Psychological features of personality self-actualization

From a psychological point of view, self-actualization is considered as a comprehensive disclosure of a person’s potential, the activation of all his capabilities and talents aimed at achieving success. In such conditions, a person begins to perceive himself as a full-fledged and harmonious person. That is why it is so important throughout life to strive to realize oneself in all directions. In this article we will look in detail at what self-actualization is, what principles underlie it and how to achieve it.

Maslow's self-actualization theory

Why don't all people reach the level of self-actualization? It's all about the pyramid of needs that Maslow defined. The transition to a new level is impossible without satisfying the needs of the previous level. Let's briefly consider Maslow's theory of self-actualization.

Levels of the pyramid of needs:

1. Life "here and now". Not every person understands what is happening around him and inside him. You need to learn to live and understand every minute.
2. Always choose growth, that is, experience and learning something new. This is closely related to the fear of the unknown.
3. To live, not to exist. A person should do what he likes and not do what he doesn’t like. You cannot sacrifice your interests for the sake of other people.
4. Be honest with yourself and others, be able to bear responsibility.
5. Trust yourself, your impulses and feelings, and not what is supposedly accepted in society.
6. Constantly develop your abilities, turn them into talents.
7. Rebirth. The peak of experiences in which a person changes his attitude towards himself and other people.
8. Identification and elimination of subconscious defense mechanisms (projection, repression, rationalization, etc.), development of conscious behavior.

Important! According to A. Maslow's theory of self-actualization, only the person who has reached the highest level is considered a harmonious, healthy, mature person.

Ways of self-actualization

Abraham Maslow identifies the following paths leading to personal self-actualization:

• Complete immersion in the current moment, experiencing it. Self-actualization requires awareness.
• Self-actualization is a choice. This is not something that happens on its own. To become what you have the potential to become, you need to make a decision. Accept it.
• Listen to yourself. What exactly do you want from life? Who are you in reality, and not in the minds of others? Learn to hear yourself and sometimes ignore what others say.
• Be able to accept responsibility. At least for yourself and your development. According to Maslow, every act of accepting responsibility is a step towards self-actualization.
• Become independent. Know how to defend your ideas and beliefs, know how to act without outside influence.
• Strive not only for the result of self-actualization, but also for the process itself. Get real pleasure from realizing your potential.
• Learn to identify your psychopathologies: neuroses, complexes, destructive psychological defenses, etc.

And, of course, pay attention to meeting the basic needs outlined in Maslow’s pyramid. If you have nothing to eat, you are unlikely to think about your self-actualization.

It will be helpful to set goals. What do you want to become? What opportunities are dormant and waiting to be realized? Answer these questions so you know what to strive for.

It also makes sense to divide your life into areas: career, family, creativity, etc. – what is really important to you, and determine what you want to achieve in each of these areas. You might even make a list of what you need to achieve in each area to consider yourself self-actualized. This is a slightly formal approach, but it is much more effective than going towards self-realization without any guidelines.

The main thing to remember is that self-actualization is an individual thing. You must achieve exactly your goals and realize exactly your capabilities. Don’t chase social ideals, but understand what exactly you want and achieve it.

We wish you success!

We also recommend reading:

• Storytelling
• How to create your own personality chart
• Self-development
• Mature personality
• Spiral dynamics model
• 6 Skills to Develop Emotional Intelligence
• Abraham Maslow "Motivation and Personality" - summary
• 3 Eco-Friendly Ways to Get What You Need from Someone
• Self-transcendence
• Using Maslow's pyramid for self-actualization
• Humanistic theories of personality: what to take from history to modern times

Key words:1Self-knowledge

How the new Maslow's pyramid test is designed

First, Kaufman conducted an online survey using 17 qualities that Maslow believed self-actualized people had. He concluded that seven of them were irrelevant and did not correlate with the others, and reduced the number of core qualities to 10.

He then adjusted some of the original descriptions and created a modern questionnaire of 30 statements - three for each of the 10 remaining traits:

• continued freshness of perception;
• Adoption;
• naturalness;
• self-control;
• determination;
• effective perception of reality;
• philanthropy;
• peak experiences;
• moral intuition;
• creativity.

Personal needs according to Maslow

Pyramid of needs
The human need for self-actualization, according to the scientist, includes certain needs.

1. Own safety. When a person is not in danger, he is in a calm state.
2. Recognition and respect. Whatever actions an individual takes, he wants to feel successful and be appreciated.
3. Aesthetic needs are necessary to create harmony and stability.
4. Physiological. Need for food, sleep, water.
5. Love. To be completely happy, a person must love and feel loved, feel the support of loved ones.
6. Creativity and cognition. This need is especially acute for children who are interested in everything around them.
7. Spiritual needs. The personality improves, engages in self-knowledge, and develops abilities.
8. The craving for self-actualization plays a significant role in the period of personality formation, and it already depends on the motives, goals and attitudes of the person.

All needs can be considered in the form of five levels depending on their importance on the path to self-actualization:

• first level – physiological, necessary for life, protection, sexual satisfaction;
• the second is reliability, concern for health, material well-being, and a happy old age;
• third - social needs, satisfaction when communicating in society;
• fourth – the need for respect and self-esteem, having a high place in society.
• fifth - the desire for personal development and self-realization.

Maslow's pyramid

Initially, Maslow's pyramid described 5 stages of human development, but by the end of his life, Abraham Maslow justified 2 more highest stages. According to this classification, a person has simple and high needs. The fundamental pattern of the pyramid is that the desire for higher needs arises only after the satisfaction of the primary, simple ones.

All human needs are innate, organized into a certain subconscious structure, which manifests itself according to individual experience. Therefore, by comparing the needs of different people, you can get different pictures rather than a single model described by Abraham Maslow:

Although this approach is often criticized by other psychologists, it helps to better understand how to manage personal development for an individual without significant psychological deviations.

Stages

If you have a desire for development, you should decide on a plan of action.

First you need to identify your needs. The next step is to evaluate the capabilities and understand the abilities. That is, you need to take time for yourself. Engage in self-knowledge, meditate. If it is very difficult to understand yourself, try turning to specialists.

The second stage will be the search for ways of self-realization. It can be anything, regardless of direction. The level of training also does not matter. The only thing that matters here is your attitude towards the activity. The main thing is that the chosen business brings pleasure. For girls, I recommend reading this article.

Youth is not an obstacle to self-actualization

New evidence, however, contradicts Maslow's theory with regard to demographic factors that correlate with self-actualization traits. Maslow believed that self-actualization is not characteristic of young people. However, Kaufman found that scores on his new scale were equally distributed across the sample and were not associated with factors such as age, gender, or education level (however, in personal correspondence, Kaufman reported that the new data - 3 people have since taken the test thousands of people—show a small but statistically significant relationship between older age and more self-actualization traits).

In conclusion, Kaufman expressed the hope that his new research “will help adapt Maslow’s system of motivation and the classification of basic personality traits described by the founders of humanistic psychology to the realities of the 21st century.”

Need for self-actualization

The need for self-actualization is one of the manifestations of the internal desire to develop oneself.

You can develop yourself in different directions, see Personality orientation. This could be a development:

• towards humility and worship before the Lord for the salvation of the soul, towards achieving holiness,
• towards harmonization to obtain peace,
• towards obtaining the necessary skills for a successful business,
• towards the maximum development of their capabilities and abilities. The latter is called self-actualization itself.

The need for self-actualization and humanistic psychology

The concept of the need for self-actualization was developed in humanistic psychology.

“It is clear that a musician should make music, an artist should paint pictures, and a poet should write poetry, if, of course, they want to live in peace with themselves. A person must be who he can be. Man feels that he must conform to his own nature. This need can be called the need for self-actualization. Obviously, this need is expressed differently in different people. One person wants to become an ideal parent, another strives to achieve athletic heights, a third tries to create or invent. Speaking about self-actualization, I mean a person’s desire for self-fulfillment, to translate into reality his potentially inherent capabilities. This desire can be called the desire for self-identity, originality. Obviously, this need is expressed differently in different people. One person wants to become an ideal parent, another strives to achieve athletic heights, a third tries to create or invent.” (A. Maslow)

Scientists have interpreted the need for self-actualization in different ways.

Maslow believed that the need for self-actualization comes into force only after satisfying other, lower needs (hunger, thirst, etc. - see Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs)

Kurt Goldstein, unlike Maslow, believed. that self-actualization is the greatest need, which in a healthy body can overshadow for some time hunger, thirst and other needs.

Personal health and the need for self-actualization

Maslow also uses the concept of “Need for Self-Actualization,” meaning a person’s desire and desire for the fullest possible identification and development of his personal capabilities. If personal health speaks of the sustainability of a person’s development and the success of his personal growth, then the need for self-actualization speaks of the extent to which a person seeks personal growth and speaks of the intensity of a person’s desire to develop. There is evidence that an untimely or too intense need for self-actualization has a bad effect on the personal and mental health of an individual. Look

Reaction to the trend towards mental illness - “Let's study healthy people, the most healthy people possible! People who have reached the peak of their development!

He further described the people who, in his opinion, were this very top. — Described their common traits: character traits, inclinations and beliefs.

And he assumed that if other people reproduce the same character traits, inclinations and beliefs, then other people will get the same results.

Development of self-actualization

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

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

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

What can stop you

Returning to Maslow's pyramid, you find fear, self-interest and primitive desires in all its tiers except the last. This is due to the fact that self-actualization is more connected with other internal aspects that do not depend on the thirst for profit and other forms of encouragement. You do something because you enjoy it, not for approval or to make money. If at the same time you still receive income, then consider it an additional bonus.

However, there are many obstacles on the path to self-actualization. The first of them is yourself. Internal doubts (I can’t, it won’t work out) and the desire to give up once you’ve found the right direction are what you need to fight ruthlessly. Initially program yourself for success, and not vice versa.

Don't be afraid to try. Do not be lazy. Experiment. Take praise and criticism equally, without taking other people's opinions as the primary authority. Motivate yourself. And then you will be able to unlock your inner potential and achieve inner harmony.

Measuring and Researching Self-Actualization

Maslow did not try very hard to develop measurement tools, preferring mainly to make more holistic observations of people in accordance with his concept of the receptive, or Taoist, scientific method. However, he collaborated with his wife in developing the Maslow Art Test "to test holistic perception and intuition by testing the ability to identify an artist's style" (Maslow, 1966). This ability, which can perhaps be described as an intuitive cognitive style, is not necessarily enhanced by training in the arts and may sometimes even be weakened by it. Maslow valued the receptive ability the test measured and believed that it, combined with the ability to think in the abstract, nomothetic concepts of traditional science, might allow psychologists to develop the new approach he envisioned.

Maslow (1968b) was aware that his ideas were in the early stages of scientific validation. He admitted that his writings “are full of statements that are based on pilot studies, fragmentary evidence, personal observation, theoretical deduction and naked intuition ... These are hypotheses, that is, what is subject to verification, and not the ultimate truth.” Other scientists have reinforced these ideas as the next logical step. A key concept in Maslow's theory is self-actualization. While Maslow explored this construct through observation rather than formal measurement, others have attempted to assess self-actualization using a questionnaire.

Abraham Maslow

First-year psychology students are familiar with Abraham Maslow’s famous pyramid of needs. Among other significant personal values, self-actualization is a separate level for him. Maslow spoke about the human need to fulfill his purpose. What does it mean? This means having the opportunity to open up to oneself and in public life to the maximum, to express oneself in some matter of significant interest to the individual.

Abraham Maslow emphasizes that a person's self-actualization depends only on himself, and it cannot be transferred to the responsibility of another. Each of us has our own purpose, our own business, a talent that we must realize in this world. This 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 this.

Psychological features of personality self-actualization

Bibliographic description:

Fedotovskikh, D. Ya. Psychological features of personality self-actualization / D. Ya. Fedotovskikh. — Text: direct // Research of young scientists: materials of the XVI International. scientific conf. (Kazan, January 2021). — Kazan: Young scientist, 2021. — pp. 66-68. — URL: https://moluch.ru/conf/stud/archive/386/16306/ (access date: 07/09/2021).



The article analyzes the research opinion on the phenomenon of personality self-actualization. A natural connection between self-actualization and self-realization, as well as such concepts as personal maturity and psychological health, has been identified, and some features of self-actualization have been highlighted. Self-actualization as a fundamental property of a psychologically healthy and mature personality, which is expressed in the desire to fully realize one’s potential, self-development, preservation and maximum manifestation of one’s best qualities.

Key words: self-actualization, self-actualizing personality, psychological well-being, personal qualities, psychological health.

The process of personality formation in the modern world directly correlates with the stages of human socialization in their temporal extent and thus depends on the development of technology and scientific and technological progress. A person living in a constantly changing society is faced with the task of simultaneously existing in different cultural layers and adapting to changing conditions and circumstances.

The term “self-actualization” first appeared in the works of neurophysiologist K. Goldstein, whose main research at the beginning of the twentieth century was devoted to the study of mental disorders due to brain injuries. The term self-actualization is usually understood as a person’s desire to determine what he is capable of, where he can be useful and thereby develop all his natural talents.

Self-actualization within the framework of research is considered from various points of view: as a mechanism that stimulates self-development, making it a need, goal and life strategy necessary for existence (K. A. Abulkhanova-Slavskaya, T. I. Artemyeva, E. I. Golovakha). Self-actualization is always associated with the process of formation of the individual as a subject of intellectual activity (D. B. Bogoyavlenskaya, V. I. Slobodchikov), with free choice (V. A. Petrovsky), with self-regulation of voluntary activity (V. A. Ivannikov, O. A . Konopkin), life meaning (D. A. Leontiev), with the concept of integral individuality (V. S. Merlin, B. A. Vyatkin, M. R. Shchukin, L. Ya. Dorfman).

The concept of “self-actualization” is not new to Russian science. “Self-actualizing personality” is equated to the concept of “psychologically healthy personality.”

At the same time, despite different definitions of self-actualization by many authors, they are all united by the idea of ​​a person’s desire to realize his innate skills and abilities, which is the core of the concept of personal self-actualization.

By self-actualization we understand a person’s constant realization of his capabilities, abilities and talents as the fulfillment of a mission, a calling, as the most complete knowledge of himself and, accordingly, the acceptance of his own original nature. Thus, in the coordinate system of self-actualization, a person is considered by us, at the same time, as a starting point, starting from which he realizes all his explicit and implicit (which is perhaps even more important) abilities and at the same time, a person is the end point for the application of the vector of all forces, aimed at revealing his abilities.

The study of the mechanisms and conditions of human self-development, the use of the potential inherent in it is relevant in modern domestic science. In this regard, self-realization is defined by us as a set of strategies that stimulate self-development and transform it into vital needs and goals.

In the process of socialization, a person establishes various kinds of connections (emotional, etc.) with other people who have different knowledge and experience from him. These connections can act as the basis for self-development, a way to overcome oneself and a means of actualization. In the process of socialization, a person learns about the world and himself, moving from identification to self-realization and vice versa, from cognition to self-knowledge, from assessment to self-esteem, from social control to self-control. In order to successfully exist in modern realities and be competitive, the issue of self-development and self-actualization is a necessary and sufficient condition. [1].

In modern psychology, self-actualization is considered as the highest level of self-realization. A. G. Maslow pointed out the relationship between the development (formation) of personality and mental health, which is a consequence of development and movement towards self-actualization [2]. Thus, we can consider self-actualization as a system in development, as a holistic formation that simultaneously has several characteristics - a process, a state, personality traits, a meta-need, but is not limited to one of them. In general, self-actualization represents a set of systemic qualities that determine the disclosure of a person’s internal potential in the process of his socialization through awareness and understanding of his own life within society. Self-actualization is presented in the personality system as a kind of metasystem, representing different levels of manifestation of one’s social maturity (high, medium and low), different types of personal realization in the process of self-realization (altruistic and selfish) [4, p.69].

Philosophical and psychological-pedagogical analysis of the problem of personal self-actualization has not only scientific, but also practical meaning. The dichotomy of self-actualization is obvious. On the one hand, a person contains a source for his realization as a successful, in every sense, full-fledged member of society. On the other hand, it is precisely these initial conditions that prevent him from starting to act decisively, consistently and methodically. This problem is becoming more acute in the modern era of modernization of all spheres of human and social life, when the development of an innovative society faces ever new problems.

The concept of “self-realization” is traditionally associated with one of the foreign theories of personality, developed in the context of humanistic pedagogy and psychology. However, the phenomenon of self-realization is also studied in the fields of philosophy, sociology, biology in connection with various concepts and at different levels of generalization. This is reflected in the variety of interpretations of the concept of “self-realization” in the presence of synonymous concepts. Science uses various terms close to this concept: “self-affirmation”, “self-expression”, “self-disclosure”, “self-activity”, “self-education”, “self-improvement”, “self-realization”, “self-realization”, “transcendence”. [3, p.84]

In philosophical studies, the concept of “self-actualization” is considered as an integral element of the concept of “self-realization”, and sometimes as its synonym. The very concept of “self-realization” in philosophy is interpreted ambiguously.

Based on the analysis of researchers on the problem of self-actualization, the following conclusions can be drawn: self-actualization is a property of psychologically healthy people; self-actualization is a natural tendency towards a person’s internal self-development; This is a fundamental property of a mature person, whose goal is the struggle for the full realization of one’s own potential, the development of such qualities as personal autonomy, the ability for personal and professional self-determination, etc.

Literature:

1. Chelombitskaya, Marina Petrovna . Intelligence and creativity as factors of human self-actualization in an innovative society: abstract of diss…. Candidate of Philosophical Sciences: 09.00.11 / Chelombitskaya Marina Petrovna; [Place of protection: Don. state tech. University]. - Rostov-on-Don, 2009. - 27 p.
2. Maslow A. Self-actualized people: studies of psychological health // Motivation and personality / Trans. from English A. M. Tatlybaeva. St. Petersburg 2021 [Electronic resource] // PSYLIB. Self-knowledge and our thinking. Psychological books: psychological library of the “Know Yourself” club: URL: https://poznaisebya.com/psylib/books/masla01/txt11.htm (access date 10/12/2020).
3. Nedashkovskaya M. A. Self-realization of personality as a cultural phenomenon. M. 2021. 153 p.
4. Yashchenko E. F. The value-semantic concept of self-actualization: dis…. Doctor of Psychology Sciences / E. F. Yashchenko. St. Petersburg 2012. 249 p.

Creative self-realization

One can only imagine how enormous the emotional elation that 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 individual’s need for self-expression. It is certainly easier for ambitious and talented people to determine their field of activity. But even if you are far from Shakespeare, you should not forget about your individuality, that it can be manifested if you wish.

The problem of self-actualization

The concept of self-actualization as part of the formation and socialization of personality is studied in many scientific works on practical and theoretical psychology. Most scientists consider this problem using practical examples in a positive way and believe that it contributes to the fullest possible disclosure of a person’s personality. However, there is an opinion that an overly pronounced desire to push forward one’s natural inclinations “to be oneself, no matter what” can interfere with a person’s successful integration into modern society, because it sets him apart from the general background.

In order for self-actualization to be successful, a person must actively try himself in various creative fields from early childhood: sports, creativity, art. The main thing is to actively search for yourself. Over time, out of many means of self-expression, only one will remain. It is this that will continue to play a key role in satisfying the need for self-expression.

Methods of self-organization

So, let's look at the basic methods of self-organization that you can use to learn how to manage yourself.

Method 1. Time management. The first thing you need to do to increase your level of self-organization is planning your time, that is, time management. But not just planning, but also following the plans. You also need to manage yourself and your time wisely. Learn the basic principles of time management and think about how to apply them more effectively specifically to your situation. Time management is actually a very broad concept, a whole science, and therefore requires serious study.

Method 2. Developing habits. To learn how to perform the necessary regular actions without any problems, you just need to turn them into a habit. And this can be done by using the simple rule of 21 days - this is the number of days needed for any, even the most hated, action to become a habit. By acquiring necessary, useful habits in this way, you will significantly increase your level of self-organization.

Method 3. Self-motivation. Another good method of self-organization is self-motivation. These words are similar, but their meanings are different. Self-motivation is the definition of some motives for yourself, the presence of which will increase interest in performing the necessary actions or achieving goals. Here, too, you should study the basic methods of self-motivation, decide which possible motives are most important specifically for you, and use them.

Method 4. Social circle. Success in self-organization largely depends on the social circle in which a person finds himself. For example, if all colleagues in one office room are accustomed to “playing the fool,” then even the most notorious workaholic, once in this team, will also significantly reduce his productivity. Therefore, it is worth forming your social circle from people with a high level of self-organization, from whom, in your opinion, there is something to learn in this regard. And, on the contrary, exclude communication with those people who do not know how to manage themselves, do not strive for this, and even dissuade you, they say, who needs all this.

Method 5: Teaching others. And the last interesting method of self-organization that I want to consider is teaching it to someone else. The fact is that when a person teaches others, he subconsciously improves his knowledge and skills; he must be more competent and professional than the students. And in order to teach someone, it is not at all necessary to get a job as a teacher. For example, parents can teach their children, because self-organization will never be superfluous for them either. Older brothers and sisters - younger ones. Finally, you can, by mutual agreement, start teaching your boyfriend or girlfriend. And in all these cases, you will have to, first of all, set a personal example, which will be of great benefit to yourself.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize once again: self-organization is very necessary and important - remember this well. If there were no self-organization, there would be no, for example, the Financial Genius website, and many other things that are created by a variety of people. Those who are able to manage themselves will definitely achieve great success in life and will be able to do great things. And those who don’t even think about it will live “like everyone else.” See for yourself what is more interesting for you...

Now you have some idea of ​​what self-organization is, how to manage yourself, what methods of self-organization can be used for this. Study this topic more deeply, put it into practice, and you will probably soon see the first positive changes.

That's all, I wish you success in achieving your goals! See you again on the pages of the site!

STUDYING THE LEVEL OF SELF-ACTUALIZATION

PERSONALITY

(L.Ya. Gozman.)

Purpose: To determine the degree of self-actualization of the individual based on introspection.

The questionnaire includes the following scales:

1. Time orientation scale (includes 17 points )

- measures how correctly a person is oriented in time. A person with a low level of self-actualization (low score on the scale) is incorrectly oriented in time. Such a person lives in the past (he is tormented by remorse for his actions, memories of insults inflicted on him, etc.) and/or in the future (he sets ideal goals for himself, makes impossible plans, lives with unjustified hopes and expectations, usually fears for his life and etc.), or only the present (absorbed in “today”, not connecting his life with either the past or the future). A self-actualizing personality (high score on the scale) is correctly oriented in time. She does not put off life until tomorrow and does not get bogged down in the past, but lives in the present, perceiving it, however, in unity with the past and future.

2. Support scale (91 points )

- a basic scale that determines whether a person in life is guided by his own goals, beliefs, attitudes and principles, or whether he is influenced by external forces, conformity, etc.

A sign of self-actualization is a person guided “from within,” i.e. a person with “internal support”. If such a person is subject to external influence, then he is free to choose and is not conformist. A non-self-actualizing personality is directed “from the outside,” i.e. has “external support”.

3. Value orientation scale (20 points) - (this and all subsequent scales are additional) measures the extent to which a person is guided by the values ​​inherent in a self-actualizing personality. A high score on this scale means that a person most fully accepts these values, a low score means that he rejects them.

4. Behavioral Flexibility Scale (24 items) - measures behavioral flexibility in various situations. A high score reflects a person's ability to quickly respond to a changing situation, a low score indicates dogmatism. Together with the value orientation scale, this scale forms the Values ​​block.

5. Sensitivity scale (13 points) - measures how deeply and subtly a person feels his feelings and needs.

6. Spontaneity Scale (14 items) - measures the ability to spontaneously express one's feelings. A high score on this scale indicates that a person is able to express his feelings in actions that are not thought through in advance. A low score means that a person is afraid to openly express his feelings. The sensitivity scale and the spontaneity scale form a block of feelings .

7. Self-Esteem Scale (15 items) – measures a person’s ability to respect himself for his strength.

8. Self-Acceptance Scale (21 items) – measures a person’s ability to accept himself despite his weaknesses. The self-acceptance and self-esteem scale form the Self-Perception block.

9. Scale that determines the view of human nature (10 points) – assesses the understanding of human nature, masculinity and femininity. A self-actualizing person (high score on this scale) sees a person as more good than bad, easily recognizes what is true and what is not true, where is good and where is evil. A low score on this scale means that the subject considers the person to be essentially bad and non-synergistic.

10. Synergy scale (7 points) – measures the ability to perceive the world and people holistically. A self-actualizing person sees that opposites in nature and in life are connected. A low score on this scale indicates that a person sees in these contradictions an insoluble antagonism. The synergy scale and the scale that evaluates the view of human nature form the block of Awareness of the integrity of being.

11. Acceptance of Aggression Scale (16 points) – measures a person’s ability to accept his aggression as a natural property. With a low level of self-actualization, a person usually tries to hide this property, give up aggression and suppress it in himself.

12. Contact scale (20 points) – measures a person’s ability to establish deep and close contacts with others. A self-actualizing person can easily and quickly come into contact, and her relationships with people are not superficial - she plays a significant role in the lives of her friends and loved ones. A person with a low level of self-actualization experiences difficulties in communication. The Contact and Acceptance of Aggression scales form the Interpersonal Sensitivity block.

13. Cognitive needs scale (11 points) – measures the degree to which a person expresses a desire to acquire knowledge about the world around him.

14. Creativity scale (14 points) – measures the severity of a person’s creative orientation.

Thus, the test includes 14 scales and 126 items (to the 108 items remaining after checking for scatter, another 18 were added when 13 and 14 were introduced).

Each item of the questionnaire contains two alternative judgments, one of which must be chosen by the subject as most consistent with his views and beliefs (the subject marks on the response form with a cross which of the judgments “a” or “b” he chose). As noted above, for choosing the judgment that is characteristic of a self-actualizing personality, the subject receives one point. The methodology presents those judgments from the items of each scale for which one point is given (keys for the scales).

Questions left unanswered, as well as those where both possible alternatives are marked, are not taken into account when processing. If you do not answer 10% or more, the study is considered invalid .

The questionnaire is designed for respondents who have a sufficiently high level of intellectual development necessary to adequately perceive the content of the test. Therefore, it is not recommended to test persons who do not have a higher education.

The test can be offered to complete a whole group of subjects at the same time. Also, if there is such a need, subjects can work with the test at home. There is no time limit for filling out the response form. Usually it takes about 30 minutes.

Instructions: Each item of this questionnaire contains two statements: “a” and “b”. Read each of them carefully and choose the one that best suits your point of view.

1. A. I only believe in myself when I feel like I can

cope with all the tasks facing me.

b. I believe in myself even when I feel like I can't

cope with all the tasks facing me.

2.A. I am often internally embarrassed when people compliment me.

b. I rarely feel embarrassed internally when people compliment me.

3.A. It seems to me that a person can live his life the way he wants

I want to.

b. It seems to me that a person has little chance of living his life as

he wants to.

4.A. I always feel the strength to overcome life's adversities.

b. I don’t always feel the strength to overcome life.

adversity.

5.A. I feel remorse when I am angry with those I love.

b. I feel no remorse when I am angry with those I love.

6.A. In difficult situations, you need to act in already proven ways,

only this guarantees success.

b. In difficult situations, we must look for fundamentally new solutions.

7.A. It is important to me whether others share my point of view.

b. It is not very important to me that others share my point of view.

8.A. It seems to me that a person should take it calmly

unpleasant that he can hear about himself from others.

b. I am pleased when people are offended when they hear something unpleasant about themselves.

9.A. I cannot, without any remorse, put off until tomorrow what I

must do today.

b. I am tormented by remorse if I put off until tomorrow what I want to do.

must do today.

10.A. Sometimes I get so angry that I want to lash out at people.

b. I'm never so angry that I want to lash out

on people.

11.A. I feel like there are a lot of good things in store for me in the future.

b. It seems to me that my future promises me little good.

12.A. A person must remain honest in everything and always.

b. There are situations when a person has the right to be dishonest.

13.A. Adults should never stifle their child's curiosity.

even if satisfying it may have negative consequences.

b. You should not encourage your child's excessive curiosity when it can

lead to bad consequences.

14.A. I often feel the need to find justification for my themes.

actions that I perform simply because I want to.

b. I have no need to justify my actions

which I do simply because I want to.

15.A. I try my best to avoid upsets.

b. I do not consider it necessary for myself to avoid grief.

16.A. I often feel anxious when thinking about the future.

b. I rarely feel anxious when thinking about the future.

17.A. I would not like to deviate from my principles even for the sake of

to do something useful for which people would be grateful to me.

b. I would like to do something useful, for which people would like me

grateful, even if for this it would be necessary to move away a little from

their principles.

18.A. It seems to me that most of the time I am not living, but as if preparing for

to truly start living in the future.

b. I feel like most of the time I'm not preparing for the future.

“real” life, but I live for real now.

19.A. Usually I express and do what I think is necessary, even if it

threatens complications in relationships with loved ones.

b. I try not to say or do things that could threaten

complications in relationships with loved ones.

20.A. People who show a keen interest in everything in the world, sometimes me

annoying.

b. People who show a keen interest in everything in the world sometimes

endears me.

21.A. I don't like it when people spend a lot of time in barren

dreams.

b. It seems to me that there is nothing wrong with people spending a lot

time for fruitless dreams.

22.A. I often think about whether I behaved correctly in certain situations.

situations.

b. I rarely think about whether I behaved correctly in certain situations.

situations.

23.A. It seems to me that any person by nature is capable of overcoming

the difficulties that life puts before him.

b. I don't think any person is naturally capable of overcoming

the difficulties that life puts before him.

24.A. The main thing in our life is to create, to create something new.

b. The main thing in our life is to benefit people.

25.A. It seems to me that it would be better if most men

traditionally masculine character traits predominated, while women

traditionally feminine.

b. It seems to me that it would be better if men and women combined

in themselves both traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine.

26.A. Two people get along best if each of them...

tries first of all to please others as opposed to

free expression of your feelings.

b. Two people get along best if each of them...

tries first of all to express his feelings as opposed to the desire

give pleasure to another.

27.A. The cruel and selfish things people do are

natural manifestations of their human nature.

b. The cruel and selfish acts that people commit are not

are manifestations of human nature.

28.A. The implementation of my plans in the future largely depends on whether

Do I have close friends?

b. The implementation of my plans in the future is only to a small extent

depends on whether I have close friends.

29.A. I'm confident.

b. I'm not confident in myself.

30.A. It seems to me that the most valuable thing for a person is his beloved

Job.

b. It seems to me that the most valuable thing for a person is a happy

family life.

31.A. I never gossip.

b. Sometimes I enjoy gossiping.

32.A. I accept contradictions in myself.

b. I cannot tolerate contradictions in myself.

33.A. If a stranger does me a favor, then I feel

obliged to him.

b. If a stranger does me a favor, then I don't feel

obliged to him.

34.A. Sometimes I find it difficult to be sincere even when I want to be.

b. I always manage to be sincere when I want it.

35.A. I'm rarely bothered by guilt.

b. I am often bothered by feelings of guilt.

36.A. I feel responsible for ensuring that those with whom I interact have

good mood.

b. I do not feel responsible for ensuring that those with whom I interact

I was in a good mood.

37.A. It seems to me that every person needs to have an idea of

basic laws of physics.

b. It seems to me that many people can do without knowledge of the basic

laws of physics.

38.A. I believe it is necessary to follow the rule: “don’t waste time.”

b. I don't think it's necessary to follow the rule: "don't waste your time."

39.A. Critical remarks addressed to me lower my self-esteem.

b. Critical remarks addressed to me do not lower my self-esteem.

40.A. I often worry that there is nothing at the moment

significant.

b. I rarely worry about the fact that there is nothing at the moment

significant.

41.A. I prefer to leave pleasant things for later.

b. I don’t leave pleasant things “for later.”

42.A. I often make spontaneous decisions.

b. I rarely make spontaneous decisions.

43.A. I strive to express my feelings openly, even if it may

lead to some trouble.

b. I try not to openly express my feelings in cases where it

may lead to some trouble.

44.A. I can't say that I like myself.

b. I can say that I like myself.

45.A. I often remember things that are unpleasant for me.

b. I rarely remember things that are unpleasant for me.

46.A. I think people should be open in their interactions with others.

their dissatisfaction with them.

b. It seems to me that when communicating with others, people should hide their

dissatisfaction with them.

47.A. I feel like I can judge how others should behave

People.

b. I feel like I can't judge how others should behave

People.

48.A. It seems to me that deepening into a narrow specialization is

necessary for a given scientist.

b. It seems to me that deepening into a narrow specialization makes a person

limited.

49.A. When determining what is good and what is bad, opinion is important to me

other people.

b. I try to determine for myself what is good and what is bad.

50.A. It can be difficult for me to distinguish love from simple sexual attraction.

b. I easily distinguish love from simple sexual attraction.

51. A. I constantly strive for self-improvement.

b. I don't care much about the problem of self-improvement.

52.A. Achieving happiness cannot be the goal of human relationships.

b. Achieving happiness is the main goal of human relationships.

53.A. It seems to me that I can quite trust my own estimates.

b. I feel like I can't fully trust my own

estimates.

54.A. If necessary, a person can quite easily free himself from

your habits.

b. It is extremely difficult for a person to free himself from his habits.

55.A. My feelings sometimes perplex me.

b. My feelings never puzzle me.

56.A. In some cases, I consider myself to have the right to let a person know that he

It seems stupid and uninteresting to me.

b. I never consider myself to have the right to let a person know that he loves me.

seems stupid and uninteresting.

57.A. About how happy the relationships between people are,

can be judged by observing from the outside.

b. Observing from the outside, it is impossible to say how well they are developing

relationship between people.

58.A. I often reread books I like several times.

b. I think it's better to read some new book than to go back

to what has already been read.

59.A. I am often passionate about my work.

b. I can't say that I'm passionate about my work.

60.A. I'm unhappy with my past.

b. I'm happy with my past.

61.A. I feel obligated to always tell the truth.

b. I don't feel obligated to always tell the truth.

62.A. There are very few situations in which I can afford

fool.

b. There are many situations in which I can afford

fool.

63.A. Trying to understand the character and feelings of others, people often

are too tactless.

b. The desire to understand the character and feelings of others is natural.

for a person and can therefore justify tactlessness.

64.A. I usually get upset when people I like are lost or broken.

of things.

b. I usually don't get upset about the loss or breakage of people I like.

of things.

65.A. Whenever possible, I try to do what others expect.

b. Usually, I don't think about whether my behavior is consistent with that

What do others expect from me?

66.A. Self-interest is always necessary for a person.

b. Excessive self-examination sometimes has bad consequences.

67.A. Sometimes I'm afraid to be myself.

b. I'm never afraid to be myself.

68.A. Most of what I do gives me pleasure.

b. Very little of what I do gives me pleasure.

69.A. Only vain people think about their merits.

b. It's not only vain people who think about their virtues.

70.A. I can do things for others without asking them to appreciate it.

b. I have the right to expect others to appreciate what I do for them.

71.A. A person must repent of his actions.

b. A person does not necessarily have to repent of his actions.

72.A. I need reasons to accept my feelings.

b. I usually don't need any justification to accept my feelings.

73.A. In most situations, I first of all try to understand what I want myself.

b. In most situations, I first try to understand what they want

those around.

74.A. I try never to be a black sheep.

b. I allow myself to be the black sheep.

75.A. When I like myself, it seems to me that everyone likes me

to others.

b. Even when I like myself, I understand that there are people who like me

unpleasant.

76.A. My past largely determines my future.

b. My past very little determines my future.

77.A. It often happens that expressing your feelings is more important than thinking about it

situation.

b. It is quite rare that expressing your feelings is more important than

think about the situation.

78.A. The effort and expense that knowledge of the truth requires is worth it, since

they benefit people.

b. The effort and expense that knowledge of the truth requires is worth it, since

they give a person emotional satisfaction.

79.A. I always need others to approve of what I do.

b. I don't care if others approve of what I do.

80.A. I trust the decisions I make spontaneously.

b. I don't trust the decisions I make spontaneously.

81.A. Perhaps I can say that I live with a feeling of happiness.

b. I guess I can’t say that I live with a feeling of happiness.

82.A. Quite often I get bored.

b. I'm never bored.

83.A. I often show my affection for a person, regardless of whether

Is it mutual?

b. I rarely show my affection for a person without being sure

that it is mutual.

84.A. I make risky decisions easily.

b. Usually, I find it difficult to make risky decisions.

85.A. I try to act honestly in everything and always.

b. Sometimes I think it's possible to cheat.

86.A. I'm ready to accept my mistakes.

b. I find it difficult to come to terms with my mistakes.

87.A. If I do something solely in my own interests, then

it usually makes me feel guilty, even if my actions

they don't harm anyone.

b. I never feel guilty if I do something

exclusively for yourself.

88.A. Children must understand that they do not have the same rights and privileges that

adults.

b. Children do not need to realize that they do not have the rights and privileges that

in adults.

89.A. I understand well what feelings I am capable of experiencing and what I am not.

b. I have not yet fully understood what feelings I am capable of experiencing and what

No.

90.A. I think most people can be trusted.

b. I think that you shouldn’t trust people unless absolutely necessary.

91.A. The past, present, and future seem to me to be one whole.

b. My present seems to me to be weakly connected with the past and

future.

92.A. I prefer to spend my holidays traveling, even if it involves

at great expense and inconvenience.

b. I prefer to spend my holidays calmly, in comfortable conditions

93.A. It happens that I like people whose behavior I do not approve of.

b. I prefer not to communicate with people whose behavior I do not approve of.

94.A. People by nature tend to understand each other.

b. By nature, humans tend to take care of their own

interests.

95.A. I never like dirty jokes.

b. I sometimes like dirty jokes.

96.A. I am loved because I myself am capable of love.

b. I am loved because my behavior causes love for me.

97.A. It seems to me that the emotional and rational in a person are not

contradict each other.

b. It seems to me that the emotional and rational in a person

contradict each other.

98.A. I feel confident in relationships with other people.

b. I feel insecure in relationships with other people.

99.A. When defending their own interests, people usually ignore the interests

those around you.

b. When protecting their own interests, people usually do not forget their interests

those around you.

100.A. I can always rely on my ability to navigate

situations.

b. I can't always rely on my abilities

navigate the situation.

101.A. I believe that the ability to be creative is a natural property of humans.

b. I believe that not all people are gifted with a natural ability to

creativity.

102.A. I usually don't get upset if I don't succeed

perfection in what I do.

b. I often get upset if I fail to achieve perfection in

what I do.

103.A. Sometimes I'm afraid of seeming too gentle.

b. I'm never afraid to seem too gentle.

104.A. It's easy for me to come to terms with my weaknesses.

b. I find it difficult to come to terms with my weaknesses.

105.A. I feel like I have to strive for perfection in everything I do.

I do.

b. I don't feel like I have to be perfect at everything I do.

I do.

106.A. I often have to justify my actions to myself.

b. I rarely have to justify my actions to myself.

107.A. When choosing an activity for oneself, a person must take into account the

how necessary it is.

b. A person should try to do only what interests him.

108.A. I can say that I like most of the people I know.

b. I can't say that I like most of the people I

I know.

109.A. Sometimes I don't like being bossed around.

b. I never like being bossed around.

110.A. I'm not shy about revealing my weaknesses in front of my friends.

b. It's not easy for me to reveal my weaknesses in front of my friends.

111.A. I am often afraid of making some mistake.

b. I'm not afraid of making any mistakes.

112.A. A person gets the greatest satisfaction when he achieves what he wants.

results in work.

b. A person receives the greatest satisfaction in the process of work itself.

113.A. You can never say with certainty whether a person is good or evil.

b. Usually you can tell about a person whether he is good or evil.

114.A. I almost always feel the strength to do what I believe

necessary, despite the consequences.

b. I don’t always feel the strength to do what I think

necessary, despite the consequences.

115.A. People sometimes annoy me.

b. People rarely annoy me.

116.A. My sense of self-worth largely depends on what I have achieved.

b. My sense of self-worth depends to a small extent on what I

has reached.

117.A. A mature person should always be aware of the reasons for each of his

act.

b. A mature person does not necessarily have to be aware of the reasons

every action.

118.A. I perceive myself as others see me.

b. I don't behave exactly the way others see me.

119.A. It happens that I am ashamed of my feelings.

b. I am never ashamed of my feelings.

120.A. I enjoy engaging in heated debates.

b. I don't like to get involved in heated arguments.

121.A. I don't have time to follow new events in the world

art and literature.

b. I constantly follow new events in the art world and

literature.

122.A. I always manage to be guided in life by my own

feelings and desires.

b. I don't often manage to be guided in life by my own

feelings and desires.

123.A. I often rely on conventional wisdom to make decisions

my personal problems.

b. I am not guided by generally accepted principles in solving my personal problems.

representations.

124.A. It seems to me that in order to engage in creative activities

a person must have certain knowledge in this area.

b. It seems to me that in order to engage in creative activities

a person does not need to have specific knowledge in this

areas.

125.A. I'm afraid of failure.

b. I'm not afraid of failure.

126.A. I often worry about what will happen in the future.

b. I rarely worry about what will happen in the future.

Key to the POI questionnaire (one point is given for choosing statements)

1. Time orientation scale:

11a, 16b, 18b, 21a, 28b, 38b, 40b, 41b, 45b, 60b, 64b, 71b, 76b, 82b, 91b, 106b, 126b.

2.Support scale:

1b, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5b, 7b, 8a, 9a, 10a, 12b, 14b, 15b, 17a, 19a, 22b, 23a, 25b, 26b, 27b, 29a, 31b, 32a, 33b, 34a, 35b, 36b, 39b, 42a, 43a, 44b, 46a, 47a, 49b, 74b, 75b, 77a, 79b, 80a, 81a, 83a, 85b, 86a, 87b, 88b, 89b, 90a, 93a, 94a, 95b, 96a , 97a, 98a, 99b, 100a, 102a, 103b, 104a, 105b, 108b, 109a, 110a, 111b, 113a, 114a, 115a, 116a, 117b, 118a, 119b, 120a, 122a, 123b, 125b.

3. Value orientation scale:

17a, 29a, 42a, 49b, 50b, 53a, 56a, 59b, 67b, 68a, 69b, 80a, 81a, 90a, 93a, 97a, 99b, 113a, 114a, 122a.

4. Scale of behavioral flexibility:

3a, 9a, 12b, 33b, 36b, 38b, 40b, 47b, 50b, 51b, 61b, 62b, 65b, 68a, 70a, 74b, 82b, 85b, 95b, 97a, 99b, 102a, 105b, 123b.

5.Sensitivity scale:

2b, 5b, 10a, 43a, 46a, 55a, 73a, 77a, 83a, 89b, 103b, 119b, 122a.

6.Self-esteem scale:

2b, 3a, 7b, 23a, 29a, 44b, 53a, 66a, 69b, 98a, 100a, 102a, 106b, 114a, 122a.

7. Spontaneity scale:

5b, 14b, 15b, 25b, 42a, 62b, 67b, 74b, 77a, 80a, 81a, 83a, 95b, 114a.

8. Self-acceptance scale:

1b, 8a, 14b, 22b, 31b, 32a, 34a, 39b, 53a, 61b, 71b, 75b, 86a, 87b, 104a, 105b, 106b, 110a, 111b, 116b, 125b.

9. Scale assessing the view of human nature:

23a, 25b, 27b, 50b, 66a, 90a, 94a, 97a, 99b, 113a.

10.Synergy scale:

50b, 68a, 91b, 93a, 97a, 99b, 113a.

11. Scale of acceptance of aggression:

5b, 8a, 10a, 15b, 19a, 29a, 39b, 43a, 46a, 56a, 57b, 67b, 85b, 93a, 94a, 115a.

12.Contact scale:

5b, 7b, 17a, 26b, 33b, 36b, 46a, 65b, 70a, 73a, 74b, 75b, 79b, 96a, 99b, 103b, 108b, 109a, 120a, 123b.

13.Scale of cognitive needs:

13a, 20b, 37a, 48a, 63b, 66a, 78b, 82b, 92a, 107b, 121b.

14.Creativity scale:

6b, 24a, 30a, 42a, 54a, 58a, 59a, 68a, 84a, 101a, 105b, 112b, 123b, 124b.

Next, the “raw” points are converted into T - points on the following scale:

The interpretation of the results is carried out in accordance with the following standards:

> 70 T – points – pseudo-self-actualization;

55 – 70 T – points – range of self-actualization;

45 – 55 T – points – mental and statistical norm;

<40 T - points - are typical mainly for persons with mental disorders (neuroses, depression, etc.).

⇐ Previous4Next ⇒

What makes your dreams come true? One hundred percent, unshakable confidence in your...

What does the IS operation and maintenance department do? Responsible for the safety of data (copying schedules, copying, etc.)…

System of Protected Areas in the USA The study of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) in the USA is of particular interest for many reasons...

Live by the rule: IS THERE NOT MUCH THING IN THE WORLD EXISTING? It is no coincidence that I emphasize that the space in your head is limited, but there is a lot of information around, and that your right...

Didn't find what you were looking for? Use Google search on the site:

Hierarchy of needs, or the path to self-actualization

The need for self-actualization, although the highest, is not the only human need. From the point of view of A. Maslow, the question of its satisfaction arises only when and if the needs of the lower levels are satisfied. This psychologist formulated the principle of a hierarchy or pyramid of needs, which serve as motivation for personal development. There are a total of five levels in this pyramid:

1. Physiological level. It contains all natural, biological needs: food, water, warmth, biological partner, health, etc.).
2. The level of security is not only the need for the absence of a threat to life and health, but also the need for peace of mind, confidence in the future, a well-paid job or a comfortable home, peace and prosperity.
3. Social level. It contains the needs for a comfortable social environment, friends, loved ones, family.
4. The level of self-esteem is the need for self-esteem, self-acceptance and pride in the results of one’s activities.
5. Level of self-actualization. At this level, according to A. Maslow, there are needs for creativity and socially approved activities, for personal harmony and beauty, for the fullest possible realization of one’s own “I”.

If you build a hierarchy of needs in the form of a pyramid, then self-actualization will be at the very top, and it is based on all the lower levels

This is very important, since a person thinks about higher-level needs only if the lower ones are satisfied. From a hungry person who does not have proper housing, one should not expect not only harmonious development, but also self-respect

And he begins to think about family no earlier than he has dealt with the first two levels.

But this does not negate the importance of the highest level to which one must strive. Moreover, A. Maslow only called a person who has reached the level of self-actualization a psychologically healthy person.

What is self-actualization?

Self-actualization is the disclosure by an individual of personal potential, predispositions and strengths. It manifests itself in the individual’s desire to determine his personal capabilities and develop them to the highest possible level. The process of personal self-actualization directly depends on the presence of favorable social and historical conditions, while it cannot be dictated by society or culture from the outside.

A. Maslow, the creator of the pyramid of needs, was firmly convinced that at the highest level of the pyramid is the need for self-actualization , which manifests itself in a person’s desire to reveal his individuality. All people are unique, each has their own distinctive characteristics, and only through the realization of creative potential can a person demonstrate to others and to himself his true capabilities.

Among researchers, the term “self-actualization” began to be actively used by psychologist K. Rogers. In his opinion, every person from birth has a need for self-actualization - it acts as the basis for personal development. Society, in turn, can create both favorable conditions and difficulties on the path to realizing innate potential, but it cannot determine it.

The process of self-actualization is not limited by age; it continues throughout life, because, as we know, there is no limit to perfection. The position of K. Rogers suggests that this is not only the harmonious development of the inner world, but also the realization of personal potential - the unity of these factors opens the way to self-actualization. In this regard, in psychology, personality self-actualization is considered not as an intermediate stage, but as constant self-development that does not lose its relevance throughout life.

Who can be called a self-actualizing person?

Portrait of a self-actualizing personality according to Maslow (suitable for diagnosing self-actualizing personality):

• thinks positively;
• trusts himself and the world;
• open to the world;
• free from anger and hatred and other negativity;
• lives in harmony with himself and the world;
• accepts oneself and other people as they are;
• loves his job and does it with pleasure;
• free from stereotypes and clichés;
• has a developed sense of humor;
• knows how to admit his mistakes and learn from them;
• strictly distinguishes between good and evil;
• does not hide from problems, but solves them;
• does not depend on other people's opinions;
• strives for development;
• knows how to choose and take responsibility for his choice;
• has its own system of beliefs, principles, values;
• has psychological flexibility.

If you recognize yourself in this description, then congratulations - you are a mature and healthy person.

How to achieve self-actualization?

Starting to control your life is very difficult, but if you want, then every person can cope with this task. There are several simple steps that will help you take the path of self-actualization:

• Conscious and complete experience of all events encountered along the path of life. It's about not allowing yourself to ignore existing problems, suppress negative emotions, or distance yourself from a situation when there is discomfort;
• The awareness that every person has the right to choose, the use of this feature to achieve their own goals. Every day a person makes a large number of decisions and faces their consequences. Not taking any action, enjoying your comfort zone, putting off changes in life until later, enduring - this is also a choice. The only question is: is a person ready to live like this?
• A change in attitude towards responsibility. Each choice is characterized by the presence of a certain position regarding personal responsibility. In practice, many people simply sit still, afraid to face the consequences of their decisions and take responsibility for them. You need to understand that the ability to take responsibility for your actions and the actions of others is one of the most important steps towards personal development. Responsibility and choice give a person the opportunity to feel free and gain independence.
• Formation of the ability to trust oneself, self-love, self-acceptance. Only a small part of people can conduct a dialogue with themselves, admit their weaknesses and mistakes, and decide to change them. But this is very important.
• Recognize existing problems and develop a plan to solve them based on available capabilities.
• Continuous creativity. In this case, we are talking not only about drawing, vocals or music. This includes all actions aimed at creating something new, original, and personal.

Self-actualization in young people

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

The need for self-actualization is very high. For example, if at this time a young man starts working, he wants to achieve some success and climb higher on 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 of personality development.

Types of self-actualization

Humanistic psychologists have identified a number of varieties of the process of self-actualization. Next we will take a closer look at each of them.

1. Deep: personal growth, human development.
2. Superficial is not a desire to develop, but a desire to express oneself without any personal growth.
3. Passive: natural growth of intellect and personality culture.
4. Active or productive. Characterized by the presence of intention. That is, a person sets a specific goal for himself, then develops those qualities that are necessary to achieve it.
5. Harmonious.
6. Problematic.
7. Cautious.
8. Energetic.

Very often, self-actualization is taken as the main road leading to the pinnacle of human development. However, this is not at all true. In view of the limitless possibilities of the mind, the phenomenon we are considering is limitless.

About Abraham Maslow

Abraham Maslo is one of the most famous and outstanding American psychologists, who is the founder of the humanistic movement in psychology. He is also considered the author of the pyramid of needs (Maslow's pyramid) - a special hierarchical diagram reflecting the needs of people. The model of the hierarchy of needs developed by this scientist began to be actively used in economic science, because is of great importance in modeling theories of motivation and consumer behavior. Maslow went from an unrecognized and ridiculed college professor to the head of the American Psychological Association and a man of enormous authority in the field of psychology.

Personal self-actualization process

Self-actualization is a mental process that reflects a person’s desire to express his essence using unique skills and abilities. The process consists of several stages:

• Awareness of one’s own abilities and the desire to develop them;
• Correlating them with your own desires;
• Choosing the direction in which to move for successful self-development;
• Defending your point of view in front of family, friends, and work colleagues.

This process can be long and difficult, but sometimes it is painless and takes place over a short period of time.

Any adult should know what self-autualization is. The task of a psychologist is to provide a person with developmental assistance in a timely manner if for some reason he cannot realize his natural inclinations. Help is manifested in a joint discussion of the client’s desires and aspirations and the subsequent development of a plan to satisfy the need for self-expression. If necessary, the person’s relatives and friends participate in the discussion.

Areas of the self-actualization process

Self-improvement is necessary for successful social and political activities. With its help, a person finds a new hobby and improves professional skills.

If you don’t want to give up and are ready to really, and not in words, fight for your full and happy life, you may be interested in this article .

It is easier for self-actualizing individuals to create a strong family.

Socio-political activity

Self-realization is a necessity for any politician. To achieve heights, you must constantly develop. Studying politics as a hobby opens up a new side of personality.

More than 9,000 people have gotten rid of their psychological problems using this technique.

Interests and hobbies

The emergence of new hobbies is an effective method of developing self-actualization. Any activity is suitable: dancing, board games, knitting, driving, etc. The main thing is that the hobby is new. You should have fun and try to achieve perfection.

Family

A self-actualizing person strives for deeper relationships with loved ones than an ordinary person. This applies to a greater extent to people who have similar character traits. Two actively self-realizing people get along well together.

Such people have a narrow circle of friends and do not scatter themselves with strangers. But they feel empathy towards a person with a different temperament.

Self-actualization of one family member contributes to the personal development of the rest. Relatives take his behavior as an example.

Parents want their children to be the most successful. They try to motivate troubled teenagers. But until the child himself feels the need for self-development, adults will not convince him.

Professional work

Professional self-actualization is the search for oneself in the profession, one’s own role in the team, setting new goals and searching for prospects. The result is new mental and physical capabilities.

Set yourself the ultimate goal of learning a new professional skill related to your own field of activity.

An acute problem is the formation of self-actualization in pedagogy. According to the Wortman test (forms were filled out by teachers during a 2015 study), 90% of the surveyed teachers in Russia have a 4th degree of creativity, 10% have a 5th degree. 4 and 5 are extremely low indicators.

Due to insufficient motivation, the level of teaching falls.