Question

Describe the theory of personality put forward by Abraham Maslow.

Answer 1

1. According to Maslow, the fundamental quality of personality is that individuals are essentially decent and deserving of respect.
2. He believed that if the proper circumstances were there, people would progress toward realising their potential.
3. Maslow asserts that human needs are arranged in a hierarchy, with self-actualising wants at the top and physiological requirements at the bottom.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs:

1. Basic physiological wants like hunger and thirst are at the bottom of the need hierarchy.
2. It then advances to requirements for safety and security like clothing and housing.
3. The need for affection and belonging, including acceptance from friends, family, and the community, is the third stage. Another name for this is social needs.
4. These three needs are referred to as lower-order or deficient needs. According to Maslow, before humans can aspire for the next higher-order or more complex requirements, lower-order needs must be met.
5. Esteem needs, which include the need for status, prestige, and self-respect, make up the fourth stage of needs.
6. Self- realisation is the last step, when a person has realised their full potential and is satisfied with lower-order wants. Rarely is this reached.
7. The needs for self-actualization and self-esteem are referred to as growth needs.

Characteristics of Self-actualised people:

Maslow characterises self-actualised people. They are as follows:

1. More efficient perception of reality: They see reality as it is, not as they want it to be. They offer a more objective perspective.
2. Acceptance: They show respect for themselves and others, accepting nature as it is without seeking perfection.
3. Spontaneity, simplicity and naturalness: They display genuine behaviour. Therefore, their behaviour is spontaneous and simple.
4. Problem-centred: Self-actualised individuals are task-oriented. They are ego-oriented and view a problem as a life mission.
5. Detachment: They can be alone and not feel lonely. They enjoy seclusion and privacy.
6. Autonomy: People that are self-sufficient rely on their own abilities for growth and development. They value 'free will' and consider themselves responsible, active, and self-disciplined.
7. Continued appreciation of freshness: They demonstrate the ability to value even the most routine events in their lives.
8. Peak or mystic experiences: Maslow noted that "oceanic feelings" or peak experiences are typical for self-actualised individuals. This includes both times of great excitement and times of calm and rest. The individual has a sudden realisation and feels at one with the universe.
9. Social interest: Self-actualised individuals feel a strong sense of connection to humanity. Feeling sympathy and affection for all people.
10. Interpersonal relations: They tend to have more intimate personal relationships. Their group of close pals is narrow.

Criticism

1. The humanistic concept of 'free will' has some validity. However, the concept undermines the influence of other influences on behaviour.
2. Many concepts and issues, such as self-awareness and peak experiences, remain incompletely explained. Hence, these notions remain confused.