Characteristics & behavior of Self-Actualized people

Maslow’s theory of hierarchy of need can not be completed without mentioning the characteristics & behaviours of Self-Actualized people. My last post was about the importance of self-actualization with regards to work situation and how marketers effectively use this theory of hierarchy of need to promote their products and offerings, while in this post I would highlight the 15 characteristics & behavioural aspects of self-actualized people.

Theoretically, every one of us is capable of self-actualization but most of us will not do. According to Abraham Maslow, only about 2 percent of people can reach the state of self-actualization. He studied 18 people he considered to be self-actualized to identify 15 characteristics of a self-actualized people. These are mentioned below: 

• They accept themselves and others as they are
• Spontaneous in thought and action
• Perceive reality and tolerate uncertainty
• Problem solver
•  Highly creative
•  Unusual sense of humor
•  Able to look at life objectively
•  Concerned for welfare of society
•  Appreciating life-experience
•  Resistance to enculturation
•  Establish deep satisfying interpersonal relationships with a few people
•  Peak experiences
•  Need for privacy
•  Democratic attitude
• Strong ethical values

Though, it is not necessary to display all the 15 characteristics to become self-actualized and not only self-actualized people will display them, yet people achieve self-actualization in their unique way and tend to share certain characteristics. Self-actualization is a matter of degree and merely involves achieving ones potential. At this point, it becomes imperative to know about the behavious leading to self-actualization which is highlighted below:

• ·  Living life like a child with full absorption and concentration
  ·    Trying off the beaten path
  ·    Banking on own feelings instead of voice of tradition
  ·    Being honest and avoid pretence
  ·    Take responsibility and ownership and work hard
  ·    Do not follow the horde

Despite many limitations of Maslow’s hierarchy of need theory, this is still very popular with advertisers and marketers all across the globe. I am not going to critically evaluate the drawbacks as my only purpose of highlighting this theory was to bring to fore the characteristics and behaviours that are shared and display by such people so that many of us can at least try to achieve what we want to achieve. 

Thank you all for the love you are showing to me. Hope you will continue to read my post and yes, your comments are most appreciated and welcomed.