A COGNITIVE-SYSTEMIC RECONSTRUCTION OF
MASLOW'S THEORY OF SELF-ACTUALIZATION
by Francis Heylighen1
PESP, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Maslow's need hierarchy and model of the self-actualizing personality
are reviewed and criticized. The definition of self-actualization
is found to be confusing, and the gratification of all needs is concluded
to be insufficient to explain self-actualization. Therefore the
theory is reconstructed on the basis of a second-order, cognitive-systemic
framework. A hierarchy of basic needs is derived from the urgency
of perturbations which an autonomous system must compensate
in order to maintain its identity. It comprises the needs for homeostasis,
safety, protection, feedback and exploration. Self-actualization is
redefined as the perceived competence to satisfy these basic needs in
due time. This competence has three components: material, cognitive
and subjective. Material and/or cognitive incompetence......
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Approximate Word Count: 9394
Approximate Pages: 37 (260 words per double-spaced page) |