s a religious figure. Thus Catholicism in my opinion is actually a method to assist one in self-actualization. This is further strengthened when I went to the religion retreat after SAT. In a meditation session, I discovered that in pondering about what we did wrong in relationships, we are satisfying the being needs. Once we are happy being with our peers, we then concentrate on our own problems in the class reflection. Thus, I would say, catholic retreats too assist one to self-actualize. Thus I think I have found the purpose of modern day Catholicism; it is too help one self-actualize.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Interesting Fact
I find that Catholicism to be a very humanistic religion. In a confession I previously had I found out that Catholic is heavily focused on the individual. Moreover, I find that forces people to love one another thus satisfying the being needs. Also the great commandment which says to love oneself and well as others, strengthens the esteem needs. Thus we are left with self-actualization. As we self-actualize, we become happy and we must love others to self-actualize, thus we too excel a
s a religious figure. Thus Catholicism in my opinion is actually a method to assist one in self-actualization. This is further strengthened when I went to the religion retreat after SAT. In a meditation session, I discovered that in pondering about what we did wrong in relationships, we are satisfying the being needs. Once we are happy being with our peers, we then concentrate on our own problems in the class reflection. Thus, I would say, catholic retreats too assist one to self-actualize. Thus I think I have found the purpose of modern day Catholicism; it is too help one self-actualize.
s a religious figure. Thus Catholicism in my opinion is actually a method to assist one in self-actualization. This is further strengthened when I went to the religion retreat after SAT. In a meditation session, I discovered that in pondering about what we did wrong in relationships, we are satisfying the being needs. Once we are happy being with our peers, we then concentrate on our own problems in the class reflection. Thus, I would say, catholic retreats too assist one to self-actualize. Thus I think I have found the purpose of modern day Catholicism; it is too help one self-actualize.
My Personal Reaction
I find the Maslow is a bit too pessimistic in saying that only 2 percent of people have truly self-actualized. I would agree with most of his theory however. In my own understanding, I feel that self-actualization is easier to accomplish. One needs to be contempt with one’s self and is satisfied with the lower level needs. However, I think that once you have self-actualize, I think what you have gained can temporary work as a replacement for the deficit needs. Thus, using kendo as an example, I am able to surpass my limit and feel good about it. This would contradict with Maslow’s idea as my physiological needs are being depleted but I feel good. Thus I would say that because I have once surpass my limit, what I have gained from the previous time, possibly a peak experience, is giving a replacement for the physiological needs which was lost.
Theory of Maslow
As Maslow experimented with the monkeys, he noticed that the monkeys placed some needs above others. Like thirst over food. Thus this is the base of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs.
The hierarchy of needs is a pyramid created by 4 layers of deficit needs and 1 top layer of being need.
Deficit Needs are needs which are necessary for su
rvival but do not give any impact to the being
Physiological Needs – are the foundation of the pyramid of the hierarchy of needs. This group of needs cover the basic needs for survival like breathing, eating, sleeping, drinking, avoiding pain, etc.
Safety Needs – is above the physiological needs. It comes into play only once the physiological needs are satisfied. This would include having safety, stability, and protection.
Belonging Needs – is above the safety needs and will come into play only after safety needs is satisfied. This need includes the sense of belongingness in a community, family, loved ones.
Esteem Needs – is above the belonging needs and will come into play after the belonging needs is satisfied. This esteem needs is focused on the viewpoint of others at you or your own opinion of yourself. (Higher form, like self-respect is harder to lose than lower form like attention.)
Being Needs
Self-Actualization – once engaged, it continues to be felt. Lower needs must be satisfied first, thus it is hard to reach self-actualization. Self-actualization is the desire to grow to your full potential.
Peak Experiences – short lived experiences of being fully alive
Plateau Experiences – longer lasting but is less intensive compared to peak experiences
SOURCE: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/maslow.html
Reflection
I like Maslow’s theory. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs have supports from the biological perspective. Thus it seems pretty plausible. Moreover, I feel that Maslow is on the right track in pointing out a fact that simpler needs have a greater influence on behavior. Thus if one is starving and is being strangled, loosing breath is more influential. Thus we will struggle to be free than trying to eat to satisfy our hunger. I also agree to that we need esteem needs, belonging needs, etc to actually reach an ultimate potential. However, I also agree that once you actually get to that ultimate point, it will stay with you.
The hierarchy of needs is a pyramid created by 4 layers of deficit needs and 1 top layer of being need.
Deficit Needs are needs which are necessary for su
rvival but do not give any impact to the beingPhysiological Needs – are the foundation of the pyramid of the hierarchy of needs. This group of needs cover the basic needs for survival like breathing, eating, sleeping, drinking, avoiding pain, etc.
Safety Needs – is above the physiological needs. It comes into play only once the physiological needs are satisfied. This would include having safety, stability, and protection.
Belonging Needs – is above the safety needs and will come into play only after safety needs is satisfied. This need includes the sense of belongingness in a community, family, loved ones.
Esteem Needs – is above the belonging needs and will come into play after the belonging needs is satisfied. This esteem needs is focused on the viewpoint of others at you or your own opinion of yourself. (Higher form, like self-respect is harder to lose than lower form like attention.)
Being Needs
Self-Actualization – once engaged, it continues to be felt. Lower needs must be satisfied first, thus it is hard to reach self-actualization. Self-actualization is the desire to grow to your full potential.Peak Experiences – short lived experiences of being fully alive
Plateau Experiences – longer lasting but is less intensive compared to peak experiences
SOURCE: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/maslow.html
Reflection
I like Maslow’s theory. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs have supports from the biological perspective. Thus it seems pretty plausible. Moreover, I feel that Maslow is on the right track in pointing out a fact that simpler needs have a greater influence on behavior. Thus if one is starving and is being strangled, loosing breath is more influential. Thus we will struggle to be free than trying to eat to satisfy our hunger. I also agree to that we need esteem needs, belonging needs, etc to actually reach an ultimate potential. However, I also agree that once you actually get to that ultimate point, it will stay with you.
Quotations of Maslow
“If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you'll be unhappy for the rest of your life.” Abraham Maslow
This quote is quite self explanatory. If one does less than one is capable of, they will never reach their potential. Through Maslow, that person will never reach self-actualization because he/she will attempt to limit his/her self. Thus if one limits themselves from self-actualization, he/she will never be happy, from Maslow’s theory.
“One's only rival is one's own potentialities. One's only failure is failing to live up to one's own possibilities. In this sense, every man can be a king, and must therefore be treated like a king.” Abraham Maslow
This is a replication of the previous quote but with different wording. However, this quote too carries great impact. This quote too teaches you to step over your limit. Using my life as example, when I started playing kendo, I thought doing 100 swings was lethal. However, in forcing myself to step over that limit, today I can do over 1000 swings in one turn.
“What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization.” Abraham Maslow
This has a very strong impact. If a nuclear physicist like Albert Einstein was forced to be a janitor, he wouldn’t discover the theory of relativity. Moreover, if being a janitor was not what he wanted, he will never be happy. Thus the will never self-actualize. Thus the theory of relativity will never be invented.
“What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.” Abraham Maslow
No one can change another person physically. Thus the only way one can change, is to change his own viewpoint of himself and the world. Thus it is in the individuals who can themselves.
“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.”Abraham Maslow
One must be what one loves, otherwise they will be unhappy. This is because we are not self-actualizing by not doing the things that we love. Thus one must do what one loves to achieve an ultimate peace with his/herself.
SOURCE: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abraham_maslow.html
This quote is quite self explanatory. If one does less than one is capable of, they will never reach their potential. Through Maslow, that person will never reach self-actualization because he/she will attempt to limit his/her self. Thus if one limits themselves from self-actualization, he/she will never be happy, from Maslow’s theory.
“One's only rival is one's own potentialities. One's only failure is failing to live up to one's own possibilities. In this sense, every man can be a king, and must therefore be treated like a king.” Abraham Maslow
This is a replication of the previous quote but with different wording. However, this quote too carries great impact. This quote too teaches you to step over your limit. Using my life as example, when I started playing kendo, I thought doing 100 swings was lethal. However, in forcing myself to step over that limit, today I can do over 1000 swings in one turn.
“What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization.” Abraham Maslow
This has a very strong impact. If a nuclear physicist like Albert Einstein was forced to be a janitor, he wouldn’t discover the theory of relativity. Moreover, if being a janitor was not what he wanted, he will never be happy. Thus the will never self-actualize. Thus the theory of relativity will never be invented.
“What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.” Abraham Maslow
No one can change another person physically. Thus the only way one can change, is to change his own viewpoint of himself and the world. Thus it is in the individuals who can themselves.
“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.”Abraham Maslow
One must be what one loves, otherwise they will be unhappy. This is because we are not self-actualizing by not doing the things that we love. Thus one must do what one loves to achieve an ultimate peace with his/herself.
SOURCE: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abraham_maslow.html
Maslow's Life and It's Influences
Maslow was born on 1st of April in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were uneducated Jewish immigrant from Russia. Thus they pushed Abraham to excel in his studies. As a consequence, Maslow had a lonely childhood.To satisfy his parent’s demands, thus Maslow entered City College of New York (CCNY). After 3 semesters, he transferred to Cornell, and back to CCNY. Then Maslow, against the will of his parents, married his first cousin Bertha.
He and Bertha moved to study at the University of Wisconsin. There he went in to the field of psychology. His studies improved dramatically. He worked with Harry Harlow. (Monkey experimentation)
With experimenting on monkeys, he discovers that monkey will react to a more basic need that upper level need.
He received his BA in the 1930, MA in 1931, and PhD in 1934 all in psychology. The following year he moved back to New York and worked with E. L. Thorndike. He became interested in research on human sexuality.
Maslow began full-time teaching at Brooklyn College. During this time he came in contact with many famous psychologists like Adler, Fromm, Horney, and several Gestalt and Freudian psychologist.
This might be why Maslow’s theories striving to satisfy our needs are similar to the psychodynamic.
As Maslow seated as the chair of Brandeis psychology department, he met Kurt Goldstein. Kurt brought the ideas of self-actualization with his book The Organism (1934). It was then Maslow began his crusade for the humanistic psychology.Influenced by “The Organism,” Maslow developed the concept of self-actualization.
He passed away on June 8, 1970 of a heart attack in semi-retirement in California.
Interesting Points:
· Maslow suggests that there are only 2 people who are fully self-actualized.
· Maslow married his own first cousin, Bertha Goodman
· Based his idea on self-actualization on Kurt Goldstein’s “The Organism.”
· The first child of 7 others
· Maslow died of a heart attack after years of ill-health
· Maslow doesn’t think self-actualizers are perfect beings.
SOURCE: www.wikipedia.com
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