Maslow's Metamotivation and Metapathology

Maslow's Metamotivation and Metapathology are important concepts in psychology and education. But, beyond these fields, it could be said that they are also relevant notions for life itself.

Content

• The need for self -realization and metapathology
• Metamotivation, metanecessity and metapathology
  • Metamotivation
  • The metanecessity
  • Metapathology
  • Bibliography

The need for self -realization and metapathology

In a classic book by Nicholas DiCaprio, entitled Personality theories, The author examined the theory proposed by the renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow, well known for his pyramid of human needs.

DiCaprio began a study to find the most "fully human" subjects, more developed, and took the sample of a higher school. After analyzing about three thousand students, he realized that, only two or three, they approached the self realisation, A very famous concept in the theory of needs.

What Dicaprio found was that 1 % of the middle -aged population, barely met the requirements of self -realization, or approached them.

But why are so few students satisfied the requirements for self -realization? Perhaps their requirements were very high or probably Self -realization implies experiences that cannot occur at a very early age in life.

Self -realization implies a series of personal factors, in addition to a favorable cultural environment; means the human fully developed.

Abraham Maselow also raised the concept of Metapathologies to refer to the problems that arise from dissatisfaction or frustration of higher needs, that is, those referring to the estimate, affection and social belonging.

Examples of metapatologies could be not being able to love someone, not enjoying a valuable thing, not being able to appreciate the value of personal success. The Absence of meaning in life, lack of direction, existential depression.

According to DiCaprio, for Maslow these disorders are manifestations of dissatisfaction or frustration of metanecessities, which can be hidden, such as when a person feels that something is not going well in his life, but without knowing what is exactly.

The frustration: what is it, how it affects us and how to face it

Instead, the metamotivation, refers to the motivation experienced by a group of people who have achieved self -realization and whose efforts exceed the basic needs to achieve its maximum potential.

Following Maslow, initially, people are motivated by a set of basic needs, known as the hierarchy of needs. If a person sails successfully in his hierarchy of needs, covering all the basics, then travel on a path called motivational growth.

Metamotivation, metanecessity and metapathology

Maslow thought that it was necessary a significant purpose, since the motivations of these two groups differ.

There are people who are only motivated to meet the physiological basic needs, such as hunger, sex and love, and there are those who are promoted to achieve their maximum potential.

According to Maslow, Innate impulse towards self -realization benefits the whole society, since after people cover basic needs, they are free to explore skills and develop them. Driven by metamotivation, people are freer to be the ones who want to be and achieve a full life. Although not all people who meet their basic needs are motivated towards the needs of being.

Metamotivation

In this sense, Metamotivation is what drives or moves individuals towards self -realization and excellence.

Metamotivation is different from motivation, because the latter is located at the lowest levels and metamotivation emerges after basic needs are covered.

The metanecessity

Refering to metanecessity, This refers to any need for beauty, knowledge or creativity. A metanecessity involves self -realization and is one of the highest levels of needs. On the needs scale, the metaneces are related to impulses towards self -realization.

The metanecesities, according to Maslow are integrity, perfection, termination, justice, wealth, simplicity, vivacity, beauty, goodness, singularity, the ability to play, truth, autonomy and meaning.

Metapathology

So, Metapathology arises from the frustration of self -realization, that is, not being able to cover the metanecesities.

Metapathology is an impediment for the person to reach self -realization, express, use and reach their potential.

Some of the reasons why people would not reach self -realization would be poor childhoods, inappropriate education, low economic conditions, in addition to fears and anxieties, or the Jonah complex.

Motivation to achieve your goals

Bibliography

• Agrawal, k. G., & Sharma, B. R. (1977). Gratification, Metamotivation, and Maslow. Vikalpa, 2(4), 265-272.
• DiCaprio, n. S. (1976). Personality Theory(No. 04; BF698, D5.).
• Maslow, a. H. (1967). A Theory of Metamotivation: The Biological Rooting of the Value-Life. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 7(2), 93-127.