Page 35 - History of Psychology

Self-Actualization

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Esteem Needs
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Belonging and Love Needs
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Safety Needs
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Physiological Needs

The needs are arranged so that as one satisfies a lower need, one can deal with the
next higher need. When one’s physiological needs (such as hunger, thirst, and sex)
are satisfied, one can deal with the safety needs (protection from the elements,
avoiding pain, and unexpected dangers); when the safety needs are reasonably
satisfied, one is free to deal with the belonging and love needs (the need to love
and be loved, to share one’s life with a relevant other); when the belonging and

love needs are adequately satisfied, one is released to ponder the esteem needs
(to make recognizable contributions and achievements); if the esteem needs are
met satisfactorily, one is in a position to become self-actualized.

Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers (1902–1987) was born in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois, and
was the fourth of six children. Upon returning to the University of Wisconsin,
Rogers changed his major from agriculture to history. He received his bachelor’s
degree in 1924. He earned his doctorate in 1931. His dissertation concerned the
measurement of personality adjustment in children. After obtaining his doctorate,
Rogers went to work for the Child Study Department of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children in Rochester, New York, where he had served as
a fellow while working toward his doctorate. Rogers had several experiences there
that caused him to develop his own brand of psychotherapy.

Like Maslow, Rogers postulated an innate human drive toward self-actualization,
and believed that if people use this actualizing tendency as a frame of reference in

living their lives, there is a strong likelihood that they will live fulfilling lives and
ultimately reach their potential. Such people are said to be living according to the
organismic valuing process. Using this process, a person approaches and
maintains experiences that are in accord with the actualizing tendency but
terminates and avoids those that are not.

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