Research Paper:

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as it Relates to Self-Actualization

Lauren Kenst

SSO 205 Writing in Behavioral Health

Seton Hill University

 Introduction

The need for self-actualization comes from an intrinsic desire to become the human that

one can be. It is commonly linked with self-improvement. The idea of self-actualization comes

from Abraham Maslow’s Theory of The Hierarchy of Needs. When Maslow first published this

theory, the pyramid that is attached to the idea today was not in his original idea. The pyramid

came later to provide a visual aid to show what Maslow felt were the basic needs on the bottom,

at the base of the pyramid, and the more complex needs at the top. One might not attain the

higher needs in the pyramid unless their basic needs have been met. At the very top of the

pyramid is Maslow’s Theory of Self-Actualization. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs best supports

his Theory of Self-Actualization because when one’s basic physiological needs, safety needs,

and psychological needs are met they are more available to explore their self-fulfillment needs.

The Base

At the bottom of the pyramid lies the basic physiological and safety needs. These are the

things that are vital to survival. Examples include foods, water, shelter, clothing, warmth, and

sleep. Some of the safety needs that are included at the base of the pyramid are financial security,

personal health, and wellness. Maslow’s theory posits that these basic needs must be met prior to

an individual addressing the higher level needs (Patti, 2022). When one no longer has to worry

about securing their basic needs, they are more free to pursue the higher needs of the pyramid.

Building the Pyramid

Shown in the middle levels of the pyramid are some of the psychological and esteem

needs. These needs include the need for love, a stimulating environment, social interactions, and
the desire to form relationships with others. The esteem needs give one a sense of appreciation

and respect, as well as a sense of community. Maslow grouped the first four needs

(physiological, safety, love, and esteem) as deficiency needs. He determined, “deprivation in any

of these categories will motivate behavior to resolve that deficiency” (Patti, 2022). Individuals

who have secured reliable housing are more likely to pursue self-actualization than those without

reliable housing. Additionally, the longer an individual is lacking a deficiency need, the more

motivated they will become to make it right.

Self-Actualization

There can be many obstacles to self-actualization. In a poll of college students, some of

the obstacles these students named were personal obstacles such as lack of confidence, lack of

motivation, time management problems, or stress. Some of the negative impacts of other people

that they named were “problems related to socialization, social rules, lack of social support and

obstacles against females as social obstacles; instability of the education system in revealing

individual skills, time spent in school, negative teacher attitudes, and negative parent attitudes”

(Bulut, 2018). Students face pressure from all aspects of their lives, making that a difficult time

to seek self-actualization. Another obstacle that students named was lack of economic support.

On the other hand, some people might find college the easiest time to reach self-actualization due

to the lack of constraints by parents and family members.

Can We Measure Self-Actualization?

Maslow believed that the concept of self-actualization is an individual process that one

undergoes throughout life. The theory of self-actualization supports “the noble human transition
from self-indulgence to selflessness and altruism” (D’Souza, 2016). Maslow thought that most

mentally healthy individuals would follow the growth motivation path to self-actualization and

realize their true potential.

The more the basic needs were satisfied, it is thought that the psychological health of the

individual would be better. Lester (2013) found that the greater the satisfaction of their five basic

needs in a sample group, the lower their scores on a measure of neuroticism and the lower their

scores on a measure of belief in an external locus of control. Lester also published details of a

study by Strong and Fiebert, who found that the scores for the five needs matched their order in

the hierarchy, with the higher needs receiving higher scores (2013). Lester’s scales assessed the

extent to which the five needs were satisfied by the respondent, whereas Strong and Fiebert

measured how important each need is to the respondent. The difference in wording just shows

the difference in the measures that each approach took.

Conclusion

“Self-actualization is not driven by a lack of something, but rather by the individual’s

need to become what they can be” (Patti, 2022). Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is one

of psychology’s good ideas, and it has sustained the impact of time and development in

psychology. Some have suggested that it is time for a new scale, but Peterson and Park suggest

that it may be premature to remove Maslow’s theory of Self-Actualization from the hierarchy

(2010). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs best supports his Theory of Self Actualization because

when one’s basic physiological needs, safety needs, and psychological needs are met they are

more available to explore their self-fulfillment needs.

 Resources

Bulut. (2018). Obstacles to self-actualization of college students-the case of Gazi . Retrieved

November 22, 2022, from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328806793_Obstacles_to_Self-

actualization_of_College_Students-The_Case_of_Gazi_Faculty_of_Education

D'Souza, J., & Gurin, M. (2016). The universal significance of Maslow’s concept of self-

actualization. The Humanistic Psychologist, 44(2), 210–214.

https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000027

Lester, D. (2013). Measuring maslow's hierarchy of needs . Retrieved November 22, 2022, from

http://modir3-3.ir/article-english/ISI/english25-168.pdf

Patti, L., & Kelly, G. (2022, February 1). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Education Theory Made

Practical Volume 4. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://books.macpfd.ca/etmp-

vol4/chapter/chapter-5-maslow-hierarchy-of-needs/

Peterson, C., & Park, N. (2010). What happened to self-actualization? Perspectives on

Psychological Science, 5(3), 320–322. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691610369471