Query: Humanist self actualisation theory

title: "Human Rights and Self Actualisation Theory"

title: The Coalescence of Being: A Model of the Self Actualisation Process
abstract: Self actualisation is a central theme in many accounts of well being. Yet theories of how self actualisation is prosecuted and how exactly it leads to well being are relatively underdeveloped. This paper addresses this shortfall by explicating a novel theory of self actualisation the coalescence of being. The theory is founded on insights from existential philosophy, but these are built upon substantially by integrating recent ideas from psychology, notably self determination theory, self discrepancy theory and terror management theory. The central mechanism of coalescence is the individual trying to harmonise their actual ideal and ought selves. They do this by positing their ideal self and ought self as a goal and then living in accordance with this aspiration. When their actual self is disclosed to them in their actions or in the assessment of others they can gauge their progress towards this goal. Success brings positive affect, while failure gives rise to negative affect. Introspecting upon these signals helps the individual to better understand whether their goals are self congruent or need adjusting. Iterative recalibration of the three self constructs on the basis of this introspection accelerates the coalescence process. The final part of the paper analyses how coalescence leads to well being as defined by a range of theories of well being.

title: Rethinking the Philosophical Substructure of Modern South African Contract Law: Self Actualisation and Human Dignity
abstract: This note utilises the saga in Botha v. Rich to show the fundamental shift in the philosophical substructure of the South African law of contract engendered by constitutional values. The Constitution not only emphasises human dignity, freedom and equality but instructs in the Preamble to free the potential of each citizen. Support for this new direction is found in Gordley's theory of commutative justice which departs from the premise that human beings have an end, a manner of life in which their human potentialities should be realised. I refer to this objective as self actualisation. Furthermore, recognition and protection of individuals' human dignity and self actualisation is found in Rawls' principal goods theory, his notion of moral reciprocity and Nussbaum's capabilities theory. Finally, it is argued that Rawls, Nussbaum and Gordley's theories may be fruitfully applied to contextualise public policy. Their respective theories are in line with the Constitutional imperative to transform and infuse our general clauses and open norms with the values of freedom, equality and human dignity, and the right to self actualisation. From their dogma it is proposed that public policy constitutes, amongst others, exploitation.

title: Educational motivation meets Maslow: Self actualisation as contextual driver
abstract: This paper considers motivation and the relationship to the self actualisation needs proposed by Abraham Maslow, impacting the academic motivation of students. Self actualisation needs, are applicable to selfdetermination theory as well general and academic motivation. The work of Maslow and his conceptions of self actualisation have evolved over time and it is the aim of the author to marry modern notions of selfactualisation and motivation with ways by which they can inform educators' practices.

title: The Process of Self Realization From the Humanist Psychology Perspective
abstract: Humanistic psychology has provided a series of fundamental theories about human personality and its development. Prominent representatives such as A. Maslow, C. Rogers or R. Assagiolli, along with the psychoanalyst C. G. Jung, have defined the basic concepts that help us today to better understand the individual evolutionary path from intuitive thinking structures and primary group integration, to elements of metacognition, creativity and integration into society through high moral values. Self realization is a complex process that needs to be addressed from a number of perspectives, to provide a more complex and true picture of how individual development takes place. The paper aims to identify the role of family, interpersonal relationships, to understand which are the functions of knowledge and emotional experiences during development and actualization of individual's own potential. Achieving self realization involves going through some stages, overcoming various difficulties and, above all, practicing self regulation over individual emotions and behaviors. Education also provides the logical scientific basis of going beyond the stages of self realization, it provides insight and understanding, but it also means overcoming the theoretical boundaries, through personal involvement in actions that reflect moral and humanistic values. Positive and active approaches are ways that lead to self realization.

title: Mindful Navigation from Alienation to Self Actualisation at Work
abstract: The concept of mindfulness has not been widely applied to organizational studies in theory and practice. Mindfulness refers to "a state of psychological freedom that occurs when attention remains quiet and limber, without attachment to any particular point of view" Martin, 1997, pp. 291 292 Despite constraints at work, I believe workers can gain benefits from mindfulness meditation to guide their work through conflicts and joy within the capitalist mode of production and control strategy because mindfulness practice allows them to attach and detach themselves to and from their work. Yet, how might skills of mindfulness meditation be transferred to the secular context of everyday work activities? I will theoretically study how the concept of mindfulness can be integrated into the dynamic work process as an empowerment strategy, analysing how this practice may transform workers' work experience from alienation from work or mindlessness towards self actualisation of the meaning of their work or mindfulness. By self actualisation, I mean a realisation of their self in relation to their work, their intrinsic goals and potentials in their work process, and how they achieve those goals through mindful learning with free will. I aim to develop mindful learning theory by using insight meditation, given that insight meditation empowers workers to observe themselves in their present experience of work in unity physically, spiritually and mentally, and connects workers' personal values and beliefs or life wisdom to work vision.  Martin,  (1997) Mindfulness: a proposed common factor. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 7 (4) 291 312.

title: Humanist Roots and Self Creative New Materialist Alternatives to Technical/Rational/Discursive Educational Practice
abstract: This paper presentation traces the roots of humanism in teacher education practicum experience and suggests some alternatives for its practice. It explains how in particular, humanism underpins technical, rational, and discursive orientations of the field experience. To promote alternatives to current encouragement towards reflective and reflexive practice, I draw on new materialist philosopher, Karen Barad who understands matter as less fixed and determined, more uncertain and complex and who uses this notion to bridge cultural and biological understandings of life by claiming agential realism. Agential realism means that literally everything exists in moving relation to what it is not, which breaks the subject object symmetry of reflective understanding. Diffraction is explained in contrast to reflection and reflexivity and involves mapping the making of difference that is a pattern always accompanied by the difference that difference makes and continues to make. The paper concludes with theories and methods that are examples of alternatives to reflection and reflexivity. While the theories and methods presented have not elsewhere been described as diffractive, considered through new materialism they seem to offer possibility for thinking beyond fixed entities, neutral arrangements and objective separations.

title: Self Actualisation: For Individualistic Cultures Only?
abstract: Maslow's concept of Self Actualisation refers to the greatest "need" in his motivational theory; the need to realize and fulfill one's potential. Research has continually highlighted the differences between cultures using the individualistic collectivistic dimension, but these differences have not been extended to the characteristics that define self actualisation. The current study aims to test the cultural validity of Self Actualisation by using the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) questionnaire as a comprehensive measure of the self actualising characteristics originally highlighted by Maslow. The POI questionnaire was tested on 100 British participants as representing individuals from an individualistic culture, and 100 Indian participants as representing individuals from a collectivistic culture. The POI measured responses on 12 scales, each representing key characteristics of the Self Actualising individual. In support of the hypothesis, the results showed British participants scored significantly higher than the Indian participants on 10 out of the 12 scales. Thus, contrary to the belief that the basic concept of Self Actualisation applies to any human being in any culture, the current findings suggest that the characteristics of Self Actualisation, as defined by Maslow and the POI, cannot be effectively applied to collectivistic cultures in the same way they can in individualistic cultures. Implications include important impact on the workplace, as this concept of Self Actualisation has been integrated into management techniques used by human resources

title: The place of self actualisation in workplace spirituality: Evidence from Sri Lanka1
abstract: The aim of this paper is to develop a self actualising spirituality model. It examines the place of self actualisation in the experience of workplace spirituality of Sri Lankan business leaders. The primary method of data collection was in depth and face to face interviews with 13 Sri Lankan business leaders. Within the qualitative tradition and case study method, grounded theory and data triangulation were used to analyze the data. The findings suggest that when the business leaders experience workplace spirituality, they commonly project a need to grow, become and evolve towards the ideal (ought) self. This need is primarily driven by a desire to relate or connect to one's self. Findings suggest that self actualising work arrangements offer a way to implement inclusive workplace spirituality, devoid of the challenges usually associated with the practice of religion based workplace spirituality. Despite the geographical, cultural and social differences that exist between Sri Lanka and other cultures, this paper provides research implications for spiritual leadership and ethical decision making in other cultural settings.

title: Sustainable development goals (SDGs) leadership, and Sadhguru: SELF TRANSFORMATION becoming the aim of leadership development
abstract: The context of the SDGs resembles the properties of a complex adaptive system (CAS) CAS requires a specific form of leadership and leaders capable of creating social movements and via that way inducing large scale system transformation towards the attainment of SDGs. Leaders capable of creating social movements tend to be those who occupy the highest levels of adult development (also referred as orders of consciousness) In this paper, we study the leadership approach towards the attainment of SDGs of leader, humanist and mystic from India Jaggi Vasudev Sadhguru. We have chosen him because he has initiated several social movements that have already created effects specified by SDGs. We study his approach to leadership by applying Kegan's (1994) framework of meaning making and subject object theory for the 5th order of consciousness. After analyzing Sadhguru's approach from that perspective, we discuss how leadership development programs should be re designed to produce more leaders of Sadhguru's type. We contribute to the gap between adult development and leadership development if the aim is to facilitate the vertical development of participants towards the highest order of consciousness which in effect will be more capable of attaining SDGs.