell, what a significant spiritual principle requires self-expression. Some call this beginning the soul, others speak of the need for self-actualization. One way or another, but the expression of one's true essence is necessary for each person in order to remain in harmony with himself and the world around him.

Theory of self-actualization

The first to introduce this concept was K. Goldstein. The scientist formulated the term "self-actualization". This is a special mood of consciousness, when the needs for creative realization, the disclosure of one's abilities, the release of opportunities come to the fore. A person who has felt the need for self-actualization will do everything to achieve his goal, including overcoming obstacles that arise, not being afraid of disappointment, leaving behind doubts and anxieties.

Abraham Maslow

Students of psychological faculties from the first year are familiar with the famous Abraham Maslow. Among other significant values ​​of the individual, self-actualization is a separate step for him. Maslow talked about fulfilling your destiny. What does it mean? This means having the opportunity to open up to oneself and in public life to the maximum, to prove oneself in some business that is of significant interest to the individual.

Abraham Maslow emphasizes that the self-actualization of a person depends only on himself, and it cannot be shifted to the responsibility of another. Each of us has his own mission, his own work, talent that we must realize in this world. That is why we come into this world. Such a significant matter reveals in a person his true essence and the individual essence of the term "self-actualization". Maslow talks about it.

Self-actualization during adolescence

Adolescence is quite difficult in its essence, one cannot but agree with this. It is at this time that the values ​​and foundations of ideas about the world are laid in a new way, from the position of understanding oneself and others, a worldview is formed, and self-actualization develops. That is why many young people at fifteen or seventeen show excessive perseverance, intolerance, even aggressiveness. It is often said about young people of this period that they mean that their need for self-expression is closely related to their idea of ​​themselves and how this world works. For example, if a young man has the talent of an artist, then he will begin to realize it at this age exactly as much as he believes in his own luck. If his peers do not understand him, they laugh at his occupation, drawings, then there is a high probability that he does not have the courage for successful self-realization in this period of development. At the age of fifteen or seventeen, the influence of peers on self-perception is still great, and their opinion can be decisive.

Self-actualization in young people

We are talking about adults who have not only reached the age of majority, but also received a profession or study at universities. This period of development is characterized by the desire for independence, the assertion of one's ideals, the implementation of bold ideas and preferences.

The need for self-actualization is very high. For example, if at this time a young man begins his career, he wants to achieve some success, climb higher up the career ladder. This time is most favorable for self-realization, since healthy ambitions will spur decisive action and lead to new achievements. In youth, self-actualization is not just a need, but a significant component

Self-actualization in a mature person

Sometimes it happens that a completely adult, accomplished person may feel a little out of place - out of place in the activity he is engaged in, experience difficulties in his personal life when building relationships. Self-actualization of a person at this age largely depends on how much the person herself allows herself to do what she likes. Most often, reaching maturity, many people "calm down" and often stop there. If this is a high position, then they do not strive to learn new things, they cease to engage in self-education. If a person has not reached true self-realization before this time, then it becomes painful for him to think about it, and, most likely, he will prefer to close this topic for himself, choosing to dive into a habit, because it is safer and more comfortable that way. So such a person is bored at work, not learning new things, not acquiring additional skills.

At the same time, it is this period of development that can be an excellent launching pad and lead a person to certain achievements if a person wants to change his life and makes significant efforts to do so. Self-actualization of the individual here is the last "warning bell", a signal leading to change.

Happy to be who you are

Perhaps someone will say that they cannot afford to fully fulfill themselves in life. In this case, for such people, self-actualization is an unattainable peak, which they do not have the courage to climb. It takes a certain amount of courage to constantly move in the direction you want. After all, in case of failure, you will definitely have to answer to yourself. And others may also "show a finger": they say, he did not succeed, look, you have a complete loser in front of you. It is of little consolation to laugh at a person who has failed, usually those who have never made any attempt at self-realization. A person who himself went through similar difficulties will at least seek to help with advice, and at best support, help.

Despite all the difficulties that any person who sets out on a "free swimming" inevitably faces, the movement towards self-actualization is worth it. You will ultimately be rewarded for all the hardships and hardships you have endured so far. For there is no greater happiness in the world than to know that you are fulfilling your destiny and living not in vain.

The feeling of victory and the joy of the winner

Only those who achieve a high level in their work experience a tremendous sense of satisfaction and peace. Such a person knows exactly why he lives, and his own existence will never seem meaningless to him, as long as there is an inner core on which everything rests. The need for self-actualization is inherent in every personality. But not every person is able to achieve a state that makes possible everything that he dreams of.

full bowl

When you reach a certain peak in business or any other business that requires the expenditure of internal resources, you not only feel like a winner, but become more confident in yourself, you can make bold plans, dreams for the next achievements.

It feels like you are holding the whole world in your hands, which understands and accepts you. Personal victories allow a person to feel significant, necessary, necessary.

Creative self-realization

One can only imagine how great a spiritual uplift people of creative professions experience when creating their works: writers, poets, musicians, artists. For them, self-actualization is the meaning of life, the air they breathe. Take away this opportunity from them - they will go crazy. In fact, self-actualization is always associated with creativity, no matter what a person does, because he has to model a new reality, independently choose for himself guidelines, values, tools that will guide him in the future.

Thus, the concept of self-actualization necessarily includes the desire for self-realization and the need of the individual for self-expression. It is certainly easier for ambitious and talented people to determine the field of activity for themselves. But even if you are far from Shakespeare, you should not forget about your individuality, that it can be manifested if you wish.

In psychology, the term "Self-actualization" means the full discovery and disclosure by a person of his own, the realization of his skills and talents in all spheres of life, the use of all existing inclinations, inclinations.

Thus, we can say that this mechanism manifests itself in the form of a desire for any identification and external expression by the individual of his capabilities. It should be noted that the possibility of self-actualization largely depends on the conditions of the external environment, social conditions and other factors, but at the same time, it can in no way be imposed or transformed from outside.
It is also noteworthy that this aspiration does not have any external goal in front of it and is determined by the purely internal positive nature of man. Self-actualization often lies at the heart of humanistic areas of psychology, being seen as a complex of individual freedom, the desire for the development of the individual, the realization of all the potentials and desires of a person.

Personal self-actualization

It should be noted that such specialists as K. Rogers and A. Maslow were more interested in the problem of self-actualization. Thus, the very essence of this concept comes from the classical directions of humanistic psychology. Moreover, the formation of the term is directly related to the formation of humanistic psychotherapy in the middle of the 0th century, when it took one of the leading places on a par with psychoanalysis, which was already popular at that time.

Taking the sami as a basis, the current is seen as a direction based on the belief that each individual has the ability for absolute disclosure, if he is given the freedom and necessary conditions for this. In doing so, the subject will be able to fully determine and direct his own destiny.

Some experts, in particular A. Maslow himself, believed that it is precisely such mechanisms as self-realization and self-actualization of a person that are absolutely leading human needs, capable of replacing even food and sleep.
Also, experts identified a number of qualities, some common features of the character traits of individuals who are very successful in self-actualization or have already reached great heights in it:

Such people often do what they love throughout their lives.
They are not subject to outside influence and are in complete control of their lives.
The individual strives for continuous improvement and development. Likes to get new information through reading.
Usually these are expressed creative personalities. They also tend to have a positive mindset.
Emotionally open. Much faster and easier to forgive themselves for any breakdowns or sensitive incontinence.

To summarize, we can say with confidence that such an approach is the "golden key" to a happy life, because such people are in complete harmony with themselves.

Maslow's self-actualization

A. Maslow became known as the founder of the current of humanistic psychology. Unlike his contemporaries, colleagues and specialists, he strove to study the psychological norm. That is, he paid much more attention to healthy individuals, creatively developed, and also, later, to those who reached certain heights within the framework of self-actualization.
Maslow's self-actualization, or rather his theory of this psychological process, is based on the inner experience of the individual. From the point of view of a specialist, this was an absolute experience, liberated, lively and pure, that is, not burdened with "teenage shyness."

Maslow also offered his list of characteristic features that he singled out as leading for a person striving for self-actualization:

Such a person has a more accurate and effective perception of the surrounding reality and is able to contact it more adequately.
Absolute acceptance of yourself and your personality, environment, other people.
Such people are somewhat spontaneous, they are open, they never cheat, while they always clearly know their goal and move towards it.
They are autonomous. They are independent of the surrounding society and any cultural conventions. At the same time, they often need a certain solitude, isolation.
They are capable of deeper and stronger interpersonal relationships. They are also able to separate the end from the means and to separate the concepts of “good” and “evil”.
Quite often they feel a sense of union with those around them, rarely are impartial.
As a rule, these are creative people.

Maslow's main assumption regarding self-actualization was that in order to achieve the set goals and avoid disappointment in human nature, the individual must first of all give up the illusions imposed on him about it. That is, such people initially perceive themselves and others as they really are.

The need for self-actualization

In humanistic psychology, the need for self-actualization is considered as the main internal manifestation of the individual to the desire for development.
For example, K. Rogers in his concept assumed that self-actualization is based on a quality or even a whole phenomenon inherent in any living being, which literally pushes it to move forward. That is, this theory is based on the assumption of the existence of a certain innate quality, which, according to K. Rogers, always exists and is only waiting for certain positive conditions in order to manifest itself.
At the same time, if we consider the theory of A. Maslow, the main motivating force for the development of a person can be a strong feeling of experiencing an individual, aimed at his inner self-consciousness and personal experience. Also, this nature suggests that self-actualization is also reflected in the mechanisms of hedonism, that is, enjoyment of the highest blessings, finding its reflection in the feeling of absolute satisfaction with life, inner harmony, enlightenment.

Development of self-actualization

Today, in the modern world, the development of self-actualization is not only a topical issue, but also very problematic. The rapid pace of life, the development of technology, the constant new conditions that our century dictates - all this sets before each person the task of adapting to these conditions.
Very often, self-actualization is perceived as a psychological neoplasm, a kind of complex. Which is very strongly associated with the achievement of maximum peaks, opportunities and skills in all areas of life relevant to the individual.

Success in this direction sets the further pace of development of the subject. The process of actualization of oneself ensures the preservation of the integrity of the inner world, its balance. At the same time, the harmony of the psychological organization of the personality largely determines the individual's motivation for further actions and self-development as a unique personality.

Self-actualization has always remained and remains a pressing issue for any person - it has a great positive impact on positive experience and foundation in the external world and manifestations of a person, which steadily leads to his internal positive experience and self-esteem growth.

Self-actualization

(from lat. actualis - real, real) - a person's desire for the fullest possible identification and development of his personal capabilities. In some areas of modern Western psychology, S. is put forward (as opposed to behaviorism and Freudianism, who believe that biological forces drive the behavior of the individual, and it consists in discharging the tension they create and adapting to the environment) to the role of the main motivational factor (see). Genuine S. presupposes the existence of favorable sociohistorical conditions.


Brief psychological dictionary. - Rostov-on-Don: PHOENIX. L.A. Karpenko, A.V. Petrovsky, M. G. Yaroshevsky. 1998 .

Self-actualization

A person's desire for the fullest possible identification and development of his personal capabilities.

According to A. Maslow, self-actualization is the desire to become everything that is possible; the need for self-improvement, in realizing one's potential. Her path is difficult and associated with the experience of fear of the unknown and responsibility, but it is the path to a full, internally rich life ( cm. ).

According to K. Rogers, it is a designation of the force that makes a person develop at various levels - from mastering motor skills to higher creative ups. The self-actualizing person is a "fully functioning personality"; its properties are in many ways reminiscent of the properties of a child, which is natural: after all, a person, as it were, returns to an independent assessment of the world, characteristic of a child before his reorientation to the conditions for obtaining approval ( cm. ).


Dictionary of practical psychologist. - M.: AST, Harvest. S. Yu. Golovin. 1998 .

SELF-ACTUALIZATION

cm. Maslow A.X.


Big psychological dictionary. - M.: Prime-EVROZNAK. Ed. B.G. Meshcheryakova, acad. V.P. Zinchenko. 2003 .

Self-actualization

   SELF-ACTUALIZATION (with. 518)

Nowadays, psychological terminology is widely introduced into everyday vocabulary. Even a not very erudite layman talks about stress instead of anxiety, calls a bad mood depression, and is in a hurry to express the extreme degree of discouragement with the clinical formula: “I'm in shock!” At the same time, he does not even realize how inadequately he uses special terms.

Alas, something similar can be observed with regret even among professionals. This is partly due to the ambiguity of some psychological concepts, the lack of clear definitions and interpretations. Often different specialists cannot come to an understanding, because different meanings are put into the same words.

Especially in this respect, "lucky" popular terms that have come into vogue along with the relevant theories. So, according to many, one can “suffer” from the Oedipus complex, forgetting is explained mainly by repression, and in general, psychoanalysis is understood as almost any analysis of behavior, someone else’s and one’s own (as a result, “psychoanalysts” have become more than plumbers in a few years).

In recent years, one of these fashionable (both in the professional community and beyond) catchphrases has become one of the central concepts of humanistic psychology - self-actualization. Psychological dictionaries interpret this term very vaguely (which, by the way, is generally characteristic of the terms of humanistic psychology). And individual interpretations, even among professionals, are ambiguous. One of them, quite popular, implies that self-actualization means simply becoming oneself. To do this, of course, you need to understand who you really are, to get rid of prejudices, illusions and complexes. Then it remains only to say: “Here I am! Accept me for who I am. If you don't like it, it's not my fault." As a result, any irresponsible Narcissist with bad manners begins to consider himself a self-actualizing personality, who not only does not seek to overcome his obvious shortcomings, but also begins to be proud of them, since he allegedly received a scientific justification for this. The author of a collection of psychotherapeutic anecdotes is ironic about this: “At the next session, start scratching, burping and spitting on the floor. A real humanist psychologist will take these spontaneous manifestations as clear evidence of your personal growth.

Of course, a true psychologist of a humanistic orientation will perceive the painted picture as a parody, in which the exaggeration of some aspects and the underestimation of others have led to a gross distortion of the very idea of ​​self-actualization. Therefore, in order not to fall into such caricature dilettantism, it is necessary to understand what the essence of this idea is.

D.A.Leontiev, who can rightfully be attributed to the representatives of the humanistic direction of domestic psychology, defines this concept in this way: “Self-actualization is the process of deployment and maturation of the inclinations, potentialities, and capabilities that were originally embedded in the body and personality.” And then he quotes A. Maslow, who owns the most detailed and popular theory of self-actualization: “Different authors call it differently: self-actualization, self-realization, productivity, but they all agree that all these are synonymous with the realization of the individual’s potential, the formation of a person in the full sense of the word, becoming what he can become.

But here a serious question arises: if a certain person has base inclinations, vicious and even criminal inclinations, then what, God forbid, will his self-actualization be sewn into?! Here we are faced with the fundamental moment of the humanistic theory, according to which nothing vicious and vile in a person is initially laid down, and therefore cannot be developed in a natural way. On the contrary, human nature is initially positive (in some interpretations, at least neutral), and any destructive tendencies arise as a result of deformations of natural development. Responsibility for such deformations is borne by society, which, by artificial conventions and restrictions, and even by direct repression, suppresses and distorts the true manifestations of human nature ... This is the fundamental difference between humanistic theory and psychoanalysis. According to Freud, if people are given complete freedom, they will begin to rape each other, and only social restrictions hold back destructive human nature.

The problem is that none of the opposing points of view can be substantiated by scientific methods. It is not surprising that reproaches against diametrically different approaches are similar in many respects: both Freudian and humanistic doctrines are declared unscientific by many researchers. Since their postulates cannot be investigated and proven, they can only be an object of faith, and this is already a different spiritual sphere, by no means science. Here one involuntarily recalls the reproach expressed once against the theory of Leopold Szondi: "This is not science, this is ideology." To which the scientist objected: “Woe to science that does not strive to become an ideology!” Without going into a hopeless discussion on this issue, I just want to add: grief for an ideology that pretends to be science.

True, there is also a behaviorist approach that completely denies innate inclinations: all personal formations are regarded as brought in from outside. Accordingly, education is reduced to encouraging positive reactions and suppressing negative ones. And yet no doctrine has taken shape in a related approach that would recognize the presence of multidirectional tendencies in a person: a person by nature is neither an angel nor an animal, he initially carries both in himself, and depending on what will be suppressed, and what - to be encouraged, and the corresponding tendency will prevail. Perhaps the future of psychological thought will be sharpened in the design of such an approach? Time will tell. What is clear is that if this approach prevails, the very concept of self-actualization will go out of fashion. But this is still a long way off. Although humanistic psychology as a "third force" in world psychological science has really come to naught, its ideological pathos continues to color the ideas of many modern psychologists, and the fruits of its practical application (in particular, free education, political correctness, etc.) are still not enough. to completely discredit her.

The idea of ​​self-actualization itself was expressed long before the formation of humanistic psychology into a real "third force". Its origins can be found in the work of Adler, Jung, Horney and even Marx. The idea of ​​realizing the potential inherent in a person is also heard by S.L. Rubinstein. For the first time, the idea of ​​self-actualization was conceptualized in the works of Kurt Goldstein (his name is little known to us, although he is considered the ideological forerunner of several scientific schools at once, in particular Gestalt psychology). Goldstein opposed, on the one hand, the principle of homeostasis, the reduction of stress as the main driving force of behavior, which dominated his contemporary biology and psychology, and, on the other hand, against the element of the Christian approach to a holistic living organism (this principle of integrity was picked up by the Gestaltists). The body, according to Goldstein, is driven by the tendency to actualize as fully as possible the possibilities, abilities, its “nature” inherent in it. Goldstein opposed the idea of ​​self-actualization as the only need of a living organism to the postulation of many private "so-called needs". He linked the implementation of the tendency to actualization inherent in the individual with the inevitable conflict with the forces of the external environment. A normal and healthy organism, being actualized, overcomes the obstacles generated by the collision with the world. Later, Goldstein shifted the emphasis from biological actualization to the essential realization of man. The impossibility of self-realization appears both as a cause and as the main consequence of mental illness.

Much in common with the ideas of Goldstein is contained in the concept of "the desire for actualization" by Carl Rogers. Under the desire for actualization, Rogers understands the orientation inherent in all living organisms - "the desire for growth, development, maturation, the tendency to manifest and activate all the abilities of the organism to the extent that this activation contributes to the development of the organism or personality (self)".

For Abraham Maslow, the idea of ​​self-actualization was the cornerstone of not only the theory of personality, but also the whole philosophical and worldview system. Maslow's theory began with an empirical generalization and identification of a special type of people - self-actualizing personalities, who, according to him, make up only about 1% of the population and represent an example of psychologically healthy and maximally expressing the human essence of people. (True, having set himself the task of giving specific examples, Maslow could not count more than four dozen persons who more or less met his criteria.) Maslow, however, recognized the desire for self-actualization in most (and possibly all) people, more than In addition, most people have the ability to self-actualize, at least in principle. The unfortunate reality is partly due to the fact that many people do not realize their potential and do not understand the benefits of self-improvement. In addition, the social and cultural environment often suppresses the tendency to actualize certain norms in relation to some part of the population (an example is cultural, and in essence artificial stereotypes of masculinity and femininity). Based on this, the actualization of higher potentials in the general mass is possible only under “good conditions”. Or, more than that, people need an "enabling" society in which to develop their human potential to the fullest. According to Maslow, no society in the history of mankind has provided the maximum opportunity for self-actualization of all its members. Accordingly, global cultural and political transformations are needed, and this, to be honest, already strongly resembles another social utopia.

Criticism of the concept and theory of self-actualization, especially in its most developed form - in Maslow's theory, was constant and plentiful. The main criticisms are as follows: 1) Maslow's study of self-actualizing personalities does not meet the criteria of scientific validity; 2) the criteria for choosing these people are subjective and related to the value system of the author himself; 3) self-actualization in the understanding of Maslow is not the only mechanism for the development and self-fulfillment of the individual, which is found, in particular, in comparative cultural studies; 4) the concept of self-actualization, in accordance with the criteria identified by Maslow, draws an image of an egocentric personality, not taking into account the moments of social interactions; 5) self-actualization cannot act as the ultimate goal of development, it is achieved as a by-product of a conscious orientation to something else; 6) not all the potentials inherent in a person from birth can and should be realized, development involves a choice of which potentials to realize and which not; 7) the concept of self-actualization does not allow explaining conflicts and crises in individual development... However, this long list can be continued for a long time. Let's just be aware that, while singing self-actualization, we stand in solidarity with a concept that is by no means unambiguous and indisputable - not so much psychological as worldview. Although there is no doubt that a positive worldview is better than a negative one.


Popular psychological encyclopedia. - M.: Eksmo. S.S. Stepanov. 2005 .

Self-actualization

The term has two main meanings. First, it can be used in the context of motivation, i.e., as a motive for the most complete realization of personal capabilities. Secondly, it is the final stage of development according to Abraham Maslow's personality theory. When a person satisfies all basic needs (physiological, safety needs, etc.), he can rise to a higher level of awareness. At this level, he stands above the problems of the world around him, and does not fight them. People who have achieved self-actualization accept themselves along with their shortcomings and limitations and feel the need for creativity in all aspects of their lives.


Psychology. AND I. Dictionary-reference book / Per. from English. K. S. Tkachenko. - M.: FAIR-PRESS. Mike Cordwell. 2000 .

Synonyms:

See what "self-actualization" is in other dictionaries:

    self-actualization- self-actualization... Spelling Dictionary

    Self-actualization- (from Latin actualis real, real) a person's desire for the fullest possible identification and development of his personal capabilities. In some areas of modern Western psychology, self-actualization is put forward ... ... Wikipedia

    self-actualization- noun, number of synonyms: 2 updating (2) re-adaptation (1) ASIS Synonym Dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

    Self-actualization- the process of development by a person of his potential abilities. * * * (self actualization) - 1. a term originally introduced by the author of the organismic theory K. Goldstein to denote the leading motive for a person to realize and realize everything ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology and Pedagogy

    Self-actualization- the process of a person's realization of his potential in various forms of activity and behavior. It includes the desire of the individual for self-improvement, and the development of abilities and inclinations, and the process of using already ... ... Fundamentals of spiritual culture (encyclopedic dictionary of a teacher)