Test #2 April 4th (Wed)

Mini Quiz! What were you doing at 9:46pm yesterday?

Abraham Maslow

Thoughts and Fantasies Example Think about food, fantasizing about a big meal Thoughts and Fantasies Have not eaten Need for food Hunger Deficit Need Motive Behaviors Go to store, buy food, bring it home, cook it

Needs What needs are basic? Physical Safety Food, water, air, etc. freedom from threat, danger, etc.

Needs What needs are basic? Social / Belonging Self-Esteem desire for affiliation, beloning, etc. Self-Esteem desire for self-confidence, recognition, respect, etc.

Needs What needs are basic? Self-Actualization “to become everything one is capable of becoming”

Self-Actualization “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time” What you are doing when you are not attempting to satisfy another need Your “true” nature “to become everything one is capable of becoming”

Needs Which needs are more salient to survival? There is an order that these needs typically occur Evolutionary explanation

Need Hierarchy Theory Physiological Needs

Need Hierarchy Theory Safety Needs Physiological Needs

Need Hierarchy Theory Social Needs Safety Needs Physiological Needs

Need Hierarchy Theory Self-Esteem Needs Social Needs Safety Needs Physiological Needs

Self-Actualization Needs Need Hierarchy Theory Self-Actualization Needs Self-Esteem Needs Social Needs Safety Needs Physiological Needs

Need Hierarchy Theory 1) Behavior is dominated by the needs that are unfulfilled 2) Individuals will satisfy the most basic needs first and move up the hierarchy 3) Basic needs have higher priority than higher needs

Self-Actualization Needs Group Activity Self-Actualization Needs Where are you? What are you doing to achieve the needs associated with this level? Self-Esteem Needs Social Needs Safety Needs Physiological Needs

What if. . . . You won a large sum of money? What would you do? Would this make you happy?

Are you happy?

Are you happy?

Why to we value material goods? Stuff Most common response to “what will improve your life” More money!

Is this true? 1950 – present Violent crime Family breakdown Psychosomatic complaints Depression Suicides Happiness has stayed the same (30% very happy) Although income has doubled!

Is this true? Wealthiest vs. “average” incomes Very little difference in “happiness”

Is this true? Lottery winners vs. victims struck with severe medical problems Happiness goes back to before

Why? Habituated to money How much money would you need to fulfill your dreams? Under $30,000 $50,000 Over $100,000 $250,000 Makes evolutionary sense

Why? Energy gets focused on material goods Loses sense of other important aspects of life

Self-Actualization Needs Need Hierarchy Theory Self-Actualization Needs Self-Esteem Needs Social Needs Safety Needs Physiological Needs

Achieving Happiness Happiness is a mental state Achieving it can be done via cognitive means

Questionnaire

Flow Self-Actualization and “Flow” Optimal Experiences Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Optimal Experiences Doing something for its own sake, even though it may have no consequences outside itself Moment-to-moment CS experience Examples?

Flow Engaged deeply in an activity 1) Know clearly what they have to do moment by moment 2) Immediate feedback 3) Tremendous concentration 4) Little distractibility 5) Elevated mood 6) Time passes quickly

Flow How do you find flow? Engage in activates that are challenging Not too easy Not too hard

Flow Happiness Not felt while in flow Feel on reflection Important, but not sufficient for happiness

Self-Actualization Needs Need Hierarchy Theory Self-Actualization Needs Self-Esteem Needs Social Needs Safety Needs Physiological Needs

Flow and Self-Actualization What you do when you are not attempting to satisfy a need “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time” Peak Experiences Flow Optimal Experience Done for its own sake, even though it may have no consequences outside itself Flow is what “self-actualization” feels like