Theories of Personality Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory Chapter 10

Outline Overview of Holistic-Dynamic Theory Biography of Maslow Maslow’s View of Motivation Self-Actualization Philosophy of Science Measuring Self-Actualization

Outline The Jonah Complex Psychotherapy Related Research Critique of Maslow Concept of Humanity

Overview of Holistic-Dynamic Theory Assumes Whole Person Is Motivated by One Need or Another People Have Potential to Grow toward Psychological Health/Self-Actualization Lower Level Needs Must Be Satisfied Before Higher Level Needs Can Be Met

Biography of Maslow Born in New York City in 1908 Oldest of seven children of Russian-Jewish immigrants Harbors lifelong animosity toward mother Received a PhD in 1934 in psychology from University of Wisconsin where he worked with Harry Harlow

Biography (cont’d) Returns to New York in 1935 and works with E. L. Thorndike at Columbia University Met and was influenced by Alfred Adler, Erich Fromm, and Karen Horney In 1951, became chairperson of the psychology department at Brandeis University President of American Psychological Association 1967-1968 Died in 1970 of a heart attack

Maslow’s View of Motivation Holistic Approach to Motivation Motivation Is Complex People Are Continually Motivated by One Need or Another All People Everywhere Are Motivated by the Same Basic Needs Needs Can Be Arranged on a Hierarchy

Hierarchy of Needs Conative or Basic Needs Aesthetic Needs Physiological Safety Love and belongingness Esteem Self-Actualization Aesthetic Needs The need for order and beauty Cognitive Needs The need for curiosity and knowledge Neurotic Needs An unproductive relating to other people

General Discussion of Needs Reversed Order of Needs Unmotivated Behavior Conditioned reflexes, maturation, drugs Expressive Behaviors An end in itself, no purpose than to be Person’s mode of expressions Looking stupid, being relaxed Coping Behaviors Effortful, learned and triggered by external environment Coping with the environment Instinctoid Nature of Needs Frustration of instinctoid need causes pathology

Self-Actualization Maslow’s Quest for the Self-Actualized Person Criteria for Self-Actualization Free from psychopathology Have progressed through hierarchy of needs Embracing of the B-values Full use of talents, capacities, and potentialities Values of Self-Actualizers Motivated by Eternal Verities or B-Values Metamotivation

Self-Actualization (cont’d) Characteristics of Self-Actualizing People More efficient perception of reality Acceptance of self, others, and nature Spontaneity, simplicity, and naturalness Problem-centering The need for privacy Autonomy Continued freshness of appreciation The peak experience

Self-Actualization (cont’d) Characteristics of Self-Actualizing People (cont.) Gemeinschaftsgefuhl social interest, community feeling, sense of oneness with all humanity Profound interpersonal relations The democratic character structure Discrimination between means and ends Philosophical sense of humor Creativeness Resistance to enculturation Love, Sex, and Self-Actualization

Philosophy of Science Maslow argued for a humanistic, holistic approach that is not value free Psychological science should stress the importance of individual procedures Scientists should put values, emotion, and ritual back into their work and be creative in their pursuit of knowledge

Measuring Self-Actualization Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) Comprehensive measure of the values and behaviors of self-actualizing people Short Index of Self-Actualization Brief Index of Self-Actualization Four factors: Core self-actualization Autonomy Openness to experience Comfort with solitude

The Jonah Complex The Jonah complex is an abnormal syndrome defined as the fear of being or doing one’s best Probably all of us have some timidity about seeking perfection or greatness People allow false humility to stifle creativity, and therefore they prevent themselves from becoming self-actualizing

Psychotherapy The aim of therapy is for clients to embrace the being-values Clients must be freed from their dependence on others so that their natural impulse to grow can become active Psychotherapy must not be value free

Critique of Maslow Maslow’s Theory Is: Very High on Organizing Knowledge High on Guiding Action Moderate on Generating Research, Internal Consistency, and Parsimony Low on Falsifiability

Concept of Humanity Free Choice over Determinism Optimism over Pessimism Teleology over Causality Conscious over Unconscious Equal Emphasis on Culture and Biology Uniqueness over Similarity