http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-actualization#Self-actualization

Self-actualization

Self-actualization--invented by Kurt Goldstein, a mentor to Maslow--is the instinctual need of humans to make the most of their abilities and to strive to be the best they can.

Self Actualization is the intrinsic growth of what is already in the organism, or more accurately, of what the organism is.[2]

Maslow writes the following of self-actualizing people:

* They embrace the facts and realities of the world (including themselves) rather than denying or avoiding them.
* They are spontaneous in their ideas and actions.
* They are creative.
* They are interested in solving problems; this often includes the problems of others. Solving these problems is often a key focus in their lives.
* They feel a closeness to other people, and generally appreciate life.
* They have a system of morality that is fully internalized and independent of external authority.
* They have discernment and are able to view all things in an objective manner.

In short, self-actualization is reaching one's fullest potential.

According to Maslow, the tendencies of self-actualizing people are as follows:

1. Awareness

* efficient perception of reality
* freshness of appreciation
* peak experiences
* ethical awareness

2. Honesty

* philosophical sense of humor
* social interest
* deep interpersonal relationships
* democratic character structure

3. Freedom

* need for solitude
* autonomous, independent
* creativity, originality
* spontaneous

4. Trust

* problem centered
* acceptance of self, others, nature
* resistance to enculturation - identity with humanity

[edit] Self-transcendence

At the top of the triangle, self-transcendence is also sometimes referred to as spiritual needs. Spiritual Needs are a little different from other needs, accessible from many levels. [3]

Maslow believes that we should study and cultivate peak experiences as a way of providing a route to achieve personal growth, integration, and fulfillment. Peak experiences are unifying, and ego-transcending, bringing a sense of purpose to the individual and a sense of integration. Individuals most likely to have peak experiences are self-actualizing, mature, healthy, and self-fulfilled. All individuals are capable of peak experiences. Those who do not have them somehow suppress or deny them.

Maslow originally found the occurrence of peak experiences in individuals who were self-actualizing, but later found that peak experiences happened to non-actualizers as well but not as often:

I have recently found it more and more useful to differentiate between two kinds of self-actualizing people, those who were clearly healthy, but with little or no experiences of transcendence, and those in whom transcendent experiencing was important and even central… It is unfortunate that I can no longer be theoretically neat at this level. I find not only self-actualizing persons who transcend, but also non-healthy people, non-self-actualizers who have important transcendent experiences. It seems to me that I have found some degree of transcendence in many people other than self-actualizing ones as I have defined this term…[4]

In 1969, Abraham Maslow, Stanislav Grof and Anthony Sutich were the initiators behind the publication of the first issue of the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroticism

Neuroticism is a fundamental personality trait in the study of psychology. It can be defined as an enduring tendency to experience negative emotional states. Individuals who score high on neuroticism are more likely than the average to experience such feelings as anxiety, anger, guilt, and depression (Matthews & Deary, 1998). They respond more poorly to environmental stress, and are more likely to interpret ordinary situations as threatening, and minor frustrations as hopelessly difficult. They are often self-conscious and shy, and they may have trouble controlling urges and delaying gratification. Neuroticism is related to emotional intelligence, which involves emotional regulation, motivation, and interpersonal skills (Goleman, 1997). It is also considered to be a predisposition for traditional neuroses, such as phobias and other anxiety disorders.

Contents

* 1 Emotional stability
* 2 Measurement
* 3 Physiology
* 4 Reference
* 5 See also

[edit] Emotional stability

On the opposite end of the spectrum, individuals who score low in neuroticism are more emotionally stable and less reactive to stress. They tend to be calm, even tempered, and less likely to feel tense or rattled. Although they are low in negative emotion, they are not necessarily high on positive emotion. That is an element of the independent trait of extraversion. Neurotic extraverts, for example, would experience high levels of both positive and negative emotional states, a kind of "emotional roller coaster." Individuals who score low on neuroticism (particularly those who are also high on extraversion) generally report more happiness and satisfaction with their lives.

[edit] Measurement

Neuroticism is typically viewed as a continuous trait, rather than a distinct type of person. People vary in their level of neuroticism, with a small minority of individuals scoring extremely high or extremely low on the dimension. Because most people cluster around the average, neuroticism test scores approximate a normal distribution, given a relatively large sample of people. Neuroticism is one of the most studied personality traits in psychology, and this has resulted in a wealth of data and statistical analysis. It is measured on the EPQ, the NEO PI-R, and other personality inventories.

[edit] Physiology

Neuroticism appears to be related to physiological differences in the brain. Hans Eysenck theorized that neuroticism is a function of activity in the limbic system, and research suggests that people who are high on neuroticism have a more reactive sympathetic nervous system, and are more sensitive to environmental stimulation. (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985). Behavioral genetics researchers have found that a substantial portion of the variability on measures of neuroticism can be attributed to genetic factors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis

Several years ago, I heard something along the following lines: only 10% of us are self-actualized; 80% are neurotic to some degree; and 10% are psychotic. (The numbers may have been 20%, 60% and 20%, respectively.)

I don't know how trustworthy those numbers are.
Any thoughts?
Any evidence?

I have also heard neurosis described more briefly as repeatedly doing things one knows are not healthy for the self.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

No idea if the numbers are correct, but just remember one golden rule about mental health. It's ok to talk to yours self as long as you don't answer back.

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No idea if the numbers are correct, but just remember one golden rule about mental health. It's ok to talk to yours self as long as you don't answer back.

Hey that sounds like good advice.

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No idea if the numbers are correct, but just remember one golden rule about mental health. It's ok to talk to yours self as long as you don't answer back.

Hey that sounds like good advice.

LOL! Do you see any of that happening?

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

.....but just remember one golden rule about mental health. It's ok to talk to yours self as long as you don't answer back.

We tend to think all we are is our conscious mind but sometimes parts of us speak back to us without words. (If you ever stood on the edge of a very high wall, looked down and thought 'what if I jumped' then felt an unspoken word saying "no" you will understand.)


KAHLIL GIBRAN:

When it is day with thee, my friend, it is night with me; yet even then I speak of the noontide that dances upon the hills and of the purple shadow that steals its way across the valley; for thou canst not hear the songs of my darkness nor see my wings beating against the stars-and I fain would not have thee hear or see. I would be with night alone.



Why talk to anyone including one self if they are not going to talk back to you.

That sounds even more mad somehow :o)~




(Now if only I would stop telling me to post :o)))

.....but just remember one golden rule about mental health. It's ok to talk to yours self as long as you don't answer back.

We tend to think all we are is our conscious mind but sometimes parts of us speak back to us without words. (If you ever stood on the edge of a very high wall, looked down and thought 'what if I jumped' then felt an unspoken word saying "no" you will understand.)


KAHLIL GIBRAN:

When it is day with thee, my friend, it is night with me; yet even then I speak of the noontide that dances upon the hills and of the purple shadow that steals its way across the valley; for thou canst not hear the songs of my darkness nor see my wings beating against the stars-and I fain would not have thee hear or see. I would be with night alone.



Why talk to anyone including one self if they are not going to talk back to you.

That sounds even more mad somehow :o)~


Now if only I would stop telling me to post :o)))

WE do talk to ourselves, every one does it's called thinking
the secret is to really listen to what your saying to yourself....

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