This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Mittelman, W. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Maslow's Study of Self-Actualization

A Reinterpretation

1478A Willow Lake Dr., Atlanta, GA 30329.

The focal point of this article is Abraham Maslow's famous study of self-actualizing people. Maslow was profoundly correct in perceiving that there was something special and admirable about the individuals whom he selected for study. In calling his subjects self-actualizing, however, Maslow failed to capture just what was special about them. I propose that the individuals whom Maslow studied were not distinguished from others by the fact that they were self-actualizing, but rather by the fact that they were very open. I will explain both what I mean by openness and why we should speak of openness rather than self-actualization. I will also use the idea of openness, along with Maslow's description of his "self-actualizing" people, to delineate an ideal of human character.

Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Vol. 31, No. 1, 114-135 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/0022167891311010


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Mittelman Openness: A Final Reply to Tobacyk Journal of Humanistic Psychology, January 1, 1995; 35(1): 102 - 107. [Abstract]

				J. J. Tobacyk Self-Actualization, Openness, and Loosely Coupled Systems Journal of Humanistic Psychology, April 1, 1994; 34(2): 97 - 99. [Abstract]

				W. Mittelman Openness, Optimal Functioning, and Final Causes: A Further Reply to Tobacyk Journal of Humanistic Psychology, April 1, 1994; 34(2): 100 - 107. [Abstract]

				J. J. Tobacyk Self-Reflective Consciousness and Optimal Psychological Functioning Journal of Humanistic Psychology, January 1, 1993; 33(1): 110 - 112.

				W. Mittelman Openness and Self-Actualization: A Reply to Tobacyk and Miller Journal of Humanistic Psychology, April 1, 1992; 32(2): 137 - 142.

				J. Tobacyk and M. Miller Comment on "Maslow's Study of Self-Actualization" Journal of Humanistic Psychology, October 1, 1991; 31(4): 96 - 98.