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The Essence of Transformation: Spiral Dynamics and ATP
by Ted P. Attreides

A sophisticated model like Spiral Dynamics cannot be fully explicated in a brief article as this. Interested readers can explore this Spiral model in further detail in the book "Spiral Dynamics:mastering values, leadership and change". Available from Blackwell Publishers, 1995, the authors are Don Beck and Christopher Cowan.

Spiral Dynamics is an incisive and far-reaching model of human development that is based on the pioneering work of the late Professor Clare Graves.

The concept of Spiral Dynamics is that human nature is not fixed at birth. Professor Graves observed that there were deeper patterns in the evolution of human consciousness. After many years of research, he outlined eight major levels (value systems) which became the basis for the spiral model.

Each of these successive levels represents a more expansive horizon, a more complex organizing principle, formed in response to more complex life conditions.

Before we examine Spiral Dynamics in more detail however, it is important to understand that virtually all of these levels are not simply conceptual pet theories, but are grounded in considerable amounts of carefully checked evidence, spanning nearly 50 years.

From Clare Graves to Abraham Maslow, from Jurgen Habermas to Cheryl Armon, from Kurt Fisher to Jane Loevinger, and from Jennie Wade to Robert Kegan we see the emergence of a remarkably consistent story of the evolution of human consciousness.

Not that there aren't any disagreements or conflicting details amongst these scientists, but the significant point is that they all suggest a generally similar view of the growth and development of the mind as a series of unfolding stages or waves.

In fact, Grave's model to date, has been tested in more than 50,000 people from around the world, in first, second and third world countries, and there have been no major exceptions found to the general scheme.

We return then to Clare Grave's work and the spiral model, which has been carried forward and refined by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan. Far from being a mere armchair theorist, Dr. Beck has been developing and teaching Spiral Dynamics for nearly three decades. In 1996, along with Cowan, he published a book on it called "Spiral Dynamics: 'Mastering Values, Leadership and Change'."

As he explains it, the concept of Spiral Dynamics is that human nature is not fixed; were not set at birth. As human beings adapt to their more complex life conditions, this awakens new levels of value systems (in the nature of the mind/brain itself), which in turn shape the evolution of cultures and countries.

These value systems which he calls 'memes'-are the glue that bond a group together, defining who they are as a people and reflecting the place they inhabit on the planet.

Professor Graves identified eight value systems (eight levels of psychological and cultural existence) which became the basis for the spiral model.

Importantly, these levels are not rigid, hierarchical steps up a ladder. Beck and Cowan describe each higher level of existence more like an emerging wave, a flow resulting in a dynamic spiral of unfolding.(These same levels of existence apply as much to a single person as to an entire society).

Significantly, once a new level appears in a culture, all the previously acquired stages remain. In Ken Wilber's language, each new value system 'transcends but includes' all of those that have come before.

In fact, that is why the Spiral Vortex was chosen to best depict the emergence of these value systems (or levels), because each of these stages is not a simple step up a hierarchical ladder. Each upward turn of the spiral marks the awakening of a more elaborate version in addition to what already exists, with each value system a product of its time and conditions.

Beck and Cowan use various 'names' and 'colors' to refer to those different value systems (or meme levels). They do this purposely to avoid prejudices based on skin color, economic class or political clout. As Beck puts it, "the focus is not on types of people, but types in people", as for example the type of level a person is operating from.

At this point, you're probably wondering, how is the spiral set up?

The Spiral Dynamics model is composed of eight levels which are divided into two separate tiers. The spiral's first tier is a set of six levels characterized by 'subsistence' or survival-type concerns. (In just a moment I will present a brief description of each of these levels and the colors associated with them.)

The completion of this first tier signifies a 'graduation' to the more integrated levels of the second tier. Second tier thinking has two levels so far. These are concerned with 'Being' levels instead of the survival type stages of the first tier.

Article 2 continued