Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs |
What Traits does a self-Actualized person hold?
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The Personal Orientation Inventory Scale (POI), designed by Shostrom (1964), is a tool known to produce measures of self-actualization. The POI gives useful information that describes the character traits of a self-actualized individual. Based on the POI, the self-actualized person is known to have a sense of freedom from social pressures, time competence, synergy, balance between autonomy, and sensitivity. The self-actualized person can be adjectively described as active, hard-working, confident, warm, self-directing, mature, and moral. In turn the non self-actualized person is known to use time inefficiently, focus on past guilts or regrets, are more likely to conform to social pressures, and depend on others. The non self-actualized person can be adjectively described as anxious, critical, biased, self-conscious, egocentric, indecisive, and ambivalent.
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How age contributes to the attainment of Self-Actualization
A recent study examined age as an essential factor for the development of self-actualization (Ivtzan et al., 2013). Two hundred and forty participants ranging from the age 18-36 years were administered a personal orientation inventory scale (POI), which is known to analyzes the values and behaviors that are associated with self-actualization (e.g. time competence, inner oriented, self-acceptance). Older participants (i.e. 36 years and older) demonstrated having higher mean scores that were relevant to self-actualized values and behaviors compared to younger participants (i.e. 36 years and younger). For example older participants illustrated having a higher score in time competence, inner orientation, and self-acceptance, demonstrating their ability to be more focused on the present (e.g. “the here and now”) and more confident in their beliefs and values, as opposed to younger participants.
Although age is not the only factor related to self-actualization, these findings shed light on the idea that life experience influences the development of self-actualization. Young individuals are seen as oblivious to their self-identity and values, thus are not completely equipped for the development self-actualization. In turn, older individuals have a sense of maturity and self-identity, thus are more inclined to developing self-actualization. In addition, in reference to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the study points out that older individuals are likely to have a variety of these needs met and are reasonably able to attain self-actualization, as oppose to younger individuals who are still trying to satisfy their physiological needs (Ivtzan et al., 2013).
Although age is not the only factor related to self-actualization, these findings shed light on the idea that life experience influences the development of self-actualization. Young individuals are seen as oblivious to their self-identity and values, thus are not completely equipped for the development self-actualization. In turn, older individuals have a sense of maturity and self-identity, thus are more inclined to developing self-actualization. In addition, in reference to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the study points out that older individuals are likely to have a variety of these needs met and are reasonably able to attain self-actualization, as oppose to younger individuals who are still trying to satisfy their physiological needs (Ivtzan et al., 2013).
Maslow and Self-ActualizationFor additional information about Maslow's self-actualization please refer to the video below:
In this video Maslow discusses in great detail what characteristics self-actualized individuals hold. |
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