Final answer:
d) All of the options listed. Self-realization encompasses being true to oneself, understanding an essentialist self, and discovering an authentic self. It ties in with theories from psychologists like Carl Rogers, who highlighted congruence between one's real and ideal selves, and existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre, who focused on the free, conscious being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The themes and issues at stake in the section on self-realization speak to the pursuit of various facets of identity and personal truth. The quest involves being true to oneself, understanding an essentialist notion of the self, and seeking an authentic self. These objectives resonate with the principles of humanistic psychologists like Carl Rogers, who emphasized the importance of congruence between an individual’s real self and their ideal self to achieve self-worth and a productive life. Similarly, existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre differentiate between 'being-for-itself' (conscious and free) and 'being-in-itself' (non-conscious), suggesting that personal realization involves embracing consciousness and freedom to forge one's path.
Decolonizing one's self, as suggested by various cultural examinations, can also be an aspect of this self-realization process. It challenges the colonized versions of self that conform to external standards and seeks a decolonized identity that reflects personal cultural experiences. Erik Erikson's developmental stages suggest that in later life, individuals must overcome despair to achieve integrity, implying an ongoing journey toward self-understanding and authenticity.