Integrity Vs. Despair

...

in Erikson’s model on the importance of the prior development stage role in the next upcoming stage. This concept asserts that while individuals do continue to change throughout their lives, their personality is not exclusively formed during early childhood but is shaped by these stages. Does this viewpoint help aid the individual to invigor themselves to view their future as a possibility for positive change and development, or instead to look back at the past with blame and regret.

Abraham Maslow

Theory Of Self - Actualization

One of America’s greatest theorist and advocator of the humanistic psychology was Abraham Maslow. Central to his belief is that self-actualization is the final part of the hierarchy of development. For Maslow he believes that self actualization is “a situation that exists when a person is acting in accordance with his or her full potential” (Hergenhahn & Olson, 2011). Throughout the analysis of “ Mom” and her life , there has been a clear illustration of the pivotal concepts that are central to Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs of humans and methodologies. “ Mom” life experiences and her ability to navigate the previous levels of the hierarchy as laid out by Maslow , play a central role in how “Mom” ultimately achieves self-actualization and conceptualizes her personality development and obtained a fulfilled life.

Self-actualization is described as “the highest level in the hierarchy of needs, which can be reached only if the preceding need levels have been adequately satisfied” (Hergenhahn & Olson, 2011). This simply means that the individual is living their life at its fullest potential and achieving the highest quality of life. Researchers Abell and Hanley( 2002) , summize that, “Maslow’s hierarchy has an implicit assumptions about the health of autonomous living. Maslow is not dismissive of relatedness. His emphasis on relationships as vehicles for personal growth, however, is limited mostly to his discussion of peak experiences and those already highly self-actualized”.

His tier model categorizes self actualization as arriving at the desire for personal growth and fulfillment. This initial inclination is assisted by paving the path to what Maslow defined as self-actualization. When “Mom” first migrated to the United States , while the initial motivation may have been to secure a better financial future for her and family it was also a pursuit of creating her own independence and fulfillment. This initial desire according to Maslow was one of “Mom” first steps in becoming self actualized individuals. When referencing Maslow theory of self actualization the openness that is created as a result of the self actualization is critical to its definition, Maslow’s self -actualized person can be conceptualized as a manifestation of openness (Tobacky & Miller 1991). One of the greatest hinderance of achieving self actualization is fear , fear is one of the number one constriction of one growth and diminishes one true potential.

For Maslow , in order to fulfill one’s potential in a positive manner , there is certain basic fundamental needs which must be in meet in order to stimulate one’s growth of motivation(Anderson 2016). These needs are categorized into three specific types which are physical, psychological, and social needs in order to achieve self actualization. .As “Mom” mature in her life even though she was poor, she did live a full life , she remains physically active throughout her mature even holding a job down with her daughter in her laundry, she developed strong ties with her children and they were the foundation of her social network .

--

Kezel, F. (2004). Ego-integrity versus ego-despair: The effect of "accepting the past" on depression in the elderly (Order No. DP20777). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Full Text; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1514557475). Retrieved from http://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.libproxy2.usc.edu/docview/1514557475?accountid=14749