Child Development

Hierarchy of Needs: (continued) Once Deficiency Needs are met, a person is free to focus on more intrinsic motivations that are referred to as Growth Needs. These are more long-lasting in nature and include:

Cognitive needs. People have a continued desire to increase their intelligence as a means of better understanding and interpreting their world.
Aesthetic needs. Humans are inclined to seek the expression of beauty in their lives, whether through art, nature, or other means.
Self-Actualization needs. A self-actualized person is one who is fully-engaged in expressing her abilities and maximizing her potential. Self-actualization marks the successful integration of all the needs in the hierarchy and forms the point at the top of the pyramid. Self-actualization is different for every person and is based on individual strengths and capabilities.

People who are self-actualized are…

Accepting and embracing of the way things are in the world. They do not deny or avoid anything.
Spontaneous in their thinking and actions
Creative and imaginative
Focused on solving their own problems and those of others
Appreciative of life and feelings of closeness with others
Adherent to personal systems of morality that are not influenced by other people or situations.
Able to view situations objectively and thoughtfully.

Note that some needs will be stronger than others for different individuals. If so, they may not follow the progression outlined here. For instance, there may those for whom the need to make music is more important than their social or safety needs. Because they are so strongly inclined to seek their aesthetic ideal via musical expression, they may not seek relationships with others or feel the need to have a job that provides greater stability and financial compensation.