Final answer:
The individuals most likely to believe in an evolving and self-directed human nature are proponents of humanistic psychology, such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, who emphasized free will and self-actualization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who would most likely believe that human nature is evolving and self-directed are those who subscribe to the humanistic psychology perspective, notably as seen in the theories of Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.
They posited that people have free will and the innate potential to achieve self-actualization, indicating that humans continually strive to grow and improve themselves autonomously. This view contrasts with determinist and fatalistic perspectives that suggest human behavior and nature are predetermined by forces beyond individual control.
Furthermore, those who believe in Evolutionary Ethics might also share this belief, as it posits that the moral aspect of human nature has advanced through sympathetic development and sociocultural practices. In contrast, conservatives like Joseph de Maistre would argue that human nature is fundamentally flawed, requiring external checks by strong societal institutions.