Humanistic psychologists such as Abraham Maslow (19081970) suggest that human behavior is not just mechanical and aimed toward survival and the reduction of tension. Maslow believed that people are also motivated by a conscious desire for personal growth. Humanists note that people tolerate pain, hunger, and many other kinds of tension to obtain personal fulfillment. Maslow believed that human beings are separated from other animals by their capacity for self-actualization or self-initiated striving to become what they believe they are capable of being. Maslow considered self-actualization to be as important a need in humans as hunger. The need for self-actualization pushes people to strive to become concert pianists, chief executive officers, or best-selling authors-even when they have plenty of money to live on. Maslow's hierarchy of needs ranges from physiological needs such as hunger and thirst, through self-actualization. He believed that human beings naturally strive to climb the hierarchy. (see Maslow's pyramid below) Critics of Maslow's theory argue that there is too much individual variation for the hierarchy of motives to apply to everyone. Some people whose physiological, safety, and love needs are met show little interest in achievement and recognition. Psychological needs Self- actualization: achieving one's full potential, including creative activities Esteem needs: Self-fulfillment needs prestige and feeling of accomplishment Belongingness and love needs: intimate relationships, friends Safety needs: security, safety Physiological needs: food, water, warmth, rest Basic needs After reading about Maslow's theory and reviewing the above picture of Maslow's heirarchy of needs: Please answer if critics of Maslow's theory are correct! Do you believe Maslow when he states that everyone has a motivation for "self actualization," a person is capable and can strive to accomplish self actualization, no matter the means (hard work, barriers, etc). OR are you a critic of Maslow and believe that without having physiological needs, safety needs, love, esteem needs met-- a person cannot fulfill "self actualization?"