Actualizing the self Humanists suggest that self-actualized people show concern for the welfare of humanity. This 89-year-old social services volunteer (right), one of 65 million Americans who perform volunteer work each year (CNCS, 2013), has participated for the past 20 years as a companion to elderly persons with intellectual disability and developmental disabilities. The self-actualized are also thought to be highly creative, spontaneous, independent, and humorous.