Question

Select one of the following:

- being homeless

- seeking to be a millionaire

- earning an advanced degree

- getting divorced

- getting married

- seeking therapy for adjustment problems

- joining a gym

- having a baby

- joining the military

- working in a day care

- becoming a mechanic

- sculpting a work of art

- planting a flower garden

- becoming a paramedic

According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchical theory of motivation, which need is the person working on? Why do you think so? Are we capable of self-direction and actualization? Why or why not? When does transcendence occur?

None of the activities above guarantee the person is seeking the self-actualization process.Describe how engaging in one of these activities can both be engaging in self-actualization and/or a distraction from self-actualization.

Answer 1

The activity that has been chosen is, "getting married".

Abraham Maslow's hierarchical theory of motivation has proposed the following hierarchy of needs:

1) Physiological needs

2) Safety needs

3) Love and Belongingness needs

4) Self esteem needs

5) Self actualization needs

The act of getting married is a person working on his/her need of love and belongingness. This is because getting married would make a person feel intimate and accepted by another. This need of being affiliated is the main goal of this stage. Therefore, marriage comes under the need for love and belongingness.

Yes, a person is capable of self-direction and actualization. Self actualization is not just a mere concept, it is about a person reaching his.her fullest potential. Self actualization is the ultimate drive of motivation a person has towards self-growth. Transcedence is the step ahead from actualization. It is achieved when a person is capable of pushing far beyond their totality. This means that apart from stabilization of one's sense of self, the concept of transcendence also focuses on the extraordinary connections within and beyond the self allowing the person coordinate between time and space.

Engaging in the activity of marriage can be self actualizing because it is a new institution in which a person engages in, and therefore it comes with its share of happiness and challenges. A successful marriage is when a person realises his/her weaknesses and thrives to reach their potential best in order to make their marriage work. It is not only confined to just the marital relationship of the the two people, but also how this relationship impacts the individual life of the person. This deep and meaningful knowledge and appreciation makes a person self actualize. However, this same string can be a distraction if a person does not understand the gravity of the relationship and indulge in activities that does not lead to the person's growth.

In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the need to love and belong is the third category of need and the need to self actualize is the final category of need. In between these two is the need for self esteem, that is the need to be accepted and valued by others. Therefore, if there is no respect in a relationship, then the persons involved cannot reach actualization. Hence, in such cases marriage can be a distracting component.