Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological (food and clothing), safety (job security), love and belonging needs (friendship), esteem, and self-actualization.

Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up.

Maslow, (born April 1, 1908, New York, New York, U.S.—died June 8, 1970, Menlo Park, California), American psychologist and philosopher best known for his self-actualization theory of psychology, which argued that the primary goal of psychotherapy should be the integration of the self.

Most Americans...  that is to say, citizens of the United States of America (as opposed to Americans from Central America and South America), spend their ENTIRE LIVES trying to make sure that their BASIC and PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS are met.  And, even if our Federal Government raises the minimum wage, it will not make that much difference to MOST AMERICANS because all costs around the minimum wage will also increase as well, leaving them in the same basic situation as they were before.

WEALTH and GREED are responsible for this...

AND, it is highly unlikely that the WEALTH will change in America any time soon.  As prices increase, so too does the cost of living increase to compensate for the price increases.  When this happens, the wealthy get wealthier and the poor remain the same or worsen.

Consequently, Maslow's Hierarchy of needs is very seldom reached by the average American no matter how hard they try or no matter how many jobs they have.  Only the financially well off and the wealthy have time to develop their SELF ESTEEM and SELF ACTUALIZATION NEEDS...

Of course, most Americans...  believe it or not...  do not realize what they are missing.

Actualizing the Self

What does Self-Actualization mean?
is the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities, especially considered as a drive or need present in everyone.

It would appear that the two key words here are:  TALENTS and POTENTIAL 

Does this imply that EVERYONE has a talent?

Does this imply that EVERYONE has potential?

What I remember from my College Days is the PERSONALITY is what attempts to regulate talent and potential...  I mean isn't this why some people with extremely high IQ's never achieve anything?

I also remember a dude named MASLOW...

Self-actualization, in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, is the highest level of psychological development where the "actualization" of full personal potential is achieved, which occurs only after basic and mental needs have been fulfilled. Wikipedia

So, could we say that inmates who have been sentenced to LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE have self-actualized because all their other needs have been met funded by the tax payers?

Don't answer that...  it was a rhetorical question...




Using myself as an example:

• My basic needs are met
• My Psychological needs are met
• I don't think I am self-actualizing at all

My days are spent writing silly ass little thoughts down on a blog in the hopes that someone will read and like what I have to say...  when I am not writing, I am doing chores around the house, exercising, cooking and eating, sleeping, and going to doctor's appointments...

I am not achieving my full potential in any of that behavior.

OH SHIT...   I FORGOT...  I AM A NOBODY...  if I was Tom Cruise, or Denzel Washington, or James Comey, or Sean Hannity then people would be falling over themselves making sure that no only did they read my posts but that they commented on my posts in the hopes of getting recognized for being clever and send a response...

It is difficult and damn near impossible to self-actualized if you are an unknown and no one knows you...  of course, Buddhist Monks might tend to disagree with me as they strive towards reaching enlightenment without anyone being around or even knowing about them...

Self-Esteem

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Self-esteem is an individual's subjective evaluation of their own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am unloved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame. Smith and Mackie (2007) defined it by saying "The self-concept is what we think about the self; self-esteem, is the positive or negative evaluations of the self, as in how we feel about it."

Self-esteem is an attractive psychological construct because it predicts certain outcomes, such as academic achievement, happiness, satisfaction in marriage and relationships, and criminal behavior. Self-esteem can apply to a specific attribute (for example, "I believe I am a good writer and I feel happy about that") or globally (for example, "I believe I am a bad person, and I feel bad about myself in general"). 

Psychologists usually regard self-esteem as an enduring personality characteristic (trait self-esteem), though normal, short-term variations (state self-esteem) also exist. Synonyms or near-synonyms of self-esteem include many things: self-worth, self-regard, self-respect, and self-integrity.