One of the problems with being endlessly curious is that I sometimes forget about something interesting and helpful that I learned in the past. The concept of Spiral Dynamics is just like that. This last week my husband Thom happened to mention it, and voila!, the light bulb went on! I instantly remembered what captivated me about the theory years ago. In my view, Spiral Dynamics is a good explanation for why some of us have a difficult time getting along with other people. Not only is the country polarized in many ways, but so too are some friends and even family members. To me, Spiral Dynamics offers an elegant understanding for not what we think, but why we think so differently.
What exactly is it? The idea of Spiral Dynamics was originally created as a way to describe psychological and awareness development on both an individual and collective level. Back in the 1950s, while Abraham Maslow was formulating his Hierarchy of Human Needs, a psychologist named Clare W. Graves began doing research on what makes people different in terms of behaviors, values and worldviews. He didn’t “type” personalities, instead he called his work, “”The Emergent, Cyclical, Levels of Existence Theory.”
Unfortunately Graves passed away before publishing his conclusions, so he is less known than his contemporary, Maslow. Then in the 1980s and beyond, two of his students, Don Beck and Chris Cowan, went on to publish a book titled, Spiral Dynamics based upon Grave’s work. Beyond their collective efforts, the well-known author Ken Wilber expanded the theory in his book a Theory of Everything and other books that followed.
At its core, Spiral Dynamics attempts to explain that human thinking is not fixed. (Remember the idea of a “growth mindset?) When forced by circumstances and/or life experience, people adapt and construct more and more evolved and complex worldviews that help them come to terms with the world that they then inhabit. As people adapt and evolve, their new world model transcends all previous models, yet it still contains those ideas and understandings that have gone before. These new models, often called memes (or vMemes because they are related to core values) appear to be particular mindsets that can grasp greater and greater complexity. Keep in mind that these vMemes apply to individuals as well as organizations, businesses and the culture itself.
Okay, in case that is a bit heavy to understand, here’s another way to think of it. Hasn’t it been said, “When I was a child I thought like a child?” That is actually a good way of thinking of a person who is living their life from a world view that exists somewhere on the lower spiral of understanding. It doesn’t make the child wrong, bad or stupid, just not evolved enough to fully understand growing complexity.
Or what about when you attempt to explain climate change to someone who just doesn’t believe in it? Again, if one person has an understanding of something, and another doesn’t believe it at all, they are likely on different levels of the spiral. The tricky thing is, even though it is tempting to see the spiral as a one-way ticket upwards, it is actually a dynamic system that can flow either way. And remember, as you rise to greater complexity, all of the other worldviews and thinking still exist within you. Just as a child starts with sitting, then crawling, then standing, and eventually walking and running, so too does our thinking often evolve.
In the beginning Graves came up with a chart that basically described his theory using the eight categories of developed thought. It wasn’t until Beck and Cowan came along that they began putting the eight categories in a spiral graphic. They also began describing the eight “levels” using different color schemes, but insist that the colors were only meant as a teaching tool. Then when Ken Wilber began tweaking the theory to fit his understanding, he altered the colors of the spiral to reflect his understanding of the spiritual chakra system.
So what are the categories or “value systems”?
#1 Beige. Survival, instinctual, automatic, reflective. Earliest instincts of Homo sapiens based upon groups for survival. (1/10% of the current world population)
#2 Purple. Security, tribalistic, animalistic, magical. Security comes from following the group and its leader/representative. (Evolved approximately 50,000 years ago and is now 10% of the current world population.)
#3 Red. Egocentric, power, energy, impulsive self-gratification. Hierarchical power structure with humans part of a top-down system. (Evolved approximately 10,000 years ago and is currently 15-20% of world population.)
#4 Blue. Order, obedience, follows rules, authoritarian leaders. Black and white thinking (and only one right way) where people must follow rules, structures, procedures and who is in charge. If you do you will eventually be rewarded in this life or the next. (Evolved approximately 5,000 years ago and is 35-40% of current world population.)
#5 Orange. Achievement, success, scientific, strategic. Often explained as the ideal of the individualistic capitalistic society. Power, money and success is most valued. Seeking to “live the good life” with material abundance at all cost. (Evolved approximataely 300 years ago and is 25-30% of world population—up to 50% of the U.S. population)
#6 Green. Community, egalitarian, environmental, personalistic. Seeks inner and outer peace while sensitive to others and the environment. (Evolved approximately 150 years ago and is 10% of the world populations—20% in the U.S.)
Once you progress beyond the first six levels you enter what is called the Second Tier which allows you to more fully understand and appreciate the First-Tier levels.
#7 Yellow. Systemic, synergy, integrative, big-picture view. The realization that everything is interconnected and part of a system. (Evolved about 50 years ago and is 1% of the world population)
#8 Turquoise. Holistic. Sees the world and all things in it as an interactive, interconnected system. (began expressing about 30 years ago and is .01% of the world population.)
(Thanks to The Next Evolution these statistics)
So what does all this mean and how does it help us get along with other people? While there is so much more to understanding Spiral Dynamics, what it does is help to remind me of several things.
#1 It is nearly impossible for people who have a world view lower on the scale to understand where someone from a high-level thinking is even coming from. Think of trying to explain the concept of thermodynamics to a three-year-old (or some 60-year-olds!) It isn’t going to happen. Yet we (and yes I mean me) often go around attempting to explain concepts and ideas to others without considering the other person’s “value system” or worldview and then frustrate ourselves (or get angry) if they don’t understand.
#2 While it might be tempting to consider ourselves superior if we identify with one of the upper levels, that is probably a sign that we aren’t as elevated as we want to believe. According to the experts, every level includes every other level below it, so we are all capable of allowing that lower level of thinking to guide us given a particular set of circumstances.
For example, you might typically fall into “green level values” until you lose your job and become unemployed. If that happens it would be very normal to regress to blue or orange thinking until you recover. The more “threatened” you feel, the less likely you will be to see the world as a friendly place and will do whatever you can to see (and think) safety. Remember that the spiral is dynamic and that means we are all moving within the spiral at most times.
#3 It is also important to keep in mind that every level has “healthy” and “unhealthy” expressions of thinking. For example: While many of us who follow SMART Living might consider ourselves at a “green” level of thinking, if our thinking is unhealthy it might be so obsessed with the idea of “live and let live” that we refuse to follow rules even when they are to our and the world’s benefit. Is everyone wearing a mask even though it’s uncomfortable?
Another example would be someone who identifies as an unhealthy “orange.” They might be so consumed with the idea of their own achievement, success and wealth that they even refuse to acknowledge that getting to that position and place in life requires the help of many other people and often comes with privileges—so yes, “Black Lives Matter.”
#4 It’s critical that we remember that it is about “how” we think rather than what we are thinking about. For example: both atheists and fundamentalists are thinking at a blue level if they insist that their way is the only right way.
So how do we use this to understand why we aren’t all getting along? I heard a long time ago that if you want someone to hear and understand you, then you had to “speak into their listening.” That sounds simple but is actually very difficult to do. In order to speak into their listening we have to be able to understand and consider where they are coming from before we even open our mouths. If we don’t respect or at least consider their worldview, then they will immediately sense that and any further attempts are likely impossible.
One thing I really like about the Spiral Dynamics model is that it reminds me to be my best self. It’s one thing to talk about values and how we need to reconnect with our own in order to understand ourselves. And quite another thing to see where those values can lead us as we traverse our life journey. Perhaps the SMART approach is to do our best to honestly evaluate our own level of thinking and continue to reach for higher ways of processing as we adapt and evolve in a constantly changing world.
Flickr Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/entirelysubjective/
This is the first time I am hearing about “Spiral Dynamics,” Kathy. I am hoping people adapt and evolve. A key to keep the human race around a little longer. ? I see this even in the last three to four months. #4 gave me goosebumps. Exceptionally good point. Many good gems. Also interesting to read the comments. Liesbet’s phrase “I did grow more understanding for that person’s choice” makes a very good point. At least it is a place to start. Great post!
Hi Erica! As an optimistic I certainly hope that it is the way things go. Not that it is always obvious (especially with current circumstances) but for the good of all mankind. What I found especially helpful about #4 is that we all need to embrace a healthy #4 to stay balanced. If we don’t, people run around thinking they can do whatever they want when they want and that isn’t always good, especially as our population grows and we need to learn to get along. Of course, being able to trust our leaders helps, right? As long as we can learn to understand and respect those that aren’t even aware of a more “evolved” way of thinking, I can’t help but believe that is better for us all. Thanks for your thoughts. ~Kathy
Kathy, Fascinating. I had not seen before. I really like the note that circumstances, situations, experiences can have us regressing to a “lower level”. I realized when I’m stressed about things, I regress. Personally right now, I’m just avoiding talking to people who are not “aligned to my thinking”. Maybe not the best for growth, certainly not “green”, but it’s keeping me out of the stress zone.
Hi Pat! I totally agree that it is sometimes just best to guard your consciousness and stay away from others that pull your thinking down. But I also think it is helpful to know that it is possible to keep evolving and growing our thoughts, minds an awareness to a higher level. Just knowing that it is possible for us all is a good thing. One day at a time right? ~Kathy
Food for thought, Kathy, especially during these unsettling times, politically. I’ve always thought of myself as someone with an open mind, trying my best to put myself in someone else’s shoes and attempting to understand where they come from. It used to work pretty well, leading to fascinating discussions. Until I listened to Trump supporters. What I heard and saw is so illogical and often insane, that I doubted my open-mindedness as I avoided the topic all together.
Then, a couple of weekends ago, I had my first real discussion with someone who will vote for Trump this year. Instead of getting mad or annoyed, I listened and even stopped arguing (as you can’t change people’s minds about politics anyway and if they really want to vote for Trump, they should just go ahead; it’s their choice). Well, while I think that values should outweigh political preferences, I did grow more understanding for that person’s choice.
Hi Liesbet! Good for you for respectfully listening to another person’s point of view. I agree that the more diametrically opposed the topic, the more challenging so your willingness and the following conversation is to your credit. I too have a very difficult time with that one and often prefer to avoid the topic altogether. But that isn’t likely something that will benefit our country if we continue to stay so divided so I’m trying. Hopefully I will “evolve” more in the future without making it such a struggle! Thanks for your input on this. ~Kathy
Kathy, as I read this I am also listening to a political conversation between my husband and my daughter’s boyfriend. Lucky me! I hear each of them attempting to express their point of view in a variety of ways as if it wasn’t fully comprehended the first time. Occasionally I hear, ‘so what you’re saying is’ followed by a brief summary. That part is very encouraging. The funny thing is that neither will likely change their opinion, but both will have learned more about the other and the construct of their thinking. Listening for understanding and showing respect for different opinions is indeed the cornerstone of acceptance. It is much easier to do with people you care about and take the time to be patient with.
I watched a thread on Next Door (a community website) go from a positive, encouraging statement to extremely ugly in less than 5 minutes. These folks do not know each other and live in different communities within our county. The topic was ‘why we should all be wearing masks.’ People aren’t content with expressing their opinion and seem to need to bash any commenter with a different point of view. In an everyday context, I’d wager that most of these folks consider themselves highly evolved and enlightened,(they believe they are Green) which actually places them around purple or red in reality.
Seeking to understand is always the best course of action, but unfortunately, it is also the road less traveled. Great food for thought, as always.
Hi Suzanne! Thank you for sharing some great examples of attempts to communicate during these times. I think, like you said, that if we can do our best to understand WHY we all think differently and offer respect as well, it is easier to do…and patience is required. However, like you point out, it is so very easy for a reasonable conversation to go really bad, really fast if we aren’t careful. That’s why I also believe that the more we learn about ways to improve our communication and the reasoning behind it the better. Thanks as always for your insights. ~Kathy
Hi Kathy – Happy July 4th. I suspect Graves’ notion of the learning spiral actually was based on Lev Vygostsky’s earlier work on scaffolding, the zone of proximal development, and the spiral curriculum. (Bruner has also written about this.) Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist who wrote Thought and Language, and Mind in Society about 100 years ago, around the same time As Piaget’s theories became influential. Vygotsky’s theories took a while to reach North America, but once translated into English, they became hugely influential in the fields of child development, language development, and education. I used to own both of his books that I mentioned, although I guess I gave them both away when I retired and downsized my personal library. It is interesting how Graves amalgamated Vygotsky’s and Maslow’s theoretical models.
Jude
Hi Jude! I am unfamiliar with the other psychologists you mention so I can’t say for sure. I do know that he and Maslow were contemporaries and likely used each others work. And wouldn’t you say that everyone likely stands on the shoulders of those who come before us so all ideas eventually collaborate in known and unknown ways? When you think about it, that is really another way of thinking of Spiral Dynamics…we use what we have learned, read or heard before and then “transcend and include” all of it to formulate new ideas and theories. Like one of the commentaries I read about SD was that it was similar to Russian Nesting dolls. We might only see the big doll on the outside but they include numerous dolls within. Thanks for the input. ~Kathy
Thanks for the insights. I was familiar with the Hierarchy of Human Needs, but not Spiral Dynamics. I like to think I’ve achieved Yellow. But the reality is, ever since mid-March, I’m back to Beige.
Hi Tom! Don’t we all want to believe we are “higher” on the spiral. But there is nothing like the nightly news or Social Media to bring us crashing downwards. And if we do find ourselves on those lower levels, let’s at least do our best to make it healthy! ~Kathy
Hi, Kathy – Thank you for another very thought -provoking post. I agree that everything is interactive, and this is not easy. I like your approach of evaluating where you are and reaching for higher ways of processing from there.
Hi Donna! Thank you. I think a lot of us are attempting to figure out why so many of us think so differently so this really helped me. And yes! Hopefully it is a reminder to us all to reach for higher levels of processing. ~Kathy
What an interesting concept. “Speak into their listening” can be a challenge in these divided times. I have to admit that often I just avoid difficult conversations with certain people (or, avoid conversations altogether if the person is toxic).
Hi Janis! I agree that this isn’t easy (even if you know and remember how it might work.) Just more info to help explain why so many of us see things that appear obvious so differently don’t you think? ~Kathy
Really interesting, Kathy! I wonder if Maslow and Graves knew of each other’s work and if one built on the other or if they were working independent of each other.
Deb
Hi Deb! Yes…actually from what I read Graves was attempting to validate Maslow’s work and ended up carrying it far beyond. I think I also read somewhere that Maslow complimented Grave’s work as being that next step. ~Kathy
A good reminder that interaction is not simple and helps explain why some messages get through right away and others never get through. It is all interactive.
Hi Gary! No it’s not! And that is even if we do remember to use the tools we’ve been taught. I also agree that EVERYTHING is interactive! ~Kathy
Thanks for the reminder, Kathy. I do have times when I’m so stumped at how people can be so greedy and self serving. You’ve explained spiral dynamics so eloquently. I love reading your posts.
And you’re married to the King of Speak Into Their Listening!
Hi Jamie! This does help to explain it huh? And thank you for letting me know I explained it fairly well. It’s a HUGE idea and I didn’t want to make it too long and tedious. And you know that Thom liked the “speak into their listening” title you offer! ~Kathy
Thank you. I’ve never heard of spiral dynamics before and I find the concepts fascinating and, in my experience, valid. We are each in different places in our thinking, at different times. Hmmm. So important to remember when trying to converse and connect with one who thinks on such a different plane most of the time.
I really like the point that we do not get to the top and stay at the top. This is a good model for self understanding and self acceptance and it makes me think of an old song from Kristofferson, “if you waste your time in talking to the people who won’t listen to the things that you are saying, who do you thinks, gonna hear?” Point being, they may not hear today, but spiral dynamics suggests that one day, they might.
Hi Ezme! If the idea seems valid to you I suggest you google it for more info There is TONS of different applications. In fact, lots of businesses and even government is using some of the practice to “speak into the listening” of a diverse population. If I remember what I read correctly, some of the former U.S. presidents even studied it a bit. Notice I said “former?” At any rate it sure helps to remind me of WHY I have a difficult time talking to some of my relatives during these times. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ~Kathy
Kathy,
Great post – timely and helpful.
Explains a lot…
Thank you,
Joe
Hi Joe! Glad you found it interesting. It doesn’t imply it is “easy” to see our differences, but it is sure one way to explain why it is so challenging. Thanks for your comment. ~Kathy