Self-Actualizing People in the 21st Century

Integration With Contemporary Theory and Research on Personality and Well-Being

Dados Bibliográficos

ID9020918
AutoresScott Barry Kaufman (0000-0002-1648-8034, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA, autor correspondente)
Ano2018
Volume63
Fascículo1
Páginas51-83
Data de publicação2018-11-07
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Humanistic Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0022-1678 • E-ISSN: 1552-650X
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0022167818809187
OpenAlexW2900260102
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas29
Referências citadas43

More than 70 years ago, Maslow put forward an integrated theory of human motivation that still captures the public imagination. Still, integration with modern theory and research remains elusive. The current study aims to fill this gap in the psychological literature, linking Maslow’s theory to contemporary theory and research on personality and well-being. Toward this aim, the new 30-item “Characteristics of Self-Actualization Scale (CSAS)” was developed. Scale validation showed that 10 characteristics of self-actualizing people as proposed by Maslow load on a general factor of self-actualization and demonstrate external validity. Those reporting more characteristics of self-actualization were more motivated by growth, exploration, and love of humanity than the fulfillment of deficiencies in basic needs. The characteristics of self-actualization were also associated with greater well-being across a number of indicators of well-being, including greater life satisfaction, self-acceptance, positive relations, environmental mastery, personal growth, autonomy, purpose in life, and self-transcendent experiences. Self-actualization scores also predicted work-related outcomes and creativity across multiple domains of achievement. The results provide support for Maslow’s proposed characteristics of self-actualization and basic motivational framework, bringing the concept of self-actualization so frequently discussed by the founding humanistic psychologists firmly into the 21st century

Autonomy · Creativity · Humanism · Humanistic psychology · Maslow's hierarchy of needs · Need theory · Personal development · Personality · Psychotherapist · Scale (ratio · Self-acceptance · Self-Actualization · Self-concept · Self-determination theory · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology