MASLOW'S THEORY

Maslow's Theory of Self-Actualization and Giving Up on Dreams

Maslow's Theory of Self-Actualization and Giving Up on Dreams

Introduction

Abraham Maslow proposed the study of hierarchy needs. He developed the Hierarchy of Needs, which proved highly influential on a number of thinkers. Maslow suggested the theory of needs. He further explained that there are goals, which, we arrange into a series of different levels, or the order of importance of these basic needs (Maslow, 1971). This paper will discuss Maslow's Theory of Self-Actualization and Giving Up on Dreams.

Maslow believed in the way people do things. Maslow would say; anything we do starts from a drive inside us. Maslow says: Motivation is the drive to satisfy needs. Maslow produced a hierarchy of human needs. Many of the numerous illustrations of Maslow's hierarchy differ and include more needs. Maslow believed in the way people do things. Maslow would say; anything we do starts from a drive inside us. For example, if I eat, it is because I am hungry and I have an urge to satisfy that hunger (Bugental, 1989).

As we can see, in the daily life we are living in, people always give up on their dreams very easily. It is usual for us to hear someone say that, "I quit. I cannot do this anymore." Some people do so because they are tired of what they are doing, and others may just give up on their dreams because of their own personality problem. In my point of view, it is not a good or healthy thing to do because, in the end, people may regret what they decided to do. They may feel unhappy or even depressed. This can increase the number of people who have melancholia, and it also increase the rate of suicidal behavior. So, in my point of view, dreams, the life goals of individual's, should never be given up.

This is not a newly born problem that people sometimes abandon their dreams. It happens throughout human history. A prominent psychologist Abraham Maslow has a theory, which widely accepted by people. That is we are having different levels of needs. Some of them are basic, and some are at a higher level.

Maslow's Self- Actualization (Theory of Hierarchy Needs)

Self-actualization is the human desire for the fullest possible identification and development of their personal capabilities. In some areas of modern Western psychology extends self-actualization (as, opposed to behaviorism and Freudianism, who believes that individual behavior drive by biological forces, but its meaning is to defuse tension created by them, and adaptation to the environment) to be the main motivational factor (May, 1975). True self-actualization requires favorable social and historical conditions.

Self-actualization is continuous realization of the potentialities, abilities and talents, as fulfillment of its mission, or vocation, destiny, etc., as a complete knowledge and, therefore, the adoption of its own original nature, as a constant striving for unity, integration, or internal synergy of the individual.

Problems of self-actualization actively developed A. Maslow. He believed that self-actualization is the highest human need according to the ...