Self-actualization potential in Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton

¶ … human development, particularly in the development of the individual's social, emotional, and psychological needs, Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Motives/Needs is considered the best model that illustrates the development of an individual. Along with his/her development, an individual may go through several stages of life wherein the following elements are present and can potentially be experienced (arranged from bottom to top of Maslow's hierarchy): physiological, safety, love and belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization. Maslow developed this model to illustrate how individuals "satisfy certain basic needs before we can satisfy higher needs" (Santrock, 2001:371). Among these needs, Maslow considers self-actualization as the ultimate end of human development, wherein it is considered as "the highest and most elusive human need," since this is the motivation to develop one's full potential as a human being. Applied in the human setting, Maslow's self-actualization element in his hierarchy may be comparatively illustrated by Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, presidents of the United States who can be considered individuals who have the highest potential to achieve self-actualization. A look at their lives being presidents of the country, however, show that both Reagan and Clinton have experienced crises in their lives, with the reportage of political scandals such as Iran-Contra Affair and Monica Lewinsky sexual harassment scandal, respectively. Between the two presidents, it can be said that Clinton has the highest potential to achieve self-actualization, since Reagan's physical ailment, Alzheimer's disease, have hindered his chances to live a meaningful life after a tumultuous life as president.