Final answer:
Self-actualization involves realizing one's full potential and is the highest need in Maslow's hierarchy. Self-actualized individuals exhibit creativity, deep relationships, and a problem-centered orientation. Maslow's framework suggests that basic needs must first be satisfied to achieve this state.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of a Self-Actualized Person
Self-actualization signifies the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities, which Abraham Maslow perceived as the pinnacle of human needs. A self-actualized person is one who has met their basic physiological and psychological needs and has realized their full potential. Maslow, a pioneer in humanistic psychology, identified several characteristics of self-actualized individuals. These individuals are often described as creative, open, spontaneous, and possessing an appreciation for the basic experiences of life. They tend to have deep relationships with a few people rather than superficial relationships with many, and they also exhibit autonomy, a sense of reality, and a problem-centered approach to life.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs organizes human needs into a pyramid, with the most fundamental physiological requirements at the base. As these needs are met, higher-level needs become motivational, culminating in the need for self-actualization. This process is not merely about achieving goals but involves an ongoing journey towards personal growth and fulfillment. While Maslow originally focused on self-actualization, he later proposed a concept of self-transcendence, which extends beyond the self to find meaning and purpose.