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posted by Fnord666 on Friday July 14 2017, @05:03PM   Printer-friendly
from the I-see dept.

As human beings, what drives us to higher levels of existence? Once we have satisfied the basics - food, shelter, a mate, children - then what? For many it's the idea of self-actualization, or realizing our full potential. But what does self-actualization look like? How do we know when we are doing it? Researchers recently published a new series of studies on what people think it means to be self-actualized.

But what does self-actualization look like? How do we know when we are doing it? When are we trying to realize our highest potential? Self-actualization is a popular idea -- in psychology, business, education and the multi-million dollar self-help industry. Everyone, it seems, wants to realize his or her full potential.

[...] 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.

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

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170712145639.htm

[Also Covered By]: Individual perceptions of self-actualization: What motivates fulfilling one's full potential?

[Abstract]: Individual Perceptions of Self-Actualization: What Functional Motives Are Linked to Fulfilling One's Full Potential?

How would you go about achieving self-actualization ? Is self-actualization a relevant goal in this day and age ?


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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Friday July 14 2017, @05:41PM (1 child)

    by DeathMonkey (1380) on Friday July 14 2017, @05:41PM (#539226) Journal

    Or perhaps security itself is a biological driver. Humans (and ravens, apparently [npr.org]) have the ability to plan ahead which means we're cognizant of the fact that just 'cause we have food/shelter/etc. today doesn't mean we'll have it tomorrow.

    Laying up some extras....be it wealth, stature, or whatever, is a logical conclusion.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 14 2017, @05:43PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 14 2017, @05:43PM (#539230)

    Even people who build beautiful places to live, with a solid income of resources find themselves unsatisfied, and reach out for something more and greater.

    You will never be satisfied, because the satisfied people don't procreate as much, and thus get drowned out and replaced by the unsatisfied masses.