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Intrinsic Conscience

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Intrinsic Conscience

Intrinsic Conscience is a built-in inner guide grounded in the (often unconscious) perception of one’s own nature, capacities, and “call” in life, which presses a person to be true to their inner nature rather than betray it for weakness, safety, or advantage.[1] In LP terms, this is the inner drive to Alignment.

Concept Map

Key Terms

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Eupsychian Theory >

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Syncretic Terms

Intrinsic Conscience >

Related LP Terms

Intrinsic Consciousness > Alignment

Non-LP Related Terms

Intrinsic Consciousness >

Notes

Not the same as the Freudian superego. Maslow distinguishes the superego (internalized approvals/disapprovals of others) from intrinsic conscience (an inner demand rooted in one’s own nature).[2]

Violation produces Intrinsic Guilt. Intrinsic guilt is the result of betraying the self/inner nature—“turning off the path to self-actualization”—and is therefore a form of justified self-disapproval, not merely social sham.[3]

The “intrinsic conscience” is "based upon the un­conscious and preconscious perception of our own nature, of our own destiny, or our own capacities, of our own 'call' in life. It insists that we be true to our inner nature and that we do not deny it out of weakness or for advantage or for any other reason."[4]

Quotes

  • “another kind of conscience… the ‘intrinsic conscience.’”[5]
  • “based upon the unconscious and preconscious perception of our own nature… our own ‘call’ in life.” [6]
  • “It insists that we be true to our inner nature[7] and that we do not deny it…” [8]
  • Intrinsic Guilt is the consequence of betrayal of one’s own inner nature or self…” [9]

Abraham Maslow Index

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Footnotes

  1. A. H. Maslow, Towards a Psychology of Being (2nd Edition) (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1968). p. 7.
  2. A. H. Maslow, Towards a Psychology of Being (2nd Edition) (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1968).
  3. A. H. Maslow, Towards a Psychology of Being (2nd Edition) (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1968).
  4. A. H. Maslow, Towards a Psychology of Being (2nd Edition) (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1968). p. 7.
  5. Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being (2nd ed.), 1968, p. 7.
  6. Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being (2nd ed.), 1968, p. 7.
  7. Being true to your inner nature is known as Alignment in the LP theoretic
  8. Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being (2nd ed.), 1968, p. 7.
  9. Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being (2nd ed.), 1968, p. 194.