Feist−Feist: Theories of
Personality, Seventh
EditionIII. Humanistic/Existential
Theories- Maslow: Holistic
Dynamic Theory
© The McGraw−Hill^297
Companies, 2009Characteristics of Self-Actualizing People
Maslow believed that all humans have the potential for self-actualization. Then why
are we not all self-actualizing? To be self-actualizing, Maslow believed, people must
be regularly satisfied in their other needs and must also embrace the B-values. Using
these two criteria, he guessed that the psychologically healthiest 1% of the adult pop-
ulation of the United States would be self-actualizing.
Beyond Biography What prompted Maslow to look for self-
actualizing people? For information on Maslow’s quest for the self-
actualizing person, see our website at http://www.mhhe.com/feist7Maslow (1970) listed 15 tentative qualities that characterize self-actualizing
people to at least some degree.
More Efficient Perception of Reality
Self-actualizing people can more easily detect phoniness in others. They can dis-
criminate between the genuine and the fake not only in people but also in literature,
art, and music. They are not fooled by facades and can see both positive and nega-
tive underlying traits in others that are not readily apparent to most people. They per-
ceive ultimate values more clearly than other people do and are less prejudiced and
less likely to see the world as they wish it to be.
Also, self-actualizing people are less afraid and more comfortable with the un-
known. They not only have a greater tolerance of ambiguity, but they actively seek it
and feel comfortable with problems and puzzles that have no definite right or wrong
solution. They welcome doubt, uncertainty, indefiniteness, and uncharted paths, a
quality that makes self-actualizing people particularly well suited to be philosophers,
explorers, or scientists.
Acceptance of Self, Others, and Nature
Self-actualizing people can accept themselves the way they are. They lack defen-
siveness, phoniness, and self-defeating guilt; have good hearty animal appetites for
food, sleep, and sex; are not overly critical of their own shortcomings; and are not
burdened by undue anxiety or shame. In similar fashion, they accept others and have
no compulsive need to instruct, inform, or convert. They can tolerate weaknesses in
others and are not threatened by others’ strengths. They accept nature, including
human nature, as it is and do not expect perfection either in themselves or in others.
They realize that people suffer, grow old, and die.
Spontaneity, Simplicity, and Naturalness
Self-actualizing people are spontaneous, simple, and natural. They are unconven-
tional but not compulsively so; they are highly ethical but may appear unethical or
nonconforming. They usually behave conventionally, either because the issue is not
of great importance or out of deference to others. But when the situation warrants it,
they can be unconventional and uncompromising even at the price of ostracism and
censure. The similarity between self-actualizing people and children and animals is
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