Self-Actualization

Maslow saw Self-actualization as a “growth” need, while the others were “deficiency” needs. In other words, the motivation of the other needs came from a lack of them, while we are naturally drawn to the process of self-actualization out of a desire to grow.

The idea behind this need is that even with all other needs fulfilled, true contentment can’t be achieved unless we feel like we are doing what we are meant to be doing. Maslow put it this way:

A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately happy. What a man can be, he must be.

from A theory of human motivation, Maslow, 1943

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references

1. Koltko-Rivera, Mark E. `Rediscovering the Later Version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Self-Transcendence and Opportunities for Theory, Research, and Unification.` Review of General Psychology, vol. 10, no. 4, 1 Dec. 2006, pp. 302–317., doi:10.1037/1089-2680.10.4.302. [https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow(2).pdf].
2. Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346. [https://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm].
3. `Hierarchy of Needs of Abraham Maslow.` A First Look at Communication Theory, by Emory A. Griffin et al., Mcgraw-Hill Education, 2019, pp. 124–133. http://www.afirstlook.com/docs/hierarchy.pdf.
4. Mcleod, S. A. (2020, March 20). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Simply Psychology. [https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html].