fei75766_ch09_271-308.indd 291  02/06/20 12:09 PM
Chapter 9    Maslow: Holistic-Dynamic Theory291
others. Nooneisbornautonomous, andtherefore nooneiscompletely independent 
ofpeople. Autonomy canbeachieved onlythrough satisfactory relations withothers. 
However, theconfidence thatoneisloved andaccepted without conditions or
qualifications canbeapowerful force incontributing tofeelings ofself-worth. Once 
thatconfidence isattained, aperson nolonger depends onothers forself-esteem. 
Self-actualizing people havethatconfidence andtherefore alarge measure ofauton -
omythatallows them tobeunperturbed bycriticism aswellasunmoved byflattery. 
Thisindependence alsogives them aninner peace andserenity notenjoyed bythose 
wholivefortheapproval ofothers.
Continued Freshness of Appreciation 
Maslow (1970) wrote that“self-actualizing people havethewonderful capacity to
appreciate again andagain, freshly andnaively, thebasic goods oflife,withawe,
pleasure, wonder, andevenecstasy” (p.163). They arekeenly aware oftheirgood 
physical health, friends andloved ones, economic security, andpolitical freedom. 
Unlike other people whotaketheirblessings forgranted, self-actualizing individuals 
seewithafresh vision sucheveryday phenomena asflowers, food, andfriends. They 
haveanappreciation oftheirpossessions anddonotwaste timecomplaining about 
aboring, uninteresting existence. Inshort, they“retain theirconstant sense ofgood 
fortune andgratitude forit”(Maslow, 1970, p.164).
The Peak Experience
AsMaslow’s study ofself-actualizers continued, hemade theunexpected discovery 
thatmany ofhispeople hadhadexperiences thatweremystical innature andthat
somehow gavethem afeeling oftranscendence. Originally, hethought thatthese 
Peak experiences canbetranscendent andlife-altering. Getty ImagesFinal PDF to printer