How Esteem needs is different from Self Actualization needs?: Know the differences here!

In this blog we are going to tell you about How Esteem needs is different from Self Actualization needs?, so read this blog carefully to get the complete information.

Abraham Maslow proposed the hierarchy of needs theory. According to this hierarchy, people are motivated to accomplish basic needs before moving on to other more advanced needs. He was interested in learning about what makes people happy and what they do to achieve their aim. He believed that people are born with a desire to be self-actualized which means to be all they can be. And to accomplish this goal, they have to fulfill their more basic needs. Two such needs are esteem needs and self-actualization needs. However, self-esteem and self-actualization are two terms that are related to each other as they have somewhat similar meanings. So in this article, we are going to talk about what esteem needs and self-actualization needs are and how they differ from each other so that you can understand at which level you are and what your needs are.

Summary of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs

The hierarchy of Human Needs was created by Abraham Maslow in 1943, according to which human needs can be divided into 5 levels which are as mentioned below:

  1. Psychological needs include breathing, food, water, and sleep.
  2. Safety needs include security, protection, and being fearless.
  3. Love and belonging needs include being part of a group and receiving and giving love.
  4. Esteem needs include two basic needs that are esteem for oneself and the desire for reputation or respect in society or from others.
  5. Self-actualization needs contain understanding personal potential and pursuing personal growth.

What are Esteem’s needs?

Self-esteem implies a person’s overall subjective emotional evaluation of his or her own value. It is behavior towards the self and comprises beliefs and emotional states like shame, pride, despair, etc. Self-esteem can be defined simply by the way we think of ourselves.

Esteem needs come at the fourth level in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It is the need for liking and respect. Once the above needs have been satisfied, esteem needs start to play a more important role in motivating behavior. At this level, it becomes important for a person to gain respect and appreciation from others. People need to achieve things and they want their efforts to be recognized. People want to feel that they are valued by others and they are making a contribution to the world. Moreover, when people can satisfy esteem needs by achieving good self-esteem and the recognition they achieve from others, it makes them feel confident in their abilities. On the other hand, those who lack self-esteem and the appreciation of others may create feelings of inferiority.

What are Self-actualization needs?

Self-actualization is a desire of the person to use all his or her capacities to accomplish and be everything that he or she possibly can. It is the fulfillment of talents and potentialities of a person for himself or herself. Self-actualization is assumed as a need that is present in everyone.

Self-actualization needs come at the very peak of Maslow’s Hierarchy. Self-actualization means people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, and are less concerned with the opinions of others and focus on fulfilling their potential. At this level, people seem to fulfill themselves and do the best they are capable of doing.

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Main Differences between Esteem needs and Self Actualization needs

The following are the points that show how esteem needs are different from self-actualization needs:  

  • Meaning

Self-esteem is a reflection of a person’s evaluation of his or her value while Self actualization is the realization or fulfillment of talents and potentialities for himself or herself.

  • Stage in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Esteem is included in the fourth tier of the hierarchy whereas Self-actualization is the final tier of the hierarchy.

  • Order of Needs

To gain esteem, basic psychological needs, security, feeling of love, and belonging should be achieved while to gain self-actualization basic psychological needs, security feeling, love, belonging and esteem as well should be achieved.

  • Content

In the esteem tier, self-esteem, confidence, respect of others, respect by others, achievement, and other things are included. On the other hand, in the self-actualization tier, morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem-solving, lack of prejudice, and acceptance of facts are included.

The final verdict

So overall self-esteem and self-actualization are two related terms in psychology however the needs for both of them are quite different. The main difference between self-esteem and self-actualization is in their meaning. Self-esteem refers to the reflection of a person’s own evaluation of his or her value while self-actualization refers to the realization or fulfillment of one’s talent and potential. And if we talk about Maslow’s Hierarchy, esteem comes at the fourth level and when it is achieved, people reach the last level of self-actualization. We hope you found this article helpful and understood how esteem needs are different from actualization needs.

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Conclusion

We Hope this blog is sufficient enough to provide the information about How Esteem needs is different from Self Actualization needs?. Thanks for reading this blog.