- Actualisation Unit 5 Contents

Self
Page
Unit introduction Learning objectives for this unit Masiow's needs of hierarchy inventory of self-actualising characteristics (ISAC)
]SAC sheet ]SAC score sheet ISAC profile sheet

References

Principles and Practice of Youth in Development Work

Unit 5 : Self-Actualisation
Introduction
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You have already studied the phenomenological perspective on personality by Rogers in session I as well as in session 3. In session 3, we introduced you to Maslow's Need Hierarchy. Therefore the term Self-Actualisation is familiar to you. It means the achievement of self fulfilnient or the full potential of what one can be. In this session, we shall look at Maslow's Needs Hierarchy in detail and learn of methods to assess the level of selfacludlisation we ourselves have reached. Treat this activity as a mere guideline to help us improve ourselves. As you would realise from this session, self-actualisation is no easy task.

Learning objectives for this unit

As you work through this unit, you will learn to

draw Maslow's hierarchy describe the different levels of needs explain the concept of self actualisation use the Inventory of Self-Actualisation Characteristics (ISAC) develop an ISAC profile for yourself

a
o a a

Maslow's Needs Hierarchy

To begin the path to self-actualization one must initially satisfy basic s needs for survival or what are called the physiological needs such a food, steep, clothing, shelter etc. Our bodies demand the satisfaction of these needs. Otherwise" our bodies do not function optimally. Then come the needs for safety and security. Instincts for selfpreservation are strong in any person. A normally passive mild-mannered person will transform himself/herself into a fighter when life is threatened. When people's livelihoods are endangered, their personalities change.

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UNIT 5 : SELF ACTUALISATION

Once the physiological and security needs are satisfied, a person seeks gratification of loving others and being loved. All humans need to feel loved and wanted. We learned earlier how personality could be affected when deprived of the feeling of being loved during childhood. Giving and receiving love and care is essential for good human relationships. To people who feel that no one cares whether they exist or not, life becomes meaningless. Even suicide may appear an attractive alternative to them. Once these three levels of needs are satisfied, a person begins to seek recognition. People crave recognition in varying degrees. Some strive for graduation from a university, bestowing of national honours, or applause from crowds. Others are happy with a warm friendship. Everyone appreciates recognition. The fifth level of needs focuses on self-actualization. Sometimes it is also called the 'peak experience'. Some people never reach this level. The peak experience is said to be an almost mystical union of mind and body that can occur a t a totally unpredictable time. The sensation occurs as a result of reaching one's fullest performance. A ballerina, after years of practice, may achieve this state a t the end of a perfect performance. Maslow's Needs Hierarchy presents a pyramid of needs with selfactualisation at its peak.

actualisation / \ Esteem and Status

Belonging and Love Safety and Security Physiological Needs

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Figure 5.1

Maslow's Needs Hierarchy

Maslow believed that people who aspire for self-actualisation have some special personality traits which distinguish them from others. In 1954, he identified and studied a group of historical figures which included people such as Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Beethoven, Albert Einstein and so on and listed fifteen traits to represent a self-actualised personality. These are given below Percelve reality accurately Demonstrate self acceptance, accepbnce of others and nature Exhibit spontaneity and simplicity Concerned with problems rather than themselves Exhiblt a quality of detachment and a need for privacy independent of their environment and culture

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Exhibit freshness of appreciation Undergo periodic peak experiences Identify with all mankind Develop deep relationships only with a few Accept democratic values Posses strong ethical sense Show well developed sense of humour Are creative Resist enculturation Studying these traits, it will become clear to you, that reaching a state of self-actualisation needs development of many positive attitudes, values and behaviour patterns. There have been attempts to devise means to enable the self exploration and the building of a self-actualising profile of a person. The results of such exercises may reveal how much potential there would be to improve one's personality. They must be viewed in this spirit and should not lead to disappointment with oneself.

Inventory of Self-Actualising Characteristics (ISAC)

The inventory is designed to give you information about your personal characteristics. Some of these reflect concrete behaviour while others are traits or descriptions of beliefs and values. The inventory must be used to show what you arc and not to construct a profile of what you want to be. There are 75 personal characteristics (items) you are expected to study. Five letters stand against each characteristic. They are given below with explanations as to what they stand for. N - Not a t all/definitely untrue for me 0 - Occasionally this is true of me (25% of the time) F - Frequently this is an accurate description of me (50% of the time) M - Most of the time true of me (75% of the time) H - Highly characteristic of me For each characteristic, one is expected to circle the correct letter. The letters are given values so that a total score can be added up after completing the selection of appiopriate letters. The scores are as follows. N = -2 0 = -1 F = 0 M = + l H = +2 The characteristics (items) are clustered into the fifteen traits identified by Maslow and the individual s,cores for characters in a cluster add up to reveal where you stand in relation to each of the fifteen traits. The scores are then transferred to the ISAC profile sheet for easy analysis. This will provide you a picture of yourself, a profile of self-actualization. Let us now look at samples of the following.

UNIT 5 : SELF ACTUALIUTION

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The ISAC Sheet The ISAC Score Sheet Ill. The ISAC Profile .Sheet While we study these samples carefully, let us attempt the acts to which we are directed under each sample sheet. The activity a t the end of this session will be based on these attempts.

The ISAC Sheet

Directions : As you read each item, decide whether the sentence is true or descriptive of you. Circle one of the letter to the right of the sentence that must accurately reflect your decision: There are 75 items in this sheet. Do not be hasty in reading through these long list. For example, if you think that the 1 s t stence is true of your nature most of the time, 0. then etlcircle 'M' and if it is occasionally true, encircle ' '

1.

I meet the needs of other people. 1 have fun. Respecting others is important to me.

2.
3. 4.

N O N O N O
N O

F M H F M H F M H F M H F M H
F

My

perception of people and situations is accurate.

5.
6.

1 know what my biases are. 1 like to be a playful child. Loyalty to my friends is important to me.

7.
8.

My daily life is full of surprises.

9.

I do not need other people.

10. Class distinctions are unimportant to me.

1 1. I am a responsible person. 12. 1 like to share things with myself and others. 13. 1 can see the humorous side of serious matters. 14. 1 express my anger clearly and directly.

15. 1 accept my strengths.

16. 1 avoid doing what I believe is wrong.
17. 1 strive to keep my life simple and natural. 18. 1 am rarely lonely.

19. 1 enjoy my own absurdity.

20. '~acial and national differences interest me. 21. Every day is different for me.

22. 1 take delight in learning new things.

N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

M H M H

F M H F M H F M H F M H F M H F M H F M H F M H F M H
F

M H M H

F M H

F
F F

F M H

M M
M H

2 4 . Nothing is routine for me.

25. 1 think clearly.

26. 1 believe the end never justifies the means. 27. 1 can tolerate chaos and disorder.

N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O

M H . M H M H M H

F M H

28. Working toward a goal is more enjoyable than attaining it. N 0 29. 1 am amused by much of what I experience. 30. 1 like to be myself. 3 1. 1 am untroubled by problems with authority. 32. 1 experience no pressure to conform to social norms. 33. 1 accept my limitations. 34. The meaning of my life is clear to me. 35. 1 enjoy discussing philosophical issues. 36. 1 knowthedifferencebetweenwhat Iwantandwhatlneed. 37. 1 tolerate other ~ e o ~ l efaults and shortcomin~s. 's

F
F F

F M H F M H F M H F
F

M H M H

N 0 N O
N O N O N O N O N O

F M H F M H

My 39. My
38.

life has a definite purpose. major satisfactions come from within.

F F
F F F F F
F F F

M H M H M H M H M H M H M H M H M H M H M H M H M H

F M H

40. 1 can let go of my own interests.

41. Art, music, and beautiful things strengthen and enrich me. N 0

42. 1 believe that supernatural phenomena occur.

43. 1 see the positive side of things. 44. 1 can make myself at home anywhere. 45. I have experienced losing my sense of space and time. 46. 1 am my own person. 47. 1 am aware of the mysterious aspect of life. 48. Achievement is less important to me t h ~ n contentment. 49. 1 am rarely self-conscious.

F M H

N . 0
N O N O N O
N 0

F M H

N O N O N O N O N O
N O

50. Empathy comes easy for me.

5 1. 1 can let things happen without planning.

52. 1 do original work. 53. 1 know the pain and ioy of closeness. 54. 1 prize the dignity of all persons.

F F F

F M H

55. 1 am patient with others. 56. 1 like to be sexually close to others. 57. 1 am an uninhlbited person.

N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O

F M H ' F M H F M H F M H F M H

58. Dress and style are unimportant to me. 59. 1 have definite moral standards.
60. 1 take good care of myself.

6 1. 1 learn something new every day. 62. 1 am exclted by experimentation and risk taking.

F M H F M H

63. 1 believe all human beings are niembers of one big family. N 0 64. My actions are based on my choices, not needs. 65. 1 rarely censor my thoughts. 66. 1 can disengage my self from petty concerns. 67. 1 am a spiritual person (though not necessarily religious). 68. 1 am rarely defensive. 69. 1 learn from many dlfferent places and persons. 70. 1 am never bored.

M H

F M H , F M H F M H

N 0 F M H
F
M H

F M H F M H

7 1. 1 am at ease with cultural traditions different from my 0wn.N 0 72. 1 have intense inner experiences.

M H

N O F M H 73. Determining what is real and what is phony is easy for me. N 0 F M H
74. 1 an1 objective about most things. 75. i feel kinship with most people I meet.

N O N O

M H M H

ISAC Score Sheet

D/recr/ons :Transfer your letter responses from the ISAC Sheet to each of the fifteen scales below and write in the value for each response where relevant. The value of each letter/alphabet you have encircled is given s below : N = -2 0 = -1 F = o M = +1 H = +2
Sum the values of the items in each scale for a score

The fifteen Scales

1. Efficient Reality Perception 4 5. 73 Spontaneity, Simplicity, Naturalness
r

Items Letter Value

25

27

36

Items Letter Value

L

17

24

48

51

65

Score 2. Acceptance of Self, Others, Human nature

r -

Score 6. Problem Centeredness

1

Items Letter Value

Items 15 33 37 60

68
Letter Value

35

38

40

49

Score

Score

3.

Detachment and Privacy 9

18

7.
74

Autonomy and Independence of Culture and Environments

r

Items Letter Value

30

66

Items Letter Value

32

39

44

46

64

Score

Score
A

4.

Freshness of Appreciation

8.

Capacity for Peak Experiences

-

items Letter Value

+

21

41

43

61

70

Items Letter Value

42

45

47

67

72

Score
>

Score

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UNIT 5 : SELF ACNALISATION]

9.

Identify with all human beings

13. Interpersonal Relations

Items Letter Value Score

23

50

54

63

75

Items Letter Value

12

53

55

56

I
Score 14. Ethical Standards

10. Democratic
Items Letter Value Score 3

10

11

14

Items Letter Value

16

26

28

34

59

Score

u
52
57
62

1 1. Unhostile Sense of Humour

1 5. Creativeness
r

Items Letter Value

13

19

29

Items Letter Value

22

Score

Score

12. Resistance to Enculturation Items Letter Value Score 20 31

58

69

71

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DIPLOMA IN YOUTH IN DEVELOPMENT WORK]

lSAC Profile Sheet

Directions: Enter your score for each ]SAC scale in the box provided and then chart each score at the appropriate point on the graph.

Perceiving the real world accurately, making correct discriminations between the real and the spurious; capacity to deal with facts rather than opinions and wishes; appreciation of the unknown as a source for new learning; willingness to the familiar; lack of

Acceptance of body and body functions; prizing personal strengths; tolerating inadequacies in self and others; lack of defensiveness; a relative lack of overriding guilt, shame, or anxiety; dislike of pretense in self and understanding view

+5

+I0

Motivated by choice rather than in touch with inner feelings and an ability to communicate those feelings effectively to others; an ethical code that is individualized rather than conventional; interest in personal

Ability to focus on problems than the self; task oriented; lack of selfconsciousness; ability to attend to the needs of others; lack of obsessive

MODULE 1

UNIT 5 : SELF ACTUALISATION]

SCALE 5.
Detachment and Privacy

SCORE
Score -10 -5
0

+5

+lo

Liking solitude more than the average person; reliance on personal judgements; self-determined; objective; power of focusing and concentration; relationship based on choice rather than need.
6.

c
-5

l
0 +5

u
+I0

Autonomy and Independence of Score - 1 0 Culture and Environments

Independent of material things or others' opinions; self-motivated; disregard of social rewards or prestige; stability in the face of frustrations and adversity; maintaining an inner serenity.

7.

Freshness of Appreciation

Score-10

-5

+5

+10

Capacity for wonder and awe; richness of inner experience; perceiving familiar things as fresh and new; lack of boredom or jadedness; focus on the positive aspects of experience; "original mind"; responsive to beauty.
8.
Capacity for Peak Experiences

[
score-10

0
+5

3
+10

Capable of intense, transcendent experiences; ability to experience ectasy, to move beyond space and time; ability/ to live in a realm of being and beauy; loss of sense of self; experience of opening up to reality and beyond; capacity to be strengthened and enriched by such experiences.

n u
Score-10

-5

9.

Identify with all human beings

-5

+5

+I0

Feelings of identification, sympathy and affection for all human beings; desire to be of help to mankind; a posture of forgiveness; a belief that humanity is a large family.

0
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SCALE 10. Interpersonal Relations

Score-10

SCORE
-5
0

+5

+lo

Capacity for intimacy and closeness; capable of great love for others; benevolence, affection toward many people; choice of a small circle of true, loyal friends; concern for the welfare of others; appropriate anger.
-

0
Score -10 -5

1 1.

Democratic Character Structure

+5

+I0

Belief in the dignity of all persons; relatively free from biases of class, education, political or religious beliefs, race or color; focus on character rather than physical aspects of other persons; avoidance of scapegoating; clarity about personal anger and its target.
12.

0
Score-10 -5

Ethical Standards

+5

+10

Strong ethical sense, definite moral standards; clear notion of right and wrong: seeking to do right and avoiding wrong-doing; fixed on ends rather than means.
13. Unhostile Sense of Humor Sense of humor devoid of hostility rebellion, or patronizing manner, capacity t o laugh a t oneself appreciation of the ridiculous and the absurd; capacity for playfulness.

0
0
+5

+I0

ok

1 4.

Creativeness

Creativity in everyday life, rather than in artistic endeavors; ability to perceive the true and the reat more so than others.
15.
Resistance to Enculturation

Score - 1 0

-5

+5

u
+I0

+I0

Score-10

-5

+5

Detachment from the conventional; lack of distortionaround authority and authority figures; transcending racial or national distinctions; unconcerned about what is fashionable or chic; ability to live with and to learn from many cultural influences.

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1COMMOWWLTH ASLA CENTRE

DIPLOMA IN YOUTH IN DEVELOPMENT WORK1

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