Maslow's hierarchy of psychosocial needs

[labelwench]

In certain respects, I have to agree that what we are depend on what we eat. Personal observations suggested that a staple diet of eating rice provides more mental alertness while eating potatoes provides more physical strength.

The current belief is that whole grains are better nutrition than potatoes or pasta, based on glycemic index and satiety index studies. There is considerable difference between the many varieties of potato and methods of storage, processing and preparation, and potatoes are still a good food in moderation, and devoid of,or with minimal use of extraneous toppings. Rice also, comes in several varieties and the benefits vary, and likewise, one must be wary of what they eat with the rice.

http://www.europatat.eu/_files/downl...properties.pdf

[AntonioLao]

Since I am still waiting for the food stamp money to come in, I have no choice but to eat whatever the food pantry and Salvation Army gave to me.

[labelwench]

Since I am still waiting for the food stamp money to come in, I have no choice but to eat whatever the food pantry and Salvation Army gave to me.

Understood. In my youth, there were times when food was scarce, and anything to eat was preferable to the alternative of an empty stomach. Milk porridge, made by stirring flour into boiling milk, made from reconstituted skim milk powder, until it was think and lumpy, with a sprinkle of white sugar and enough cold milk (same variant) to wash it down, was a staple one winter, during which we survived for a couple of months with no meat, fresh fruit or veggies, as we were in a remote location. The snow was deep that year, and we had to work hard to bring in the firewood. I recall that our strength was waning and we children were becoming short-tempered and tearful, undoubtedly due to the poor diet. When a moose was finally taken, we practically chewed on the animal where it lay.

These are difficult times, even in our nation, and with job losses, many are using the food banks, who never had need before. May your needs be met, Antonio, and may better days seek you out.

[AntonioLao]

My situation is my own undoing, quiting my full time job in 2004 to become a part time math teacher and the bad timing with an economic downturn. I'm hoping to retire by August 2011. I can only hope that Social Security's benefits are still available by then.

[labelwench]

My situation is my own undoing, quiting my full time job in 2004 to become a part time math teacher and the bad timing with an economic downturn. I'm hoping to retire by August 2011. I can only hope that Social Security's benefits are still available by then.

Perhaps your choice to leave your job in 2004 was your journey of self-actualization.

It takes a certain kind of bravery to change things in one's life, and job loss or change is one of the higher risks or stress factors in our life, not far below personal loss of loved ones or divorce, on a measurable scale of psychological impact.

Many people talk about change; far fewer actually take the step of putting change in motion.

That you did so, and accept responsibility for your choice, seems in keeping with your nature, as I may perceive it to be, from the subjects and contents of your posts.

From your post #4 on this thread, Antonio.....

From: "C.H. Patterson" <sage1@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Maslow on Self-Actualization
Comments: To: AFPACP@aol.com
To: PCINTL@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU

Maslow on Self-Actualizing Persons


Maslow, on the basis of a study of persons (living and dead) selected as being self-actualizing persons on the basis of a general definition, described the self-actualizing person as follows, as compared to ordinary or average people (Maslow, 1956):

1. More efficient perception of reality and more comfortable relations with it. This characteristic includes the detection of the phoney and dishonest person and the accurate perception of what exists rather than a distortion of perception by one's needs. Self-actualizing people are more aware of their environment, both human and nonhuman. They are not afraid of the unknown and can tolerate the doubt, uncertainty, and tentativeness accompanying the perception of the new and unfamiliar. This is clearly the characteristic described by Combs and Snygg and Rogers as awareness of perceptions or openness to experience.

2. Acceptance of self, others, and nature. Self-actualizing persons are not ashamed or guilty about their human nature, with its shortcoming, imperfections, frailties, and weaknesses. Nor are they critical of these aspects of other people. They respect and esteem themselves and others. Moreover, they are honest, open, genuine, without pose or facade. They are not, however, self-satisfied but are concerned about discrepancies between what is and what might be or should be in themselves, others, and society. Again, these characteristics are those which Kelly, Rogers, and Combs and Snygg include in their descriptions.

3. Spontaneity. Self-actualizing persons are not hampered by convention, but they do not flout it. They are not conformists, but neither are they anti-conformist for the sake of being so. They are not externally motivated or even goal-directed- rather their motivation is the internal one of growth and development, the actualization of themselves and their potentialities. Rogers and Kelly both speak of growth, development and maturation, change and fluidity.


4. Problem-centering. Self-actualizing persons are not ego-centered but focus on problems outside themselves. They are mission-oriented, often on the basis of a sense of responsibility, duty, or obligation rather than personal choice. This characteristic would appear to be related to the security and lack of defensiveness leading to compassionateness emphasized by Combs and Snygg.

5. The quality of detachment; the need for privacy. The self-actualizing person enjoys solitude and privacy. It is possible for him to remain unruffled and undisturbed by what upsets others. He may even appear to be asocial. This is a characteristic that does not appear in other descriptions. It is perhaps related to a sense of security and self-sufficiency.

6. Autonomy, independence of culture and environment. Self-actualizing persons, though dependent on others for the satisfaction of the basic needs of love, safety, respect and belongingness, "are not dependent for their main satisfactions on the real world, or other people or culture or means-to-ends, or in general, on extrinsic satisfactions. Rather they are dependent for their own development and continued growth upon their own potentialities and latent resources." Combs and Snygg and Rogers include independence in their descriptions, and Rogers also speaks of an internal locus of control.

7. Continued freshness of appreciation. Self-actualizing persons repeatedly, though not continuously, experience awe, pleasure, and wonder in their everyday world.

8. The mystic experience, the oceanic feeling. In varying degrees and with varying frequencies, self-actualizing persons have experiences of ecstasy, awe, and wonder with feelings of limitless horizons opening up, followed by the conviction that the experience was important and had a carry-over into everyday life. This and the preceding characteristic appear to be related and to add something not in other descriptions, except perhaps as it may be included in the existential living of Rogers.

9. Gemeinschaftsgefuhl. Self-actualizing persons have a deep feeling of empathy, sympathy, or compassion for human beings in general. This feeling is, in a sense, unconditional in that it exists along with the recognition of the existence in others of negative qualities that provoke occasional anger, impatience, and disgust. Although empathy is not specifically listed by others (Combs and Snygg include compassion), it would seem to be implicit in other descriptions including acceptance and respect.

10. Interpersonal relations. Self-actualizing people deep interpersonal relations with others. They are selective, however, and their circle of friends may be small, usually consisting of other self-actualizing persons, but the capacity is there. They attract others to them as admirers or disciples. This characteristic, again, is at least implicit in the formulations of others.

11. The democratic character structure. The self-actualizing person does not discriminate on the basis of class, education, race, or color. He is humble in his recognition of what he knows in comparison with what could be known, and he is ready and willing to learn from anyone. He respects everyone as potential contributors to his knowledge, merely because they are human beings.

12. Means and ends. Self-actualizing persons are highly ethical. They clearly distinguish between means and ends and subordinate means to ends.

13. Philosophical, unhostile sense of humor. Although the self-actualizing persons studied by Maslow had a sense of humor, it was not of the ordinary type. Their sense of humor was the spontaneous, thoughtful type, intrinsic to the situation. Their humor did not involve hostility, superiority, or sarcasm. Many have noted that a sense of humor characterizes people who could be described as self-actualizing persons, though it is not mentioned by those cited here.

14. Creativeness. All of Maslow's subjects were judged to be creative, each in his own way. The creativity involved here is not special-talent creativeness. It is a creativeness potentially inherent in everyone but usually suffocated by acculturation. It is a fresh, naive, direct way of looking at things. Creativeness is a characteristic most would agree to as characterizing self-actualizing persons.

(From Patterson, C. H. The Therapeutic Relationship. Monterey, CA. 1985
Dr. C. H. Patterson


Dr.C. H. Patterson
http://sage1.home.mindspring.com

[AntonioLao]

seems in keeping with your nature

Thanks for helping me justifying my action of 2004. For this, I can say no regrets. But what I need is time and money to do research on cold fusion. But the reality is I'm running out of quality time and soon will be living on fixed retirement income.

[labelwench]

Thanks for helping me justifying my action of 2004. For this, I can say no regrets. But what I need is time and money to do research on cold fusion. But the reality is I'm running out of quality time and soon will be living on fixed retirement income.

There appears to be an inversely proportionate ratio where the combination of quality time and adequate monies are concerned. The majority of persons experience that whenever there is sufficient of one of these two, the other is usually lacking. One usually develops a coping strategy to pursue whichever of time or money is the highest priority in one's life at the time, and alternating these and other priorities as circumstances might indicate or our preference may allow.

As our species is living ever longer productive lives, your quality time may be longer than you anticipate. There is a shortage of collaborators and funding for the research you would like to pursue, I take it? The amount of money floating around in some circles just boggles my mind, being trifled away on over-the-top lifestyles for a few, when there are so many projects that could benefit the majority of the population.

I wonder if any of the Hollywood set has an interest in the sciences that would benefit the planet and humanity? Of course, it doesn't help that what you would like to research is controversial and innovative. Folks with money prefer to hedge their bets, unless they are merely in need of a tax write-off.......

Have you pursued any leads toward research money or is this not an option?

[AntonioLao]

an inversely proportionate ratio where the combination of quality time and adequate monies

If this ever becomes a universal law of global or local economics then we are doomed.

pursued any leads toward research money

G_burnett was offering his financial help for a viable working principle (technology) of cold fusion but the technology does not exist.

[labelwench]

If this ever becomes a universal law of global or local economics then we are doomed.

Are we absolutely sure that such is not already a law of general application, to which there may be exceptions? As it be general and not universal?

G_burnett was offering his financial help for a viable working principle (technology) of cold fusion but the technology does not exist.

So, tell me then, what would motivate two seemingly intelligent individuals to seek for that which others claim does not exist?

What is it in the nature of our species that provokes us to seek the extreme, to oppose the flow, when other directions may offer us more comfort and ease?

Historically, our species pushes the 'edge of the envelope'.

It must serve a purpose in our evolution, for the greater collective, if not of immediate benefit to the individual. Or so my reasoning doth go.....

[labelwench]

One of our needs is for entertainment. Many species are observed to 'play', yet humans seem to have a greater need for such diversion.

'Play' may well be far more than a diversion. It can be an auxiliary form of learning, a means of testing and experiencing other circumstances that we may have a purpose for integrating or isolating. Some play requires the participation of others, and scheduling, energy or weather may provide challenges to such arrangement. With the advent of the inter-net, there is an ever increasing selection of interactive and solitary pursuits available to the individual.

The link below arrived in an e-mail from a friend, and is an example of a simple diversion that serves a learning purpose. Short, simple, done in a flash. Repeat if so desired.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbo...n_version5.swf

My best time after a few tries was .2438 average on the five sheep.

Sooooooo........who among you is very, very quick on the reflexes?

On your honor now, post your best time......

Trust me. You'll be thinking they'd be better with mint sauce before long, lol.....or made into Cowichan sweaters.....