Final answer:
Abraham Maslow's theory on self-actualization highlights that self-actualizing individuals strive to express their individuality and reach their full potential, which corresponds to option C from the given choices.
Step-by-step explanation:
American psychologist Abraham Maslow's work on self-actualization is foundational in humanistic psychology which emphasizes the full potential of healthy individuals. According to Maslow, self-actualizing people are characterized by their efforts to fulfill their highest potential and therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is C. are trying to express their individuality and maximize their potential. These individuals are not primarily concerned with self-interest, and they do not necessarily form the majority of the population. Despite being open, creative, loving, spontaneous, and compassionate, they also have an innate desire for personal growth, which is the essence of self-actualization.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs starts with basic physiological needs and culminates in self-actualization. Only once the fundamental needs are met can one focus on achieving self-actualization, which implies that it's an ongoing, life-long process, and a small percentage of individuals reach this level. In addition, the humanistic approach, pioneered by Maslow and Carl Rogers, centers on personal growth, free will, and self-determination, rejecting deterministic views of human behavior and acknowledging the individual's capacity for self-directed change.