Motivation and Personality

Motivation and Personality
Cover of the first edition
AuthorAbraham Maslow
LanguageEnglish
SubjectPsychology
PublisherHarper & Brothers
Publication date
1954
Media typePrint
Pages411
ISBN978-0-06-041987-5

Motivation and Personality[1] is a book on psychology by Abraham Maslow, first published in 1954. Maslow's work deals with the subject of the nature of human fulfillment and the significance of personal relationships, implementing a conceptualization of self-actualization.[2] Underachievers have a need for social love and affection, but a self-actualized person has these "lower" needs to be gratified and is able to pursue his or her own path towards self-actualization.[3]

Maslow's book is perhaps the best known contemporary work on human needs. Maslow postulated a hierarchy of human needs stretching from basic physical needs at the bottom to spiritual or transcendental needs at the top.[4]

In Motivation and Personality,[1] Maslow argues that, in order for individuals to thrive and excel, a health-fostering culture must be created.[5] Maslow is among the psychological theorists who believe that when parents fail to provide a safe, nurturing environment, their children will develop deep feelings of insecurity.[6] Maslow believes that well-being causes people to freely express their inherent potentials.[7]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Maslow1954 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Knapp1965 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference LeibSnyder1967 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference KasserRyan1993 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).