Feist−Feist: Theories of
Personality, Seventh
EditionIII. Humanistic/Existential
Theories- Maslow: Holistic
Dynamic Theory
(^302) © The McGraw−Hill
Companies, 2009
they can become strongly aroused to seek social change and to resist society’s at-
tempts to enculturate them. Self-actualizing people do not merely have different so-
cial mores, but, Maslow (1970) hypothesized, they are “less enculturated, less flat-
tened out, less molded” (p. 174).
For this reason, these healthy people are more individualized and less homog-
enized than others. They are not all alike. In fact, the term “self-actualization” means
to become everything that one can become, to actualize or fulfill all of one’s poten-
tials. When people can accomplish this goal, they become more unique, more het-
erogeneous, and less shaped by a given culture (Maslow, 1970).
Love, Sex, and Self-Actualization
Before people can become self-actualizing, they must satisfy their love and belong-
ingness needs. It follows then that self-actualizing people are capable of both giving
and receiving love and are no longer motivated by the kind of deficiency love (D-
love) common to other people. Self-actualizing people are capable of B-love,that is,
love for the essence or “Being” of the other. B-love is mutually felt and shared and
not motivated by a deficiency or incompleteness within the lover. In fact, it is un-
motivated, expressive behavior. Self-actualizing people do not love because they ex-
pect something in return. They simply love and are loved. Their love is never harm-
ful. It is the kind of love that allows lovers to be relaxed, open, and nonsecretive
(Maslow, 1970).
Because self-actualizers are capable of a deeper level of love, Maslow (1970)
believed that sex between two B-lovers often becomes a kind of mystical experience.
Although they are lusty people, fully enjoying sex, food, and other sensuous plea-
sures, self-actualizers are not dominated by sex. They can more easily tolerate the
absence of sex (as well as other basic needs), because they have no deficiency need
for it. Sexual activity between B-lovers is not always a heightened emotional experi-
ence; sometimes it is taken quite lightly in the spirit of playfulness and humor. But
this approach is to be expected, because playfulness and humor are B-values, and
like the other B-values, they are an important part of a self-actualizer’s life.
Philosophy of Science
Maslow’s philosophy of science and his research methods are integral to an under-
standing of how he arrived at his concept of self-actualization. Maslow (1966) be-
lieved that value-free science does not lead to the proper study of human personal-
ity. Maslow argued for a different philosophy of science, a humanistic, holistic
approach that is not value free and that has scientists who careabout the people and
topics they investigate. For example, Maslow was motivated to search for self-
actualizing people because he idolized and greatly admired Max Wertheimer and
Ruth Benedict, his two original models for self-actualization. But he also expressed
affection and admiration for Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, and other self-
actualizing people (Maslow, 1968a).
Maslow agreed with Allport (see Chapter 13) that psychological science
should place more emphasis on the study of the individual and less on the study of
large groups. Subjective reports should be favored over rigidly objective ones, and
296 Part III Humanistic/Existential Theories