360 Part IV Dispositional Theories
by proactive behavior; that is, they not only react to external stimuli, but they are
capable of consciously acting on their environment in new and innovative ways
and causing their environment to react to them. Proactive behavior is not merely
directed at reducing tensions but also at establishing new ones.
In addition, mature personalities are more likely than disturbed ones to be
motivated by conscious processes, which allow them to be more flexible and
autonomous than unhealthy people, who remain dominated by unconscious motives
that spring from childhood experiences.
Healthy people ordinarily have experienced a relatively trauma-free child-
hood, even though their later years may be tempered by conflict and suffering.
Psychologically healthy individuals are not without the foibles and idiosyncrasies
that make them unique. Also, age is not a requisite for maturity, although healthy
persons seem to become more mature as they get older.
What, then, are the more specific requirements for psychological health?
Allport (1961) identified six criteria for the mature personality.
The first is an extension of the sense of self. Mature people continually seek
to identify with and participate in events outside themselves. They are not self-
centered but are able to become involved in problems and activities that are not
centered on themselves. They develop an unselfish interest in work, play, and
recreation. Social interest (Gemeinschaftsgefühl), family, and spiritual life are
important to them. Eventually, these outside activities become part of one’s being.
Allport (1961) summed up this first criterion by saying: “Everyone has self-love,
but only self-extension is the earmark of maturity” (p. 285).
Second, mature personalities are characterized by a “warm relating of self to
others” (Allport, 1961, p. 285). They have the capacity to love others in an intimate
and compassionate manner. Warm relating, of course, is dependent on people’s
ability to extend their sense of self. Only by looking beyond themselves can mature
people love others nonpossessively and unselfishly. Psychologically healthy indi-
viduals treat other people with respect, and they realize that the needs, desires, and
hopes of others are not completely foreign to their own. In addition, they have a
healthy sexual attitude and do not exploit others for personal gratification.
A third criterion is emotional security or self-acceptance. Mature individuals
accept themselves for what they are, and they possess what Allport (1961) called
emotional poise. These psychologically healthy people are not overly upset when
things do not go as planned or when they are simply “having a bad day.” They do
not dwell on minor irritations, and they recognize that frustrations and inconve-
niences are a part of living.
Fourth, psychologically healthy people also possess a realistic perception of
their environment. They do not live in a fantasy world or bend reality to fit their
own wishes. They are problem oriented rather than self-centered, and they are in
touch with the world as most others see it.
A fifth criterion is insight and humor. Mature people know themselves and,
therefore, have no need to attribute their own mistakes and weaknesses to others.
They also have a nonhostile sense of humor, which gives them the capacity to
laugh at themselves rather than relying on sexual or aggressive themes to elicit
laughter from others. Allport (1961) believed that insight and humor are closely
related and may be aspects of the same thing, namely self-objectification. Healthy