Self-actualizationDate of publication: 08/07/2007 This section is still being developed but will eventually contain complete summaries of studies that have studied self-actualization based on the Bar-On conceptual and psychometric model of emotional-social intelligence. In the meantime, I have summarized the key studies that I am aware of. Should you wish to share findings from a study that you have conducted or have detailed information on studies that others have conducted focusing on this topic, please use the template provided above for summarizing this study and email it to us (info@reuvenbaron.org). You are invited to provide results that confirm or refute these findings and help us understand this area better. Self-actualization is the process of striving to actualize one’s potential capacity, abilities and talents. It requires the ability and drive to set and achieve goals, and it is characterized by being involved in and feeling committed to various interests and pursuits. Self-actualization is thought to be a life-long effort leading to an enriched and meaningful life. It is not merely performance but an attempt to do one’s best.
In a reexamination of an older dataset used in my doctoral research [Bar-On, 1988], I recently ran a multiple regression analysis to study the impact of emotional-social intelligence competencies, skills and facilitators on self-actualization [Bar-On, 2006]. A subset of 67 South African university students were identified within the dataset who concomitantly completed an earlier version of the EQ-i and the Personal Orientation Inventory [Shostrom, 1974], which is a popularly used measure of self-actualization. The I Scale, which captures 85% of the POI’s items, was designated the dependent variable while the EQ-i subscale scores were identified as the independent variables. The results indicated that emotional-social intelligence significantly impacts self-actualization (.64).
Three additional studies have also examined this relationship [Bar-On, 2001]. Large samples were studied in the Netherlands (n=1,639), Israel (n=2,702) and North America (n=3,831). The results from these studies confirm the South African study indicating that emotional-social intelligence strongly impacts self-actualization, with multiple regression correlations reaching .78, .75 and .80 for the Dutch, Israeli and American samples respectively. It is equally interesting to note that the relationship between cognitive intelligence (assessed by the Raven in the Israeli sample and by the GAMA in the Dutch sample) and self-actualization for the Israeli sample (.02) and the Dutch sample (.08) was not statistically significant [Bar-On, 2001]. This means that it is emotional-social intelligence much more than cognitive intelligence that influences one’s ability to do one’s best, to accomplish goals and to actualize one’s potential to its fullest. Evidently a high IQ does not guarantee that one will actualize one’s potential, but a high EQ is definitely more important in this respect.
A very similar model surfaced in each of the above-mentioned studies regarding the ability of emotional-social intelligence to predict self-actualization. In addition to being sufficiently motivated to set and accomplish personal goals, self-actualization depends, first and foremost, on a deep sense of self-awareness and understanding of who one is, what one wants to do, can do and enjoys doing. Self-actualization also depends upon good problem solving for making sound independent decisions regarding what one wants to do, and then being assertive enough to follow through with these personal decisions. Additionally, one must be optimistic and positive to more fully actualize one’s potential and lead a more meaningful life based on the findings of these studies.
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