Overview:
Abraham Harold Maslow (1908 -1970) believed himself to stand, the inverted image of Freud's contributions into the world of Psychology. Born in Brooklyn, his father had wanted him to be a lawyer and although he initially went to law school, he dropped out and but got his degree at the City College of New York and attended the University of Wisconsin to study Psychology under his mentor, Harry Harlow. Through his studies and many sequential mentors, he formed the basis of Humanistic Psychology, and thus became its early founder.
Humanistic Psychology:
A psychological perspective which diverts from the previous Freudian and Behaviorist thought, and focuses on the higher potential that humanity has.
The Fundamentals of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:
What Maslow understood of mankind's needs, were developed into the framework of what he called the "Hierarchy of Needs". It details an extensive approach from the physiological needs of an individual to their eventual enlightenment or, self-actualization.
The pyramid is designed to suggest that the lower (fitting for the term 'hierarchy') needs are towards the base. The physiological needs being at the very bottom, and though they are essential, they are also intrinsic to every living creature. The further up the ladder of the Hierarchy of Needs, the more it focuses on Humanistic disciplines.
Self-Actualization, or the Modernized Polymath:
Morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice and acceptance of facts--are all necessary in order to attain a greater, human fulfillment as stated by Maslow. According to Maslow all tiers of the Hierarchy of Needs were accomplishable. The idea of the self-actualized individual digs it's roots into the philosophies of the Renaissance, or Renaissance Man: a well-rounded, well-versed and 'complete' individual. In essence, an individual having mastered the 'finer qualities' as well as the base needs. It is reminiscent of a few Godwinian tenets as far as the "perfectibility of man"-- but with what it possesses, it goes a little bit further. Self-actualization is about moving out above and beyond the self-serving needs of the body to the requirements of eventual happiness. The beyond being a focus on the surrounding element, ie. social and worldly empathy that help the self-actualized individual achieve said happiness through making lasting and deeper connections with those around them.
The greatest inspirators of his Self-Actualized model were his two mentors in New York, Max Wertheimer (psychologist) and Ruth Benedict (anthropologist) who he felt best fit the description of his principles.
In order to break from the limiting baser qualities (selfishness, violence, disregard, possessiveness), the self-actualized person must master them with a greater understanding of those qualities and an overall betterment of them. A self-actualized person will be happier in life, according to Maslow, because they have both mastered and accepted the former qualities of their person and found the understanding to help them peak and experience a greater more lasting bliss (Peak Experiences). Self-actualization is about building a stronger more capable self and enriching the lives and relationships of those in and around their life.
B-Cognition, or the Qualities of a Self-Actualized Person:
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Post-materialism
- Differentiation
- Joy
- Benevolence
- Effortlessness
- Idiosyncrasy
- Acceptance
- Wholeness
- Fulfillment
Impact & Legacy:
Shortly after his death (heart attack, 1970), his work influenced a resurgence from Martin Seligman, under the same title as he called his own psychological perspective: 'Positive Psychology', except its focus was a little more focused on human nature and the positive side. His work brought about a wide range of ideas and constructive therapies as those methodologies by Carl Rogers in order to achieve Self-Actualization.
Textual Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow
http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_2.htm
http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
https://wedaman.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/b-cognition/
http://vimeo.com/56602166 (Encountering Maslow, documentary)
Image Sources:
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/69571000/jpg/_69571701_maslow_2.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow#mediaviewer/File:Maslow%27s_Hierarchy_of_Needs.svg
