self-actualisation/determination Flashcards
the self is constantly ______ and ________ and growth may occur in ___________ direction(s) at once which may be _____________.
changing; evolving; multiple; uncomfortable
_________ psychology is the study of our deep potential for growth and development.
humanistic
according to carl rogers, actualisation is defined as the tendency to develop __________ in ways that maintained or __________ the organism and it is present in all living beings.
capabilities; enhanced
what is self-actualisation?
maintenance or enhancement of oneself
self actualisation means:
1) movement towards greater _______ and _____________.
2) enrichment of _____ and enhancement of _____
3) promotes ____, ____ and _____ which minimises _____ and _____
1) autonomy; self-sufficiency/independence
2) life; creativity
3) congruence; organisation; wholeness; disorganisation; incongruence
what is OVP?
Organismic Value Process
internal mechanism that helps us evaluate experiences in terms of growth, authenticity, and alignment with our true self (When experiences align with the OVP, they are seen as “self-actualizing”)
it’s human nature to self-actualise. why?
OVP organismic value process - internal mechanism that guides us to pursue goals that align with our true potential.
only when the things we do align with our growth, authenticity and true self, can we feel fulfilled and authentic aka fully functioning person.
what happens when we dont self-actualise?
nagging sense that something is off
what is a fully functioning person?
ppl who are self-actualising
open to experience feelings and not being threatened by them
trust feelings
experience and immerse themselves in the world
life filled with meaning, challenge, excitement but also risk of pain
can anyone just choose to be fully functioning?
yes
there are 2 kinds of positive regard, ____ and ___. what is the diff?
conditional and unconditional
conditional - affection contingent on behaviour meeting certain criteria (eg. i love you if you do this for me)
unconditional - affection with no strings attached (eg. i love you regardless of whether you do this for me or not)
what is conditional negative regard?
withdrawal of affection upon failure to meet certian criteria (eg. since you didnt do this for me, i dont love you)
standards or criteria that others (often parents, teachers, peers, etc.) set for us in order to receive love, acceptance, or approval are called what?
conditions of worth
what is positive regard? how many kinds are there?
positive regard - strong motive for love, friendship, acceptance from important others
2 kinds:
conditional - affection with conditions/criteria
unconditional - affection with no strings attached
what is conditional self-regard?
When others impose conditions of worth on us, we begin to evaluate ourselves based on the same conditions. Our sense of self-worth is now dependent on these conditions.
If we meet these conditions (e.g., succeeding academically, being “good,” or acting in ways that align with social norms), we feel worthy and valuable.
If we fail to meet these conditions, we may feel inadequate, unworthy, or even like we are not lovable.
why do we lean towards conditional self-regard when we should be self-actualising?
need for positive regard (love/acceptance) stronger than need to self-actualise
condition of worth always has a ____ or acceptance, either by others or oneself.
It is always _____ and pushes individual into doing things, preseventing _____.
In children what are the effects of imposing conditions of worth on them?
precondition
coercive; self-actualisation
reduces wellbeing, increases resentment towards parents
what is contingent self-worth?
these contingencies are motivating, but hinders self-actualisation. How so? (3 points)
using performance/success in certain areas of life to evaluate self-worth/acceptance
hinders self-actualisation because:
- more affected by failures and criticism
- narrow goals
- stressful and disruptive to relationships
state self -determination theory.
ed deci and richard ryan
self-determination theory - a life of growth, integrity and wellbeing requires the satisfaction of 3 needs:
- autonomy (self-determination)
- competence
- relatedness
self-determination theory - a life of growth, integrity and wellbeing requires the satisfaction of 3 needs. what are they?
- autonomy (self-determination)
- competence
- relatedness
1) actions/behaviours can be ___ (intrinsically interested and value to individual) and ____ (to satisfy external pressure, or entirely internally).
2) interest in behaviours will be higher if it is ____.
3) what can undermine self-determined activities and turn them into controlled ones?
4) what is the exception to (3)?
1) self-determined; controlled
2) self-determined
3) rewards
4) informative rewards that inform individual of his/her competency, without external rewards
- feedback, criticism
self-determined behaviours appear when motivations are ____ or ____. under _____. there are 2 kinds of regulation, ____ and ____.
autonomous extrinsic; intrinsic; autonomous extrinsic; identified; integrated
autonomous extrinsic motivation vs intrinsic motivation
give an example for each.
autonomous extrinsic motivation - doing something for external reasons, but in a way that feels aligned with personal values, interests, or goals.
- Working on a job project that aligns with your career goals, even if there’s an external reward (e.g., money or recognition), but you’re motivated by your personal growth or future success
- Studying for a test because you value education and see how it will help you in your future, not just for the grade or external approval
- Exercising to stay healthy or maintain energy, not because of external rewards, but because you value your well-being.
intrinsic motivation - doing something becauase it is interesting, enjoyable, or satisfying
- Playing a musical instrument because you love music
- Reading a book because you enjoy the story
- Solving a puzzle because you find it satisfying
self determined behaviours occur when motivations are ____ or ____. under ____, there are 2 kinds of regulation, ___ and ___. what is the difference between these 2 regulations?
autonomous extrinsic; intrinsic
autonomous extrinsic; identified; integrated
identified regulation - doing something because you see the value in it and it is important for personal goals or future success
integrated regulation - doing something because it is who you are (ie. activity fully aligns with person’s identity, true self)
what 3 things does deci and ryan’s relatedness comprise of?
- open positive interactions with others
- genuine connection to others
- unconditional acceptance of others
define self-concordance. what are the benefits of this?
pursuit of goals consistent with core values
benefits:
1. greater care and benefit from attaining goals aligned with core values, compared to those that do not
2. create longer-term spiral effect where people try harder, have more satisfying experiences, gain greater wellbeing and these motivate the next goal and so on.
what is the cycle of self-concordant goals?
pursult of core goals –> greater effort –> higher success –> more satisfaction –> higher wellbeing
define reactance.
assertion of freedom when threat to freedom is perceived
what is the basis of the concept that perceptions of free will can be experimentally manipuated?
reactance - assertion of freedom when threat to freedom is perceived
what is self-concept?
set of qualities a person sees as being part of themselves
- actual self - the way you actually are
- ideal self - the way you want to be
self-actualization is often seen as the process of moving clsoer to the _____ self while reducing the gap between the _____ self (who we are currently) and the _____ self (who we aspire to be).
ideal; actual; ideal
congruence means agreeability.
congruence between actual and ideal self is facilitated by _____.
congruence between actual self and experiences means that life experiences should ___ with who we are, if not, there would be _____. (eg. when we think we are kind by says something mean.)
self-actualisation
fit; incongruity
self-verification vs self-protection by swann (1987)
Self-verification: You want others to see you as you see yourself, even if it’s not ideal.
Self-protection: You avoid feedback or situations that might harm your self-esteem.
eg. trying not to be aware of how actual and ideal selves are incongruent
incongruence is defined by a _____ in the self that is detected by ____.
disorganisation; organismic value process (OVP)
incongruence happens when:
1.
2.
it causes:
1.
2.
incongruence happens when:
1. gap between actual and ideal self is perceived
2. experiencing things that don’t fit self-image
it causes:
1. anxiety
2. low self-esteem
what did the study by murray et al (2000) on self-concept and esteem show?
When people experience incongruence in their self-concept, they tend to underestimate the affection or care that others have for them, possibly due to insecurity or distorted self-perceptions.
to avoid anxiety caused by incongruence, what do people do?
distort experience:
- rationalisation - creating plausible but untrue explanation or seeing an event for being different than it really is (eg. mean jokes)
- denial/avoidance
defenses protect and enhance self-esteem under what 2 conditions?
- event must be either good (boost self-esteem) or bad (lower self-esteem)
- event must be attributable to that person (must feel they are responsible for the event)
how do people defend against failure?
- create distance between failure and self (when far enough, self-esteem is not affected)
- downplay personal responsibility, exaggerate external factors (blame others, eg. teacher didnt explain it well enough, so i failed) - discount impact entirely (doesn’t matter, just a small setback)
besides discounting the impact of failure entirely, another way to defend self from failure is to create distance between self and failure. how?
downplay personal responsibiliy, exaggerate external factors (ie. blame others not myself)
- when far enough, self-esteem is not affected
eg. teacher didnt explain it well enough, so i failed
what is self-handicapping? (before and after failure explanation)
before they fail: acting to create the very conditions that tend to lead to failure (excuses/obstacles that prevent success), so that when you fail you dont feel bad and self esteem is protected
after they fail: attribute the failure to the obstacle they created (e.g., lack of preparation, illness, distractions), rather than to their own lack of ability or effort
what is the stereotype threat?
stereotypes threat - people worry about reinforcing the negative stereotype people have about their group. this anxiety leads to impaired performance, reinforcing the very stereotype they fear.
2 key features:
1. worry/fear about confirming stereotype against them
2. this anxiety causes poor performance, reinforcing the stereotype
when does disidentification occur?
what is the main effect?
Disidentification happens when people distance themselves from a group or activity to avoid the negative effects of stereotype threat they keep experiencing. They stop caring entirely.
effect: prevent true skill from being expressed
maslow’s hierarchy of needs. from bottom to top.
physiological
safety
love/belonging
esteem
self-actualisation
peak experiences:
at moments of ____ self-actualisation, there may be _______sense of connection to elements in ________. This is called ________, where colors seem _________, sounds are _________, and time may be ________. There will be feelings of ____, ____ and _____.
You are experiencing things as ____ as possible and you “become” the _______. This is called the ___ state according to _______. Not about what’s being done but ___.
This happens more in ____ than _________.
this experience is not self-actualisation but a step higher, called the _____.
intense; heightened; surrounding envt; perceptual clarity; sharper; clearer; distorted; awe; wonder; ecstasy
fully; experience; flow; csikszentmihalyi (1990); how
work; leisure
self-transcendence
what is existential psychology (3 points)?
- all we have is existence and we are alone in an unfathomable universe
- so, we take responsibility for choice we make or don’t make - aka existential dilemma
- dasein
- being in the world, to be here, to be there. WHAT??
- my experience is an autonomous, separate and evolving entity. ?-_-?
- people have no existence apart from the world, and world has no meaning apart from people. fml??
The existential dilemma is the tension between the freedom to make choices and the anxiety or responsibility that comes with knowing those choices are ours alone to make in a world that offers no inherent meaning. ??????????????
what is dasein?
being in the world, to be here, to be there
person’s experience is an autonomous, separate and evolving entity
people have no existence apart from the world, and world has no meaning apart from people
i want to die
on existentialism, existing and being,
life eventually ends with ______ which can come at any time and which does not discriminate how ___ anyone is.
awareness of this causes ____ (deep anguish and dread) as we balance the poles between _____ and ____.
so what do we do?
either ___ or ____, the former manifesting as not choosing authenticity and ____ along with no ___, ____ or _______.
life has no meaning until it is ______, where each individual must create or assign to their own life through their choices, actions, and values.
we are responsible for making every moment ____; to exist to the ____ of our _____.
death; self-actualised
angst; existence; non-existence
retreat into nothingness; have the courage to be; drifting; goals; commitment; responsibilities
ascribed
fulfilling; best; ability
existential guilt and emptiness is ____, and simply the cost of ________.
even though we may strive to be responsible in our choices, perfect choices all the time is ____. we might fail to fulfil our ____, leading to ____.
emptiness occurs due to _________ to our _______. ______ to the forces that be can lead to __________ and __________.
inevitable/inescapable; living
impossible; possibilities; existential guilt
loss of commitment; values; powerlessness; meaninglessness; loss of dignity
lack of congruity creates _____ issues and is exacerbated by focus on _________.
therapy is _________ the partially ______ self by ___________ the _________ processes to _______ the ________ between elements of _______.
______ of conditions of worth must be removed to allow fuller focus on _______ and eventual ______.
however, therapy shouldnt be taken to fulfil a _______.
psychological; conditions of worth
reintegrating; disorganised; reversing; defence; confront; discrepancies; experience
yoke; organismic valuing process (OVP); reintergation
condition of worth
__________ is key to person-centered therapy and should be employed to facilitate _______. it assumes the tendency towards ______ is _______.
unconditional positive regard; reintegration; self-actualisation; intrinsic
what is the therapist’s role in person-centered therapy?
to place a person in a situation where conditions of worth are not present, allowing reintegration of partially disorganised self to be possible
remove pressure of conditions of worth throughout
clarify feelings
restatement of content
humanistic psychology is the study of our potential to _____.
to reach this potential is to ________ or attain ______.
grow
self-actualise; self-transcendence
