Allport's Functional Autonomy & Stages Of Self

Introduction The main character of our story is Bailey, a Golden Retriever who wants to know what his purpose is, the meaning of his life. He thinks about milk and siblings, contemplates what life is like from other’s point of view and in between enjoys playing and eating and spending time with his humans. He tries to develop relationships with his humans, attempts to understand what they are feeling and what they want from him, he tries to discover what he can do to please them, and how he can impact their lives in a positive way. First and foremost he is trying to discover his purpose, in the here and now and in the big picture.a
Theory One: Allport’s Functional Autonomy & Stages of Self Bailey begins his journey trying to answer questions …show more content…
Early in his life his needs were purely physiological, he was an infant, he was hungry, so he ate. He began at the physiological needs stage of his life with each new beginning, but he progressed further and faster towards self-actualization with each life. Within each of those lives Bailey attempted to find his purpose, and despite learning that he was doing things that were good, helpful and often enjoyable to him, none of them fulfilled him to a point that he achieved self-actualization. Bailey goes through a rough time before he finally manages to find his way back to Ethan. During this time he experiences sadness, lack of fulfillment, and questions again (and more seriously this time), what his purpose is and what might fulfill his need for a purpose. After Bailey finds Ethan again, Bailey manages to get him to accept him in his new form, that of a black Labrador. Bailey remembers tricks he used to do with Ethan and performs those behaviors to show Ethan that he is the same dog just in a different body. Bailey is so happy to be back with Ethan, but he senses that Ethan is sad as well as alone, that Ethan is the only member of his “pack” as Bailey calls it. In Bailey’s experience when humans are alone they are sad, and Bailey feels that he may have a purpose in Ethan’s life. He tries to think what he can do to help Ethan achieve happiness, and he has an opportunity to bring Ethan and his high-school girlfriend Hannah together again. Bailey brought Ethan happiness, and Bailey experiences a sense of fulfillment, and according to Roger’s, achieves