"The psychology of the mature human being is an unfolding, emergent, oscillating, spiraling process, marked by progressive subordination of older, lower-order behavior systems to newer, higher-order systems as man’s existential problems change." Clare Graves
Road Signs
We’ve all probably had the experience of either being a child in a car with our parents, or having children in the car with us, and there is the inevitable question that gets asked, “Are we there yet?” How do we know where we are on the journey? How will we know when we get there? One of the things I decided to do with my children when they were younger was I taught them to read a map. As we drove along, I had them watch for signs that told about town names, geological features, rest areas, parks, and so on. They no longer asked, “Are we there yet?” They knew where we were on the journey by reading the road signs.
I would like to share with you some road signs that describe the journey of growth in wisdom, consciousness, and human social maturity. Many different people have researched how it is that people grow and develop in terms of their awareness of the world around them, and how to relate to that world and the people within it. I have found it helpful to read the results of research and the descriptions of life stages and social stages to understand some of the dynamics of how people behave, and what is going on in our society and culture throughout history. I view these as steps along the journey to wisdom - communal as well as individual. One such system is called Spiral Dynamics,
We’ve all probably had the experience of either being a child in a car with our parents, or having children in the car with us, and there is the inevitable question that gets asked, “Are we there yet?” How do we know where we are on the journey? How will we know when we get there? One of the things I decided to do with my children when they were younger was I taught them to read a map. As we drove along, I had them watch for signs that told about town names, geological features, rest areas, parks, and so on. They no longer asked, “Are we there yet?” They knew where we were on the journey by reading the road signs.
I would like to share with you some road signs that describe the journey of growth in wisdom, consciousness, and human social maturity. Many different people have researched how it is that people grow and develop in terms of their awareness of the world around them, and how to relate to that world and the people within it. I have found it helpful to read the results of research and the descriptions of life stages and social stages to understand some of the dynamics of how people behave, and what is going on in our society and culture throughout history. I view these as steps along the journey to wisdom - communal as well as individual. One such system is called Spiral Dynamics,
What is Spiral Dynamics?
Think of it as reading road signs along the Path of Life, or the Path of Human History. “You are this far to Wisdom.” Basically, the idea is that human individuals as well as whole societies develop and grow in the manner in which they think and relate to one another. We can evaluate where we are along the Path according to how we think and how we relate to one another.
The basic principle behind Spiral Dynamics is that human beings exist Biologically, Psychologically, and Socially. We live as individuals in constant interaction with our environment, families, communities, and greater societies. Out of these interactions, systems of language, values, beliefs, worldview, and cultures emerge. Clare Graves, the psychologist and social researcher who studied human social development across the world. identified six levels of development that characterized humans individually, and human societies historically. Graves described it this way: "The psychology of the mature human being is an unfolding, emergent, oscillating, spiraling process, marked by progressive subordination of older, lower-order behavior systems to newer, higher-order systems as man’s existential problems change." His followers have extended these findings to nations and corporations, religious denominations, and any organized human endeavor. The term "meme" was coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins as a concept for discussion of evolutionary principles in explaining the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena.Dawkins defined the meme as a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation and replication. (See the article on "meme" in Wikipedia.) Whereas Dawkins and others spoke of memes as small units of replicable cultural or intellectual information, Graves and his followers speak about vMEMEs as macro-level systems based around shared values, rules of behavior, ideas and ideals that operate at the macro-levels of cultures and societies. However, individuals also exhibit behaviors that embody and reflect these broad cultural worldviews and modes of being.
Each vMEME reflects a world view, a valuing system, a level of psychological existence, a belief structure, an organizing principle, a way of thinking or a mode of adjustment deep within evolving human nature itself.
Ronnie Lessem summarizes the characteristics of a vMEME. He says it represents:
Don Beck gives this "elevator speech" about what Spiral Dynamics is all about: "Spiral Dynamics is a definition of what human nature is and how human nature changes as life conditions change - and that we have the kind of mind-brain-heart equipment that has the capability of reconfiguring the world when conditions warrant. There is something in us as human beings (individually and collectively) that enables us to create new worlds. Spiral Dynamics is a way of tracking that process. It is a code, not a prescription."
We exist as participants and contributors to Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual systems, and we possess an adaptive intelligence that arises in response to life conditions. That essentially is what emergence phenomena are all about. These adaptive responses to historical circumstances emerge only because we are capable of them emerging from within us. What is fascinating is that we can learn from our life conditions, and seek ways to alter our circumstances, often in accordance with value systems that guide us, but are articulated by us in response to those same preceding life situations. And so it goes. It is basically a systems approach to human psycho-social development.
Some useful websites to learn more about Spiral Dynamics are:
Think of it as reading road signs along the Path of Life, or the Path of Human History. “You are this far to Wisdom.” Basically, the idea is that human individuals as well as whole societies develop and grow in the manner in which they think and relate to one another. We can evaluate where we are along the Path according to how we think and how we relate to one another.
The basic principle behind Spiral Dynamics is that human beings exist Biologically, Psychologically, and Socially. We live as individuals in constant interaction with our environment, families, communities, and greater societies. Out of these interactions, systems of language, values, beliefs, worldview, and cultures emerge. Clare Graves, the psychologist and social researcher who studied human social development across the world. identified six levels of development that characterized humans individually, and human societies historically. Graves described it this way: "The psychology of the mature human being is an unfolding, emergent, oscillating, spiraling process, marked by progressive subordination of older, lower-order behavior systems to newer, higher-order systems as man’s existential problems change." His followers have extended these findings to nations and corporations, religious denominations, and any organized human endeavor. The term "meme" was coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins as a concept for discussion of evolutionary principles in explaining the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena.Dawkins defined the meme as a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation and replication. (See the article on "meme" in Wikipedia.) Whereas Dawkins and others spoke of memes as small units of replicable cultural or intellectual information, Graves and his followers speak about vMEMEs as macro-level systems based around shared values, rules of behavior, ideas and ideals that operate at the macro-levels of cultures and societies. However, individuals also exhibit behaviors that embody and reflect these broad cultural worldviews and modes of being.
Each vMEME reflects a world view, a valuing system, a level of psychological existence, a belief structure, an organizing principle, a way of thinking or a mode of adjustment deep within evolving human nature itself.
Ronnie Lessem summarizes the characteristics of a vMEME. He says it represents:
- Firstly , a CORE INTELLIGENCE that forms systems and impacts on human behavior.
- Secondly, it IMPACTS UPON all life CHOICES.
- Thirdly, each vMEME can manifest itself in both HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY forms.
- Fourthly, such a vMEME is a discrete STRUCTURE for thinking, not just a set of ideas, cultural artifacts, or philosophical cause.
- Fifthly, it CAN BRIGHTEN AND DIM as circumstances in the milieux change since it is the dynamic interaction of latent capacities and systems-within with perceived existential conditions-without that awaken vMEMEs. (Compiled by Ronnie Lessem, found in A Summary of Spiral Dynamics.)
Don Beck gives this "elevator speech" about what Spiral Dynamics is all about: "Spiral Dynamics is a definition of what human nature is and how human nature changes as life conditions change - and that we have the kind of mind-brain-heart equipment that has the capability of reconfiguring the world when conditions warrant. There is something in us as human beings (individually and collectively) that enables us to create new worlds. Spiral Dynamics is a way of tracking that process. It is a code, not a prescription."
We exist as participants and contributors to Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual systems, and we possess an adaptive intelligence that arises in response to life conditions. That essentially is what emergence phenomena are all about. These adaptive responses to historical circumstances emerge only because we are capable of them emerging from within us. What is fascinating is that we can learn from our life conditions, and seek ways to alter our circumstances, often in accordance with value systems that guide us, but are articulated by us in response to those same preceding life situations. And so it goes. It is basically a systems approach to human psycho-social development.
Some useful websites to learn more about Spiral Dynamics are:
The Signposts of the Journey of Human Consciousness (Individual and Communal) using the insights of Spiral Dynamics
Tier One
Stage 1: (Beige Stage) “Just Getting By.”
Our earliest stage in development as individuals and as humans is basic survival, and our thinking is instinctual. Find food, keep warm, protect oneself and one’s family.
Stage 1: (Beige Stage) “Just Getting By.”
Our earliest stage in development as individuals and as humans is basic survival, and our thinking is instinctual. Find food, keep warm, protect oneself and one’s family.
Stage 2: (Purple Stage)“There’s Magic Everywhere.”
The next level is magical or animistic thinking: there are spirits everywhere that have to be appeased or avoided, the ancestors may be these spirits, people are bound by clan and tribal ties.
The next level is magical or animistic thinking: there are spirits everywhere that have to be appeased or avoided, the ancestors may be these spirits, people are bound by clan and tribal ties.
Stage 3: (Red Stage) “My God’s Bigger than Your God.”
After that, the next level elevates these spirits to a few power-gods, which patronize kingdoms. Powerful rulers emerge, that are viewed as quasi-divine. Power and glory are qualities that are cultivated, warriors are glorified who protect the empire from threats or extend that empire. In individuals, this stage manifests as youthful rebellion, frontier mentalities, epic heroes, James Bond villains, gang leaders, and so on. Exploitative Rough and harsh, rugged authoritarianism, finds expression in slavery or virtual slavery, exploitation of unskilled labor. Generally run by a Top Boss and series of proxies, there is a strict division of have's and have nots. Assumption is that people are lazy, must be forced to work. True leaders must suppress natural human tendencies. Currently evident in street life and gangs in inner cities. Motivated by "heroes" and conquest. Feudalism. (Terrible Twos, feudal kingdoms, soldiers of fortune, many rock stars, Power Rangers, rebellious youth, 20% of world population, 5% of power).
After that, the next level elevates these spirits to a few power-gods, which patronize kingdoms. Powerful rulers emerge, that are viewed as quasi-divine. Power and glory are qualities that are cultivated, warriors are glorified who protect the empire from threats or extend that empire. In individuals, this stage manifests as youthful rebellion, frontier mentalities, epic heroes, James Bond villains, gang leaders, and so on. Exploitative Rough and harsh, rugged authoritarianism, finds expression in slavery or virtual slavery, exploitation of unskilled labor. Generally run by a Top Boss and series of proxies, there is a strict division of have's and have nots. Assumption is that people are lazy, must be forced to work. True leaders must suppress natural human tendencies. Currently evident in street life and gangs in inner cities. Motivated by "heroes" and conquest. Feudalism. (Terrible Twos, feudal kingdoms, soldiers of fortune, many rock stars, Power Rangers, rebellious youth, 20% of world population, 5% of power).
Stage 4: (Blue Stage) “Entering the Mythic Order.”
Life has meaning, direction, and purpose, with outcomes determined by an all-powerful Other or Order. This righteous Order enforces a code of conduct based on absolutist and unvarying principles of "right" and "wrong." Violating the code or rules has severe, perhaps everlasting repercussions. Authoritarian Loyal to Truth, which is defined by social grouping. Purposeful and patriotic, leads people to obey authority, feel guilty when not conforming to group norms, try to serve the greater good through self-sacrifice. Works very well in industrial economies. Discipline is strict but usually fair and often public (flogging in Singapore, e.g.). U.S. has shifted away from BLUE industries, which have moved to Mexico, Taiwan, Malaysia, and elsewhere that this BLUE is now strong. BLUE industries will eventually move to Africa, in Beck's opinion. Moralistic-prescriptive management techniques. Organizational structure is pyramidal. (Boy and Girl Scouts, Billy Graham, Puritan American, Confucian China, Islamic fundamentalism, 40% of world population, 30% of power).
Life has meaning, direction, and purpose, with outcomes determined by an all-powerful Other or Order. This righteous Order enforces a code of conduct based on absolutist and unvarying principles of "right" and "wrong." Violating the code or rules has severe, perhaps everlasting repercussions. Authoritarian Loyal to Truth, which is defined by social grouping. Purposeful and patriotic, leads people to obey authority, feel guilty when not conforming to group norms, try to serve the greater good through self-sacrifice. Works very well in industrial economies. Discipline is strict but usually fair and often public (flogging in Singapore, e.g.). U.S. has shifted away from BLUE industries, which have moved to Mexico, Taiwan, Malaysia, and elsewhere that this BLUE is now strong. BLUE industries will eventually move to Africa, in Beck's opinion. Moralistic-prescriptive management techniques. Organizational structure is pyramidal. (Boy and Girl Scouts, Billy Graham, Puritan American, Confucian China, Islamic fundamentalism, 40% of world population, 30% of power).
Stage 5: (Orange Stage) “Explore, Explain, Extract.”
This is the stage of Scientific Achievement. The world is a rational and well-oiled machine with natural laws that can be learned, mastered, and manipulated for one's own purposes. Highly achievement oriented, especially (in America) toward materialistic gains. Our country and most of the industrialized world is heavily invested in this stage right now. Entrepreneurial Personal success orientation, each person rationally calculating what is to their personal advantage. Motivations are largely economic, people are responsive to perks, bonuses, money rather than loyalty, group belongingness, or life employment. Rational capacities allow people to test many options. Competition improves productivity and fosters growth. This is probably the dominant value Meme in America today. Main concerns are autonomy and manipulation of the environment. Usually results in free market economy and multi-party democracy. (Ayn Rand, Wall Street, Rodeo Drive, cosmetics industry, Dallas, trophy hunting, Hong Kong, GQ, Mediterranean yachts, 30% of world population, 50% of power).
This is the stage of Scientific Achievement. The world is a rational and well-oiled machine with natural laws that can be learned, mastered, and manipulated for one's own purposes. Highly achievement oriented, especially (in America) toward materialistic gains. Our country and most of the industrialized world is heavily invested in this stage right now. Entrepreneurial Personal success orientation, each person rationally calculating what is to their personal advantage. Motivations are largely economic, people are responsive to perks, bonuses, money rather than loyalty, group belongingness, or life employment. Rational capacities allow people to test many options. Competition improves productivity and fosters growth. This is probably the dominant value Meme in America today. Main concerns are autonomy and manipulation of the environment. Usually results in free market economy and multi-party democracy. (Ayn Rand, Wall Street, Rodeo Drive, cosmetics industry, Dallas, trophy hunting, Hong Kong, GQ, Mediterranean yachts, 30% of world population, 50% of power).
Stage 6: (Green Stage) “We Are One.”
This next stage is starting to emerge: The Communitarian stage. The human spirit must be freed from greed, dogma, and divisiveness; feelings and caring supersede cold rationality; cherishing of the earth, and all life. Refresh spirituality, bring harmony, enrich human potential. Strongly egalitarian, anti-hierarchy, pluralistic values, social construction of reality, diversity, multiculturalism, relativistic value systems. Communitarian Sensitive and humanistic, the focus with green is community and personal growth, equality, attention to environmental concerns. Work is motivated by human contact and contribution, learning from others. Being liked is more important than competitive advantage, value openness and trust, fear rejection and disapproval. Leaders become facilitators, less autocratic. Hierarchies blur in the move towards egalitarianism with a resulting tendency towards inefficiency and stagnation. Can become so bogged down and ineffectual, though, that people revert to go-getter individualism of orange. (Rogerian counseling, Esalen, GreenPeace, Jacques Costeau, Jimmy Carter, John Lennon's music, Doctors without Borders, ACLU, Ben & Jerry's, animal rights, deep ecology, 10% of population, 15% of power)
This next stage is starting to emerge: The Communitarian stage. The human spirit must be freed from greed, dogma, and divisiveness; feelings and caring supersede cold rationality; cherishing of the earth, and all life. Refresh spirituality, bring harmony, enrich human potential. Strongly egalitarian, anti-hierarchy, pluralistic values, social construction of reality, diversity, multiculturalism, relativistic value systems. Communitarian Sensitive and humanistic, the focus with green is community and personal growth, equality, attention to environmental concerns. Work is motivated by human contact and contribution, learning from others. Being liked is more important than competitive advantage, value openness and trust, fear rejection and disapproval. Leaders become facilitators, less autocratic. Hierarchies blur in the move towards egalitarianism with a resulting tendency towards inefficiency and stagnation. Can become so bogged down and ineffectual, though, that people revert to go-getter individualism of orange. (Rogerian counseling, Esalen, GreenPeace, Jacques Costeau, Jimmy Carter, John Lennon's music, Doctors without Borders, ACLU, Ben & Jerry's, animal rights, deep ecology, 10% of population, 15% of power)
Tier Two:
Stage 7: (Yellow) “Integrating the Pieces” or “Go with the Flow”
Life is viewed in its network of relationships, systems, forms, and hierarchies. Experience and engagement with all that exists is valued over material possessions. Flexibility, spontaneity, and functionality are emphasized. Flow between things comes to the fore, rather than rigid structures of thought. This stage also looks at previous levels of the Spiral as being interrelated, and begins to integrate the various components holistically. This is the first value Meme of the second tier in which there is a quantum shift in the capacity to take multiple perspectives in life. YELLOW is motivated by learning for its own sake and is oriented towards integration of complex systems. Change is a welcome part of the process in organizations and life; YELLOW likes the challenges. It is characterized by systems thinking, an orientation to how parts interact to create a greater whole. Unique talents and dispositions are honored as contributing something valuable to the whole. YELLOW likes engineering complex systems and dealing with ideas. It is also ecologically oriented, but in a more subdued, behind the scenes way. YELLOW thinkers often work on the periphery of organizations, quietly fine-tuning situations and procedures, much to the bafflement of the first tier vMemes. (Hawking's Brief History of Time, chaos theory, eco-industrial parks, Wired magazine, 1%of world population, 5% of power).
Stage 7: (Yellow) “Integrating the Pieces” or “Go with the Flow”
Life is viewed in its network of relationships, systems, forms, and hierarchies. Experience and engagement with all that exists is valued over material possessions. Flexibility, spontaneity, and functionality are emphasized. Flow between things comes to the fore, rather than rigid structures of thought. This stage also looks at previous levels of the Spiral as being interrelated, and begins to integrate the various components holistically. This is the first value Meme of the second tier in which there is a quantum shift in the capacity to take multiple perspectives in life. YELLOW is motivated by learning for its own sake and is oriented towards integration of complex systems. Change is a welcome part of the process in organizations and life; YELLOW likes the challenges. It is characterized by systems thinking, an orientation to how parts interact to create a greater whole. Unique talents and dispositions are honored as contributing something valuable to the whole. YELLOW likes engineering complex systems and dealing with ideas. It is also ecologically oriented, but in a more subdued, behind the scenes way. YELLOW thinkers often work on the periphery of organizations, quietly fine-tuning situations and procedures, much to the bafflement of the first tier vMemes. (Hawking's Brief History of Time, chaos theory, eco-industrial parks, Wired magazine, 1%of world population, 5% of power).
Stage 8: (Turquoise) “Seeing the Really Big Picture”
The Integrative impulse of Yellow is expanded into a global perspective. It is a truly and fully ecological view that looks at the world as one dynamic, interconnected, inter-dynamic system biologically, physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually. The human self is viewed as being both distinct and part of a larger Self or Whole. Truly integrative and holistic thinking predominates. Focused on a global holism/integralism, attuned to the delicate balance of interlocking life forces. Synthetic and experiential, emerging focus on spiritual connectivity. Work must be meaningful to the overall health of life. Feelings and information experienced together, enhancing both. Able to see and honor many perspectives, including many of the "lower" vMemes. Structured in multi-dimensional ways. Conscious of energy fields, holographic links in all walks of work and life, urge to use collective human intelligence to work on large-scale problems without sacrificing individuality. (Gaia hypothesis, Ken Wilber's work, Teilhard de Chardin, David Bohm, McLuhan's ‘global village,' Gandhi's idea of pluralistic harmony, not very influential yet, .1% of world population, 1% of power)
The Integrative impulse of Yellow is expanded into a global perspective. It is a truly and fully ecological view that looks at the world as one dynamic, interconnected, inter-dynamic system biologically, physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually. The human self is viewed as being both distinct and part of a larger Self or Whole. Truly integrative and holistic thinking predominates. Focused on a global holism/integralism, attuned to the delicate balance of interlocking life forces. Synthetic and experiential, emerging focus on spiritual connectivity. Work must be meaningful to the overall health of life. Feelings and information experienced together, enhancing both. Able to see and honor many perspectives, including many of the "lower" vMemes. Structured in multi-dimensional ways. Conscious of energy fields, holographic links in all walks of work and life, urge to use collective human intelligence to work on large-scale problems without sacrificing individuality. (Gaia hypothesis, Ken Wilber's work, Teilhard de Chardin, David Bohm, McLuhan's ‘global village,' Gandhi's idea of pluralistic harmony, not very influential yet, .1% of world population, 1% of power)
