Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist belonging to the humanist perspective, the “third force” as far as psychological currents are concerned, after psychoanalysis and behaviorism.

The focus of Humanist Psychology is on the most positive aspects of the human experience and its development. Humanists hold the individual responsible for the results of his or her life , and trust that, with the right conditions, he or she will develop in a desirable direction, since all humans possess the potential necessary for optimal growth.

Humanistic psychologists believed that people are intrinsically good and resort to environmental causes to explain behaviors considered negative. However, according to Maslow, just because all people have the power to be the drivers of their own personal development does not mean that all people do. Only a few make the decision to self-actualise, with all the effort and sacrifice that entails. They will become self-realized people.

Self-realized people

Maslow believed that people develop through various levels towards their full potential. While all people can reach the highest levels of self-realization, in practice only a few reach the highest level of development. These are the so-called self-realized people, and Maslow estimated that less than 1% of the population was self-realized .

What is self-realization?

Self-realization, according to Maslow, consists in the full development of human potential. He defines it as “the continuous realization of potentials, capabilities and talents, as the fulfillment of a mission, destiny or vocation, as a full knowledge and acceptance of the intrinsic nature of the person, as a never-ending tendency towards unity, integration and synergy within the person”.

For him, psychological disorders would be nothing but denials of one’s own inner potential and attempts against the very nature of the individual.

Characteristics of self-realized people

From a series of observations and studies, Maslow identified a number of common characteristics of self-realized persons .

These are not innate traits that some people have inherited through their genes, but are simply ways in which the process of conquering self-realization is expressed. These characteristics are the following:

1. Efficient perception of reality

Self-realized individuals perceive reality more clearly and objectively . Therefore, they are more unlikely to be deceived, as they show ease in detecting the manipulation strategies of others and are able to judge people in a useful and adaptive way.

2. Acceptance

Self-realized people show a relatively high degree of self-acceptance, and this is reflected in their self-image and self-esteem. This characteristic of acceptance also extends to many other areas of life. Thus, self-realized individuals accept the bad and the good in life, having first identified what kind of situations are irremediable and cannot be radically changed through the acts of the human being.

Self-realized people are aware that there are certain uncontrollable situations in life, and that is why they are better able to cope with losses, better able to grieve, adapt to changes in their lives and have less fear of death .

3. Spontaneity

When in contact with their internal impulses and subjective experience, self-realized people behave in a simple and natural way , without hiding behind a social mask or a false “I”.

4. Focus on problems

Self-realized people focus on problems outside of themselves , having a high level of social awareness, and do not hesitate to abandon their ego to help others. They are usually sensitive and committed to various social causes and do not tolerate injustice.

5. Need for privacy

They enjoy solitude . They do not need to continually enjoy external approval, and they think for themselves instead of letting others make decisions for them. Studies show that they can tolerate sensory deprivation more easily than others.

6. Autonomy

They are also independent, able to satisfy their own needs and to stand on their own two feet without being overly dependent on others. They make decisions without seeking the advice of others, trusting in their own good judgment and taking responsibility for them.

7. Freshness in appreciation

Self-realized people show an almost childlike sense of wonder and admiration. Curious, they let life surprise them even in those contexts that others will perceive as banal and boring.

8. Peak experiences

Capable of mystical experiences that Maslow defined as “states of unity where time tends to fade and the feeling that it overwhelms makes it seem that all needs are met.

Some of the sources that trigger peak experiences in the individual are love, art or erotic ecstasy .

9. Human relationship

They identify with human beings in general , and have a sense of relationship with the human race, without prejudice. Furthermore, they are capable of creating healthy love relationships, without attachment or dependency, only focusing on making the loved one grow.

10. Humility and respect

They are humble and can learn from many different people . They are democratic rather than authoritarian and do not insist on maintaining a status above others.

11. Ethics and values

They have strong ethical standards , although these are not conventional norms of good and evil, but their own ideas that have been formed based on their own criteria and observation of the world.

12. Sense of humor

They have a great sense of humor that is not hostile, they do not laugh at other people’s expense. This is a more philosophical, existential sense of humour .

13. Creativity

It is present in all self-realized subjects. They are capable of generating genuine ideas and original solutions to problems .

Self-realization and basic needs

Maslow considered that every human being was capable of reaching his own self-realization having previously satisfied his basic needs, which he set out in his famous hierarchy of needs (usually represented in the form of a pyramid).

Bibliographic references:

  • Maslow, Abraham. (2005). Management according to Maslow: a humanistic vision for today’s company (orig.: Maslow on Management). Barcelona: Editorial Paidós Ibérica.
  • Städler, Thomas (1998). Lexikon der Psychologie, Stuttgart: Kröner.