Motivation and Self-Actualization

Motivation & Self-Actualization "What one can be, one must be." Self-Actualization morality, creativity, spontaneity, lack of prejudice The Hierarchy of Needs Esteem self-esteem, achievement, respect, confidence In 1943, Abraham Maslow laid out a frame- work of human motivation based on a hier- archy of needs. This theory states that people are motivated by unmet needs, where lower needs must be satisified before Love higher needs can be addressed. family, friendship, sexual intimacy In this model, physiological, safety, belong- ing and esteem needs must all be met before people can behave unselfishly and pursue self-actualization. Safety security of body, job, resources, health, family Physiological breathing, food, water, sleep, etc Pursuing self-actualization [Self-actualization is] the desire for self-fulfillment, namely the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more 99 what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming. --Maslow MetaneedS come into play primarily after the basic needs (physical, safety, belongingness, self-esteem) are met, and impel one into self-actualization: Completion (ending) Wholeness Uniqueness (individ- uality) Perfection (balance & harmony) Meaning (values) Richness Justice (unity) (complexity) (fairness) * Yr Simplicity Liveliness Goodness Beauty (essence) (spontaneity) (rightness (benevolence) of form) Truth Playfulness (ease) Autonomy (self- sufficiency) (reality) Peak Experiences & Flow Abraham Maslow described peak experiences as "transient moments of self-actualization." A similar concept- flow- was outlined in Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book "Flow: The Psychology of the Optimal Experience." 66 (Flow is] being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost. 99 --Csikszentmihalyi Conditions of Flow Balance between opportunity and capacity Goals are clear The present is what matters Concentration deepens Feedback is immediate The loss of ego Control is no problem The sense of time is altered High Anxlety Arousal Flow The Flow Model Csikszentmihalyi's flow model shows that one's perceived skill and the perceived challenge of a given task must be in balance. In particular, flow can only occur with high challenge tasks for which one has a high skill level. Worry Control Apathy Boredom Relaxation Low Low Skill Level High Sources: Maslow, A. “A Theory of Human Motivation" . http://www.abraham-maslow.com • Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. "The Concept of Flow" "Good Business: Leadership, Flow and the Making of Meaning" • Maslow, A. Farther Reaches of Human Nature. • Created by Kristin Lindquist http://visualism.org Challenge Level