Final answer:
Girard is trying to achieve self-actualization, which is the highest level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs and represents the process of realizing one's full potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
Girard has set a goal with his therapist to 'achieve his full potential,' and according to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human needs, Girard is trying to achieve self-actualization. Self-actualization represents the highest level of Maslow's pyramid and is the process of realizing one's potential and becoming the best person one can be. This concept is part of humanistic psychology, which focuses on the positive aspects of human nature and the inherent drive for individuals to grow and improve themselves. Maslow and Carl Rogers, both humanistic psychologists, emphasized the importance of achieving self-actualization for a fulfilling life.
Humanistic psychology, with its emphasis on free will and individual growth, considers self-actualization to be the ultimate psychological need. Girard is engaged in activities that allow for personal development, which is aligned with the characteristics that Maslow found in self-actualized individuals: creativity, spontaneity, and acceptance of themselves and others.