Analysis Of Abraham Maslow's Self-Actualization And Self Determination Theory

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Personality Theory has been a class that has increased my understanding of who I am and the world in which I live in. I have analyzed a few impactful personality theories and theorist, their history, and applications. No matter how great the personality theorist’s relevance for my personal life, Abraham H. Maslow’s work has a vast impact on me as an emerging adult in society and specifically as a college student. Maslow’s Hierarchy has spun out of my desire for self-fulfillment, my own personal journey to become closer to Self-Actualization. Maslow stated that Self-actualization is the highest possible level of human development (Feist, Feist, & Roberts, 2012, p.263). What really does this term entail? This level of human developement has four main criteria that are rarely fully met. The criteria are: freedom from psychopathology, the accomplishment of …show more content…

In this journal I noticed many similarities between Maslow’s Self-Actualization and the Self Determination Theory (SDT). SDT refers to human potential that every person possesses (Deci, Ryan, & Guay, 2013, p.109). In this theory it helps a person understand him or herself. Flourishing and actualization is seen as a natural human potential (Deci, Ryan, & Guay, 2013, p. 10). Similar to the holistic-dynamic theory, SDT uses a meta-theory that assumes that individuals are inherently inclined to be proactive and move towards a greater refinement and integration in self-functioning, which mimics individual 's potential to achieve self-actualization. The substitute for the word self-actualization is fully functioning in SDT. Full function is linked to demonic well-being (Deci, Ryan, & Guay, 2013, p. 110). The Self-Determination Theory has three basic needs, again similar to Maslow’s concept of hierarchy of needs. The three needs are competence, autonomy, and relatedness (Deci,

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