Is a Biological Driver Behind the Need for Self-Fulfillment? #Science #Psychology #Actualization

A new study asks what it means to self-actualize, or try to reach our full potential.

Credit: © hakase420 / Fotolia


Krems and her co-authors, ASU professor of psychology Douglas Kenrick and University of Iowa's Rebecca Neel, a former ASU doctoral student, drew on ideas from evolutionary biology to challenge some traditional assumptions about what it means to be self-actualized.

Science Daily:  Is a biological driver behind the need for self-fulfillment?

Some may be deterred by the idea of self-actualization simply from the generally gooey descriptions from various sources but this isn't some presentation in which it's only achievable in elitist ways.  In other words, it doesn't mean you need to be a NASA astronaut with multiple university degrees.


"But if you take an evolutionary perspective on human behavior, it seems unlikely that our ancestors would have evolved to solve all the problems of survival, making friends, gaining status and winning mates, just to go off and entertain themselves," he added. From an evolutionary perspective, developing one's full potential -- by becoming an expert musician, scientist or philosopher -- might translate into social benefits, such as winning respect and affection from other members of the group, and even winning the attention of potential mates.

- SD

Zen Yogi:  that's sure sounding elitist to me, Silas, when actualization is only possible with esoteric skills

True, bear buddy, but we're looking for them to turn that around.


The team was also able to provide a scientific explanation for what Maslow had long ago mentioned -- that different activities lead to self-actualization for different people. In line with modern ideas from evolutionary biology, a person's life-history features (e.g., sex, age, relationship status, parenting status) influenced the goals he or she linked to self-actualization -- and in sensible, potentially functional ways. For example, single people emphasized that finding new romantic partners would be a part of their self-actualization, whereas partnered people emphasized that maintaining their existing romantic relationships would be a part of their self-actualization. And parents -- especially when they had very young children -- emphasized that caring for those children would be a major part of their self-actualization.

- SD

Zen Yogi:  that's more like it when it's more of a populist self-actualization

It must be to confer any survival value on the species and get what's in the next.


By finding mates, keeping mates and caring for children, people might feel self-actualized, and they might also be furthering exactly those biologically relevant outcomes that lead to getting their genes into next generations.

"So, the desire for self-actualization isn't 'above' biological and social needs; people's drive to achieve their own highest potential is all about achieving critically important social goals," Kenrick concluded.

Or as Krems explained: "For real people, pursuing self-actualization might further biologically relevant goals."

- SD


Zen Yogi:  does this disparage the idea of self-actualization with the Galaxy Guitar?

Not at all, Yogi, since we see above self-actualization will come in different ways, possibly even differently to the same person at different times in life.  When self-actualization is only possible through the Galaxy Guitar or similar artistic pursuit, it denigrates the idea self-actualization can be achieved any other way.  That aspect is definitely elitist and that's exactly what their research refutes.

Zen Yogi:  so the problem comes when people compete as to which is the best way to do it?

That's it, Yogi.  Gay people once called parents breeders and, not entirely unsurprisingly, suburbia was not pleased.  Within each subgroup of people, their frames of reference wrap around which ever form of self-actualization makes sense to them for whatever they are trying to achieve but there's nothing intrinsic to either one which makes it superior.

Zen Yogi:  so you're not a god anymore, Silas?

Oh, sure, I'm still a god because my form of actualization means I can make up any hogwash I like so I am Silas Scarborough, the Galaxy Guitar God of the Galactic Peace Tour.

Zen Yogi:  that does sound cool, Silas, and too bad it isn't real

It was real if you were on the Tour, my bear buddy.