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Chapter 9    Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory287
(Lowry, 1973, p.87).Maslow wasforced toconclude thatemotional security and
good adjustment werenotdependable predictors ofaGood Human Being.
Maslow faced additional handicaps inhisquest forwhom henowcalled the“self-
actualizing person.” First, hewastrying tofindapersonality syndrome thathadnever 
beenclearly identified. Second, many ofthepeople hebelieved tobeself-actualizing 
refused toparticipate inhissearch. They weren’t much interested inwhatProfessor 
Maslow wastrying todo.Maslow (1968a) latercommented thatnotevenasingle per-
sonheidentified asdefinitely self-actualizing would agree tobetested. They seemed to
value theirprivacy toomuch toshare themselves withtheworld. 
Rather thanbeing discouraged byhisinability tofindself-actualizing people, 
Maslow decided totakeadifferent approach—he began reading biographies offamous 
people toseeifhecould findself-actualizing people among thesaints, sages, national 
heroes, andartists. While learning about thelivesofThomas  Jefferson,  Abraham 
Lincoln (inhislateryears), Albert Einstein, William James, Albert Schweit zer,
Benedict deSpinoza, JaneAddams, andother great people, Maslow suddenly had
an“Aha” experience. Rather thanasking “What makes MaxWertheimer andRuth 
Benedict self-actualizing?” heturned thequestion around andasked, “Why arewe
notallself-actualizing?” Thisnewslant ontheproblem gradually changed Maslow’s 
conception ofhumanity andexpanded hislistofself-actualizing people. 
Once hehadlearned toasktherightquestions, Maslow continued hisquest 
fortheself-actualizing person. Tofacilitate hissearch, heidentified asyndrome for
psychological health. After selecting asample ofpotentially healthy individuals, he
carefully studied those people tobuild apersonality syndrome. Next, herefined 
hisoriginal definition andthenreselected potential self-actualizers, retaining some, 
eliminating others, andadding newones. Then herepeated theentire procedure 
withthesecond group, making some changes inthedefinition andthecriteria of
self-actualization. Maslow (1970) continued thiscyclical process toathird orfourth 
selection group oruntilhewassatisfied thathehadrefined avague, unscientific con-
ceptintoaprecise andscientific definition oftheself-actualizing person.
Criteria for Self-Actualization
What criteria didthese andother self-actualizing people possess? First, they were free 
from psychopathology. They wereneither neurotic norpsychotic nordidtheyhavea
tendency toward psychological disturbances. Thispoint isanimportant negative cri-
terion because some neurotic andpsychotic individuals havesome things incommon 
withself-actualizing people: namely, suchcharacteristics asaheightened sense ofreal-
ity,mystical experiences, creativity, anddetachment from other people. Maslow elimi -
nated from thelistofpossible self-actualizing people anyone whoshowed clearsigns of
psychopathology—excepting some psychosomatic illnesses.
Second, these self-actualizing people had progressed through the hierarchy of 
needs andtherefore lived above thesubsistence levelofexistence andhadnoever-
present threat totheirsafety. Also, theyexperienced loveandhadawell-rooted sense 
ofself-worth. Because theyhadtheirlower levelneeds satisfied, self-actualizing peo-
plewerebetter abletotolerate thefrustration ofthese needs, eveninthefaceof
criticism andscorn. They arecapable ofloving awidevariety ofpeople buthaveno
obligation toloveeveryone.Final PDF to printer