Professor and psychologist Abraham Maslow proposed the hierarchy of needs. Maslow ranks human needs on a pyramid. Self-actualization is the highest need after physiological, safety, social, and esteem.
Abraham Maslow introduced the hierarchy of needs in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation” and later in Motivation and Personality. With this hierarchical approach, he showed that people prioritise basic requirements over complicated ones.
Psychoanalysis and behaviourism focused on undesirable behaviours. Maslow, however, sought to know what made individuals happy and how they achieved it. Humanist Maslow believed humans had an inbuilt need to fulfil oneself.
He thought they needed to meet basic requirements like sleep, food, safety, love, belonging, and self-esteem before tackling this ultimate aim. Maslow thought these requirements were instinctual and drove human behaviour.
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The five levels, starting with physiological necessities, are briefly described below.
People need to feel liked and accepted to avoid loneliness, sadness, and anxiety. Religious groups, sports team supporter groups, book clubs, and personal ties with friends, family, and lovers are important to us.
This level requires respect and acknowledgement. After other wants are addressed, esteem motivates behaviour more.
Success, self-esteem, respecting others, being valued, etc.
One must feel respected and contributing to the world. Professional, intellectual, athletic, and personal accomplishments help address esteem needs.
People with high self-esteem are liked and confident in their abilities and personality. People with poor self-esteem and no respect may feel inferior.
Leaders who are self-aware, interested in personal development, don't stress about others' opinions, and try to realise their potential can achieve their urge for self-actualization. Maslow stated, "Whatever a person can be, he must be."
Virtue, creativity, self-knowledge, unprejudice, sincerity, uncovering and employing abilities and potentials, etc.
The person realistically sees himself, his abilities, and the environment. False self-image creates an unhealthy, uncomfortable, and dangerous link between inner self and outer world. However, self-actualized people are in harmony with themselves and their surroundings.
Self-actualized people look beyond themselves. To enhance the planet and people, they solve problems. They like that others care about and help others. Empathy and fairness motivate them to help and solve problems.
Because of their correct self-perception and worldview, these people tend to follow social standards and consider others' expectations and well-being. They communicate freely. However, their speech, behaviour, and interactions might be spontaneous and unusual.
They need solitude and freedom despite conforming to social norms and fixing problems for others. Self-care helps them assess their mental and physical abilities. They consider issues, recognise their strengths and weaknesses, and set aside time to decide what to do.
Peak experiences are when a person does things for truth, kindness, and beauty for themselves and others without expecting anything in return.
People who have met their physiological and psychological needs, balanced themselves, and harmonised with their surroundings have such experiences. These actions make self-actualized people feel that they're part of their world, unlike others.