Self-Acceptance & Personal Growth
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history
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We are not machines. In the 1950s, Abraham Maslow and other prominent psychologists began formulating a humanistic approach to psychology. They argued that individuals had intrinsic value beyond the mechanistic model of the Behavioralists. In 1958, these psychologists founded the Association for Humanistic Psychology.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
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Self Actualization is at the top of the hierarchy of needs pyramid. Maslow's "hierarchy of needs" is still used as a model by psychologists and personal growth coaches. He called the first four levels the "deficit levels," without which we cannot adequately function. Self esteem is included in this level. The fifth level he called the "self actualization" level.
Self Esteem And Self Acceptance
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Self acceptance is part of personal growth. Maslow considered self esteem to be as important as food and air to our survival. Maslow and other humanistic psychologists also stress the need for self acceptance. Self acceptance includes acceptance of our weaknesses as well as our strengths.
Self Actualization
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Love of beauty is an attribute of self actualization. Self actualization is the process of reaching your full potential as a human being. Personality traits of self actualized individuals include desires for truth, goodness and meaningfulness in life.
Personal Growth
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Creativity is part of personal growth. Once our basic survival needs are satisfied, personal growth occurs when we consciously strive to achieve healthy levels of self esteem and self acceptance, and then move on to embrace our deeper creative and spiritual needs.
Personal Growth Movement
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Personal growth is for everyone. Since the 1960s, there has been an explosion of interest in Humanistic Psychology. According to the Association for Humanistic Psychology, the personal growth movement and many other self help movements all embrace key aspects of humanistic psychology.
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