self-actualization

American  

[self-ak-choo-uh-luh-zey-shuhn, self-ak-] / ˈsɛlfˌæk tʃu ə ləˈzeɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf æk- /

noun

Psychology.

1. the achievement of one's full potential through creativity, independence, spontaneity, and a grasp of the real world.

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self-actualization British  

noun

1. psychol the process of establishing oneself as a whole person, able to develop one's abilities and to understand oneself

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Etymology

Origin of self-actualization

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Other times, such as the surreal world of the donkey afterlife, I thought of the colorfully unpredictable universe of the music-focused game “The Artful Escape,” a quest for personal identity and self-actualization.

From Los Angeles Times

Any humiliations Crowe might have suffered as an uncertain teen were for his mother merely speed bumps on the journey to self-actualization, ideally as a lawyer.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think of myself as an evolved and self-actualized woman,” she says with a laugh.

From Los Angeles Times

Once again, Song uses a love triangle plot to explore her ideas about self-actualization.

From Los Angeles Times

My favorite writers certainly thought so with the most popular books that year being about divorce and self-actualization: “All Fours” by Miranda July, “Splinters” by Leslie Jamison and “Liars” by Sarah Manguso.

From Los Angeles Times