13 Characteristics of Self-Actualizing People According to Abraham Maslow

In Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, the highest need is self-actualization. This American psychologist described it as the impulse to develop one's own potential and become everything one is capable of being, after satisfying the most basic needs. Self-actualized people are lifelong learners, so they always try to broaden their horizons and create a better world around them.

However, reaching self-actualization is usually the exception rather than the norm, since people tend to focus more on meeting those needs that are most pressing. Now, what are the Characteristics of self-actualized people according to Abraham Maslow? In this Psychology-Online article, we describe in detail the most relevant ones.

Index

1. What is self-actualization according to Abraham Maslow
2. perceive reality objectively
3. Live the experiences to the fullest
4. are accepted as they are
5. They are creative and have a sense of humor
6. They are highly realistic
7. They have ethics and a sense of responsibility
8. They are autonomous and enjoy their privacy
9. They are spontaneous
10. They enjoy the journey, not just the destination
11. They focus on personal growth
12. They have an opinion of their own
13. They like life to surprise them
14. They are humble in their learning

The American psychologist Abraham Maslow is one of the most representative figures within the humanist current and positive psychology. Maslow is the father of Hierarchy of Needs Theory or the pyramid of human needs, in which he states that all people have an innate strength that leads them to self-realization, but that they must explore beyond their basic needs or order lower.

Therefore, Maslow suggests that self-actualization arises when these needs have been met and the individual focuses on developing their own potential. In other words, he seeks the maximum performance of a person to become all that he can achieve, so it is considered as a higher need.

During his investigations, Maslow identified several characters as individuals who had achieved personal self-actualization such as, for example, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, among many others more. Now that you know the meaning of self-actualization according to Abraham Maslow, let's see what the characteristics of self-actualized people are.

The first characteristic that defines self-actualizing people is that they they see reality without biases, prejudicesno previous conditions. On the contrary, they have a very objective point of view about everything that happens around them, which allows them to focus on "the here and now". In fact, being free of stereotypes, reality is appreciated with its true details.

Another characteristic of self-realized people is that they are open to different visions and do not have a limited feeling about what they experience. They know that every moment is extremely precious. Therefore, they do not miss opportunities to exploit their full potential. Their experiences are learning from those who emerge stronger.

Individuals who achieve personal self-realization fully accept each of their qualities, abilities and defects. They have a high self-acceptance that is reflected in a healthy self-esteem. In addition, they are able to easily accept and adapt to changes, as they recognize that they cannot control everything in life.

Personal self-realization is an open door for creativity and innovation. On the one hand, those who have already covered the Maslow's Pyramid of Needs, unfold around them a very positive vital energy that transforms the environment. In fact, they can solve problems very simply and with original approaches.

On the other hand, the sense of humor possessed by self-actualized people allows them to relax in the face of eventualities and even see the world in a proactive way because they recognize that everything is about a relationship cause effect.

According to Abraham Maslow, self-actualized people are very realistic. Therefore, they do not stop at the unknown and they tend to face their fears assertively. In addition, they develop in life in a rational and logical way, while assimilating new experiences within their mental schemes to live a fuller and more conscious life.

Self-actualized people are true to their ethical values and moral, therefore, they greatly enjoy applying them in all areas of their lives. Their personal responsibility is very strong and they do whatever it takes to keep their word and the goals they set for themselves.

Together with that, they propose real solutions to problems and have no qualms about help other people improve their own lives. In addition, their sense of empathy is very high and they are not afraid to show interest in other people.

Another characteristic of self-actualizing people, according to Abraham Maslow, is that they love to be independent and their happiness does not depend on anyone but themselves. Likewise, they lack emotional attachments. In other words, they don't need other people to feel satisfied. Therefore, they appreciate the beauty of life in every step they take.

They also like to have their privacy respected. In this way, they discover their inner capacities through reflection and continuous self-analysis. Of course, they have no problem sharing with other people, but from time to time they need to have their own personal space.

You may think that self-actualizing people are rigid and follow a set pattern. However, the reality is that they are spontaneous, outgoing, creative individuals with a great philosophical sense of humor. Although they follow social norms, don't get carried away by stereotypes nor by the rigidity of thought. If you want to learn to let yourself go, in this article, we tell you how to be more spontaneous.

Among the main characteristics of self-actualized people, it stands out that they are eternal apprentices in each of their experiences. Therefore, they enjoy the experiences they live every day, whether they are good or not very good. They recognize that life is today and that tomorrow we do not know where we will go. This allows them to experience a very enriched and fruitful experiential journey.

Undoubtedly, something that defines self-actualized people is that they do not get stuck in covering only their basic needs. They go further and further because they focus on their personal growth. In fact, Maslow describes them as extraordinary people who don't spend much of their lives satisfying only their basic needs.

Do you want to know what is another of the characteristics of self-actualized people according to Maslow? They are individuals who rarely depend on the cultural environment or what other people say because they have their own criteria. This means that they are not carried away by pre-established patterns of society and who respond to situations according to their scale of values.

Maslow defined this trait as "freshness in perception and appreciation." This means that they do not despise the experiences that life offers them. On the contrary, each step is one more that leads them towards their personal development.

In addition, they flatly identify with the human condition, so they are excellent people to engage in any type of social interaction. This quality makes it easier for them to be very assertive to make their ideas and opinions known in a clear and respectful manner.

Although they stand out for their great wisdom, self-actualized people like to learn from others on a daily basis. They consider that each individual is their own source of knowledge and that they can add a lot to their lives. Also, they are democratic and do not think they are better than anyone nor that they have a better status than others.

Lastly, these people always find a purpose to move forward. In fact, they organize themselves according to their objectives and fulfill them one by one in order of priority, which helps them to rank tasks in order of relevance. In addition, they also have a great feeling of gratitude that helps them see life as an immense frontier full of opportunities.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Characteristics of self-actualized people according to Abraham Maslow, we recommend that you enter our category of Personality.

• Maslow, A.H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396.
• Maslow, A. (2004). Hierarchy of needs. Mexico: Quetzal. https://www.academia.edu/35733663/Jerarqu%C3%ADa_de_las_Necesidades? bulkDownload=thisPaper-topRelated-sameAuthor-citingThis-citedByThis-secondOrderCitations&from=cover_page
• Maslow, A. (2016). The self-realized man: towards a psychology of being. Editorial Kairos. https://books.google.co.ve/books? hl=es&lr=&id=8O2bDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT2&dq=las+personas+autorealizadas+according to+maslow&ots=ZIbxWsLeNK&sig=Jvk-6Qp77S4Jh6zseKuXVX0cQDg#v=onepage&q=las%20personas%20autorealizadas%20according%20maslow&f=false