Humanistic psychology is the field of psychology that holds the belief that people can control their behavior and that people naturally strive to reach their full potential (Feldman , 2009). Humanistic psychology discards the idea that neither biological processes nor the environment are the underlying cause of human behavior, and instead asserts that humans innately attempt to exploit their full potential. An important factor in humanistic psychology is free will. In opposition to determinism, which states that every event, including every human decision and action, is inevitable, free will states that individuals have the authority to make decisions about their own lives. Furthermore, humanistic psychology supports the idea that people have the ability, if given the opportunity, to achieve contentment and pure serenity (Feldman, 2009). One of the most influential theorists in the field of humanistic psychology was Abraham Maslow (Heylighen 1992). This article specifically examines the life of Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs theory for which he is best known. In addition to describing his theory, there are a number of other significant terms created and used by Maslow that are also defined in this article. Important terms are in bold throughout the article and include the following: • Hierarchy of needs theory • Physiological needs • Safety needs • Belonging needs • Esteem needs • Deficiency needs • Homeostasis • Instinctive needs • Fixation • Neurosis • Philosophy of the future • Self-actualization • Being needs • Motivation for growth DemographicsAbraham Harold Maslow was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 1, 1908 and was the eldest of seven children. His parents were uneducated Jewish immigrants from Russia, who wanted... half paper... as Slow states that only a fraction of a percent of human beings will ever reach the level of self-realization, if the individual always strives to achieve the next level in the hierarchy of needs, with the goal of fulfillment, they will always evolve towards a better state of self. Works Cited Boeree, G. C. (2006). Abraham Maslow. Retrieved from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/maslow.htmlHeylighen, F. (1992). A cognitive-systemic reconstruction of Maslow's self-actualization theory. Behavioral Sciences, 37(1), 39.Hoffman, E. E. (1992). The last interview of ABRAHAM MASLOW. Psychology Today, 25(1), 68-89.Feldman, R. S. (2009). Understanding psychology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sumerlin, J. M. (1996). Brief self-actualization index: A measure of the Maslow model. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 11(2), 253-271.