Page No 18-23.
Rani Mohanraj and Latha
University of Madras, Chennai
Self actualization describes the natural tendency of humans to strive to fulfill
their potential. Progress through the levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs –
physiological, safety, love, esteem and self-actualization – is the unintentional
result of living, probably beginning in the childhood (Maslow, 1968). The unique
characteristics of children provide additional potential for their developing skills,
which promote self-actualization. Specific forms of self-actualization, therefore,
vary greatly from person to person. Self-actualization need not to be limited to
creative and artistic people but it is applied to different kinds of individuals in all
walks of life. Every individual has an opportunity to fulfill his or her potential by
doing well what each does best. The present investigation attempts to explore
or find out the possible relations among the disabled or handicapped students
and their level of self-actualization. For this purpose Personal Orientation
Inventory was administered to 22 male students of high school who are
handicapped students belonging to a blind school. The age range of subjects
was 15 to 21 years with rural background. Findings indicate that most of the
subjects were able to score high on the sub-scale of Self-regard (Sr) and
Acceptance of self in spite of weaknesses (Sz) but were unable to reach the
required level of self-actualization. Several statistically significant correlations
suggest further work with larger sample
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