The Psychology of Self-Actualisation: Meaning, Growth, and Fulfilment

The quest for the fullest expression of the human being has been the concern of philosophy, religion, and psychology for a long time. Amongst modern philosophers, Abraham Maslow gave the quest its most psychological guidance by discovering the process of self-actualisation, which he described as becoming real in conceiving oneself and nurturing the skills involved in that conception (Maslow, 1943, 1954). Self-actualisation was not success or felicity, but wholeness, creativity, meaning, and moral maturity to Maslow.

Over the decades, the theory has been built empirically and subsequently developed further by cross-cultural and developmental theories. Self-actualisation is thus described as encompassing not just individual growth, but also connection, responsibility, and transcendence. As a result of a widely publicised reaction to global issues confronting the world today, whether one knows how to be one’s “best self” is more than an issue.

Read More: Hierarchy of needs: Human Love and Belongingness explained by Abraham Maslow

Maslow’s Original Formulation

Maslow originally put forth self-actualisation as a theory in his hierarchy of needs in 1943. His hierarchy suggested that human motivation would have to ascend: from physiological survival need, to safety, then to love and belonging, to esteem, and finally to self-actualisation on the highest level (Maslow, 1943).

Self-actualised individuals, as Maslow (1971) conceptualised, were characterised by the following:

1. Authenticity: behaviour steered by personal principles.
2. Autonomy: independence from over-socialisation.
3. Creativity: solving problems of everyday life and artistic imagination.
4. Depth of relationships: capacity for empathy and intimacy.

He also developed a theory of peak experiences—moments of peak pleasure, wholeness, and significance, when one is very in touch with life. These moments, he considered, had the capacity to shift one’s orientation, putting individuals into authenticity and moral accountability.

While revolutionary, Maslow’s words were too limiting and ethnocentric in the eyes of his critics. But they provided a vision of what human beings could be that has continued to be optimistic and augmented in subsequent years by contemporary science.

The most important components of Self-Actualisation

1. Honesty and Wholeness

At its simplest, self-actualisation is an alignment of internal values and external action. Contemporary psychology normally defines this in terms of authenticity, the ability to live within oneself and not just conform to external pressures (Kernis & Goldman, 2006).

Authenticity has been shown to elicit higher well-being, resilience to stress, and more authentic interpersonal relationships (Ryan & Deci, 2017). Integration is a series of events where loose strings of the self—cognitive, emotional, and relational—are stitched together into a cohesive sense of identity.

2. Purpose and Meaning

Purpose has emerged as a core aspect of actualisation. Engagement in striving for objectives and purposes greater than self, and direction and persistence even in trouble, are part of it. Viktor Frankl (1963), psychologist and Holocaust survivor, viewed meaning as humans’ basic source of energy, and this is echoed by current research stating that purpose is a predictor of longevity, mental health, and prosociality (Hill & Turiano, 2014).

3. Growth Orientation and Creativity

Self-actualisation is not marked by stagnation, but by continuous growth and exploration. Maslow called this a growth motivation (or “being-values”)—creativity, curiosity, and novelty. Empirical support for post-traumatic growth indicates that individuals generally emerge from struggle with new meanings, values, and creative capacities (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004), confirming Maslow’s argument that struggle speeds up growth.

4. Peak and Self-Transcendent Experiences

Peak states, as Maslow had discovered, are states of utmost integration and wholeness. Later researchers like David Yaden and his colleagues (2017) have examined self-transcendent states that provoke a human and cosmic sense of interconnectedness. These states, elicited by meditation, nature, art, or spirituality, are linked to long-term advantages in empathy, meaning, and well-being.

5. Moral and Ethical Maturity

Unlike hedonic, happiness-only models, self-actualisation is based on ethical awareness and community engagement. Maslow’s self-actualizers, as he perceived, were not ego-centric narcissists but were deeply concerned with justice, equity, and assisting others. This is echoed in new findings that engaging prosocially is good for well-being, and it is one of the strongest indicators of flourishing (Layous et al., 2012).

Empirical Research: From Concept to Measurement

Originally criticised as being too esoteric, self-actualisation is now assessed in terms of empirically measurable constructs such as eudaimonic well-being, authenticity, and meaning in life. Growth tendencies (e.g., openness to experience, curiosity) correlate with resilience and enhanced life satisfaction (Kashdan et al., 2009). Meaningful activities are protective against depression and enhance motivation (Steger et al., 2006). Self-transcendent experiences correlate with long-term psychological well-being and interpersonal consonance gains (Yaden et al., 2017). Psychometric instruments such as the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) and eudaimonic well-being scales have enabled empirical tests for self-actualisation to be conducted on populations, and it has been associated with health, productivity, and political participation.

Criticisms and Cross-Cultural Problems

Maslow’s hierarchical system has been criticised on several counts.

1. Linearity: Human needs do not necessarily follow in a linear, step-by-step manner. They stretch out for creativity or meaning when they lack security or safety.
2. Western bias: Autonomy and fulfilment are Western cultural priority values of choice. Self-actualisation in collectivist cultures would instead be more relationally oriented with harmony and responsibility in community being considered (Tay & Diener, 2011).
3. Social inequality: Poverty and discrimination are structural obstacles that can suffocate actualisation potential. A pluralistic view confirms multiple routes to flourishing—some autonomy-based, some interdependence and service-based.

Read More: Discussing Discrimination Through a Mental Health Lens

Pathways to Self-Actualisation

1. Secure Basic Needs: Offer food security, shelter, and safety as a foundation. In their absence, other, more lofty goals of actualisation remain impossible.
2. Establish Autonomy and Competence: Self-Determination Theory studies (Ryan & Deci, 2017) demonstrate how humans thrive when they experience autonomy (option), competence (efficacy), and relatedness.
3. Establish Deep Connections: Relationships entail a sense of belonging, support, and shared meaning. Positive psychology mandates that close relationships are among the most accurate predictors of flourishing (Diener & Seligman, 2002).
4. Encourage Creative Discovery: Action in art, solving problems, or inventing enables experience integration and emergence beyond ordinary life.
5. Seek Awe and Transcendence: Awe is generated by rituals, meditation, nature, and social relationships that push minds and encourage humility (Keltner & Haidt, 2003).

Actualisation in the New Century

The 21st century offers both challenge and opportunity for actualisation.

1. Challenges

Social comparison and social anxiety are encouraged by social media, economic inequality excludes opportunity, and global crises heighten uncertainty.

2. Opportunities

Technology allows access to information, communities of belonging, and creativity. Virtual environments also hold the potential for previously excluded voices to be amplified, with greater access to self-expression. The COVID-19 outbreak was investigated, where those with high purpose and meaning scored higher in psychological flexibility and resilience (Van Tongeren et al., 2021). This validates the enduring function of actualisation as a buffer for resilience.

Furthermore, structural assistance such as universal healthcare, education, and social protection plans incentivise indirect self-actualisation by constraining precarity and allowing people to dream bigger.

Inclusivity and Multiple Forms of Actualisation

To be operational, self-actualisation needs to be seen as inclusive rather than exclusive.

1. Cultural diversity: In collectivist cultures, actualisation can be actualising family responsibilities or serving the good of one’s community.
2. Neurodiversity: Various cognitive types of individuals can be achieved through individual capacity, reducing the definition of “normal” functioning.
3. Structural barriers: Poverty, inequality, and racism restrict development; social justice is therefore at the heart of a democratic model of actualisation.
4. Lifespan theory: Self-actualisation is not just a middle adulthood or youth event but shifts throughout the lifespan, based on shifting priorities—e.g., legacy in old age or identity formation in adolescence (Ryff, 2018).

Practical Steps for Individuals and Communities

1. Individuals: Values are developed through reflective practices like mindfulness and journaling. Hobbies and creative activities merge growth with well-being. Service and mentoring bring meaning and bonding.
2. Communities: Health-supportive policies, education, and safety establish a haven. Arts growth, community, and life-long learning produce creativity and meaning.
3. Practitioners: Education and mental health professionals can produce culturally sensitive interventions that value multiple routes to fullness. Co-constructed plans, in which individuals set their own goals, are enabling.

Conclusion: Toward a Democratic Vision of Becoming

Maslow’s initial dream—that human beings are not only motivated by deficit, but by the striving toward wholeness of being—is still far too pertinent. Contemporary psychology is an expansion of the dream with greater depth in the areas of authenticity, meaning, creativity, transcendence, and social responsibility. In the era of escalating inequalities and uncertainties, self-actualisation cannot be seen as an elitist luxury but a democratic aspiration—a collective responsibility to make sure everybody has an opportunity to grow and flourish.

The merger of individual development with cultural diversity and structural justice allows self-actualisation to function in the interests of the welfare and social transformation of the individual. Self-actualisation is thus not an individual climb to the apex of a pyramid but a common journey of becoming, wherein growth, imagination, and affiliation breach borders of culture, ability, and circumstance.

FAQs

1. What is self-actualisation according to Maslow?

According to Abraham Maslow, self-actualisation is the highest level of psychological development, representing the innate desire to realise one’s full potential and become everything one is capable of becoming. It involves intrinsic growth, creativity, personal fulfilment, and a drive to achieve one’s true self and purpose, rather than being motivated by a deficiency in basic needs.

2. Why do humans strive less for self-actualisation?

Humans often thrive less for self-actualisation because basic needs for physiological well-being and safety take precedence, and self-actualisation is a rare, complex state that is difficult to achieve even when basic needs are met. External societal influences, conflicting desires, and the inherent difficulty of reaching the apex of Maslow’s hierarchy mean that individuals often lack the resources, energy, or opportunity to pursue their full potential.  

3. How can Self-Actualisation be achieved in the modern age?

Self-actualisation in the modern age can be achieved by embracing authenticity, continuously learning, cultivating meaningful relationships, practising mindfulness, and contributing to others, all while prioritising mental well-being and self-acceptance. It involves understanding and accepting yourself, accepting others, and finding a sense of purpose through your actions and connections.