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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.

Here's a brief description of this Eight-Stage Spiral of Development. (Remember that the word 'meme' here means value system' that acts as an 'organizing principle').

FIRST-TIER 'SUBSISTENCE' LEVELS:

1. Beige meme-represents "instincts". Currently only 0.1% of the adult population. This meme started about 100,000 years ago. Its basic worldview is: a place where humans rely on instincts to stay alive (i.e. basic survival)

2. Purple meme-represents "animism". Currently about 10% of the population. This meme started about 50,000 years ago. Its basic worldview is: a magical place alive with the spirit beings and mystical signs.

3. Red meme-represents "ego-centric". Currently about 10% of the population. This meme started about 10,000 years ago. Its basic worldview is: a jungle where the strongest and most cunning survive.

4. Blue meme-represents "conformity". Currently about 30% of the population. This meme started about 5000 years ago. Its basic worldview is: an ordered existence under the control of the ultimate truth.

5. Orange meme-represents "individualism". Currently about 40% of the population. This meme started about 300 years ago. Its basic worldview is: a marketplace full of possibilities and opportunities.

6. Green meme-represents "egalitarianism". Currently about 10% of the population. This meme started about 150 years ago. Its basic worldview is: a human habitat and which we share life's experiences in.

With the completion of the Green meme, human consciousness is poised for a quantum jump. This jump from survival type levels to 'Being' levels is in Graves' words a "momentous leap" where a "chasm of unbelievable depth of meaning is crossed."

SECOND-TIER 'BEING' LEVELS:

7. Yellow meme-represents "integrative". Currently about 1.5% of the population. It started about 50 years ago. Its basic worldview is: live life fully and responsibly. Chaos and change are natural and can be integrated into interdependent natural flows.

8. Turquoise meme-represents "wholistic". Currently about 0.3% of the population. This meme started about 30 years ago. Its basic worldview is: an elegantly balanced system of interlocking forces; Experience the wholeness of existence through mind and spirit.

Beck says that although Graves identified eight levels of existence with a ninth on the horizon, it is important to understand that the spiral is expansive, continuous and open ended. In other words, there is no final state, but rather a dynamic upward quest, with each stage but a prelude to the next.

Naturally, an important question at this point is "What does the Spiral reveal to us about ourselves?"

First of all, all of these 'memes' (value systems) have something important to contribute. Each wave can be activated or reactivated as life circumstances warrant. For example, in emergency situations, we can activate red survival drives; in response to chaos we might need to temporarily activate blue order; in friendly relationships green bonding.

The downside of first tier memes is that each one thinks that their worldview is the only correct perspective. Each reacts negatively if threatened or challenged. For example, blue order is very uncomfortable with both red impulsiveness and orange individualism. Orange in turn thinks blue order is for suckers and green egalitarianism is weak and "out there". Finally, green egalitarianism reacts strongly to anything that appears authoritarian or hierarchical. So none of the first tier memes can fully appreciate the existence of the other memes.

All of that dramatically changes with second tier thinking. Second tier awareness is much more integrated. It thinks in terms of the overall spiral of existence, because it appreciates the necessary role that all of the various meme's play.

Second tier thinking takes all the separate systems and levels and begins to include and integrate them into wholistic flows and networks; into dynamic spirals!

Even though these descriptions are very brief, nevertheless it would seem that second tier thinking could solve a lot of our current world problems, couldn't it?

Unfortunately the research of many developmentalists agrees with Dr. Beck's substantial research which shows that less than 2% of the population is at second tier thinking at the present moment.

How would you like to try a brief exercise to see if your part of that 2%? A very quick but unscientific way to discover if you're at first or second tier levels is this. All of the first tier meme's, regardless of how sophisticated they may look, are fundamentally about survival. So whether you drive a BMW, have a cell phone or own a Palm pilot, if you rarely or never sat down to seriously consider your Worldview, and the complexity and diversity of our human legacy, that in itself is probably a sign that 'making it through the day' (survival) is indeed absorbing most of your attention.

But regardless of whether we are at first or second tier thinking, the real question becomes: is there a way to genuinely make progress towards more integrated levels?

The simple answer is: yes! As you'll notice by reading the material on this web site (i.e. articles, free first week preview, etc.) the main intention of the ATP self-discovery program is to powerfully assist with this jump to second tier thinking; this revolutionary shift in consciousness. The ATP program was specifically developed with that goal in mind.

As noted earlier, research shows that only about 2% of Americans are at 2nd tier thinking. However, the good news is that an astonishing 24% of the adult American population is currently capable, poised and ready to make that jump to second-tier consciousness.

That represents about 42 million people-whom sociologist Paul Ray calls the "Cultural Creatives", to distinguish them from the previous cultural movements of traditionalism and modernism-and who are at the right time in their life when a further transformation of consciousness into second-tier can most easily occur.

According to recent research from a number of developmentalists, including Ken Wilber, individuals who are already poised for this momentous leap-who already feel some sort of the dissonance with their present state (green meme), and who are already looking for something deeper, wider and more meaningful-can facilitate this jump in their own case by exploring two critical elements: an integral vision and an integral practice.

Wilber suggests that an integral vision helps provide us with insight, helping us move past dissonance and face toward our own deeper, wider opening. Simultaneously, an integral practice anchors all of these factors in a real-world manner, so that they don't remain merely abstract ideas and vague motions.

To fulfill these two critical elements, we offer the dynamic ATP program, as a representative of the second-tier integrated approach. We strongly believe that both an integral (or complete) vision and practice have been provided in this leading-edge ATP Self-Discovery Program, making it most likely the most advanced program of its kind in the world.

Naturally we ask you to judge; to confirm or deny this fact by experiencing the discoveries exclusively presented in this program; by experimenting with the easy to do practices, and by forming your own opinion and point of view. After all, isn't that what's most important in life: freedom of choice.

Ted P. Attreides