Self-Actualization and 1st Tier of Spiral Dynamics
Spiral Dynamics and the concept of self-actualization were born out of the minds of two friends, Clare Graves and Abraham Maslow. Let us first discuss Spiral Dynamics and Clare Graves. According to Graves, the spiral is an Emergent Cyclical Double-Helix Model of Adult Biopsychosocial Systems Development. What Graves meant by this was, there are new adaptive and complex intelligence that EMERGE in people as they encounter different life conditions. He believed the spiral was CYCLICAL because as one moves through the different systems they move from being focused on “I, me, mine” to focusing on the collective “we, us, our.” The new systems are already in us and are only awakened when exposed to new life conditions. The changing life conditions thus emerges new systems, this is the DOUBLE-HELIX MODEL. The new forms of intelligence and new systems are formed from life conditions but also because of each individual's BIOlogical chemical components that trigger these new thinking systems. As well as PSYCHOlogical theories and senses of self which are intertwined with the SOCIOlogy of social interactions and society. These aspects all work together to form the spiral and the 8 various levels of the spiral. This article will only discuss the first 6 levels of the spiral which make up what Graves called, tier 1. It is important to note that while Graves developed spiral dynamics, Don Beck and Christopher Cowan added a great deal of research to the theory, much of which is referenced in this article.
Abraham Maslow developed a theory of hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, individuals develop psychologically and move up the pyramid, when they have their needs met.
These needs, in order of the pyramid, are:
Physiological — These are basic needs such as food, water, sex, and maintaining a temperature essential to continue living.
Safety — Refers to physical safety, having shelter, employment, health, and property.
Love — Is the relationship with friends, family, and sexual intimacy.
Esteem — Refers to self-esteem, having confidence in oneself, feeling a sense of achievement, and earning the respect of others.
Self-Actualization — Is the development of morality, being spontaneous, solving problems, being creative, accepting facts, and contributing to society.
Many theorists believe Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and spiral dynamics are achieved side by side, with each level one moves up the pyramid they simultaneously move up the spiral. This article will attempt to demonstrate that in order for individuals to pass through to the next level of the spiral also called a MEME code, in spiral dynamics, they must work their way up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramid and they must do this at every stage in the spiral. The specific types of safety, love and belonging, and esteem look different at each level of the spiral, however in order to continue the development of self, one must attempt to make it to self-actualization which will then propel them to the next level in the spiral. Full self-actualization does not occur until the second tier of the spiral however aspects of self-actualization begin to appear at every level of the first tier. The spiral stages were given colors by Beck and Cowan, this paper will use these colors to refer to the different stages. The first tier of the spiral begins at beige, then red, purple, blue, orange, and green.
Beige
The individuals in the beige system are impulsive, act on reflexes, and have automatic reactions to what their body needs. They are driven by their senses, are focused only on survival, their biological needs, and staying alive. As this was the first system to emerge, most of mankind has lived during this stage. It wasn’t until a few thousand years ago that the human race left this beige system. There are examples of the beige system today, however, for the purposes of this article, we will only be discussing the systems in relation to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Individuals in the beige system focus primarily on physiological needs such as food, water, and sex. Once these needs are met, individuals then begin to find safety. Safety in this system is safety from bodily harm and finding a cave or dwelling to live in. While individuals are not conscious of the concept of love in this stage, it is there in their unconscious. For example, a mother gives birth to a son. Her instincts tell her to protect this child, unconsciously this is love even though they are not able to express love as we do today. Esteem is developed from feeling a sense of achievement due to having a family, food, and shelter. Again, like love, one in this stage can not articulate this feeling but it is there in the unconscious. Next, self-actualization, this stage begins once all the other needs are met and the individual begins to form new connections, such as cause and effect. The individuals begin to work with other bans to problem solve and they begin to be aware of self.
Purple
Leaving the beige system and entering the purple system, individuals begin to form tribes and bond together. People in the purple system believe in mystical spirits and have a multitude of sacred places, objects, and rituals. In this system, family and tribes are bonded together and one with nature. Beginning at the physiological needs, families work together to ensure the basic needs of food and water are met. The same is done with safety, family tribes work as one to protect each other from harm. They develop many superstitions to make sense of tides, natural disasters, weather, and disease. The love need is met through the sense of community and family ties, and mothers have special bonds with their children as in beige only they are consciously aware of the feelings. Esteem is addressed when we see for the first time, creativity and the development of culture through art, oral history, and sports. Once individuals have these needs met, they begin to move towards self-actualization. In this system, the beginnings of self-actualization occur when individuals start to question the traditions and many rituals they must perform. The need for personal autonomy is developed and this is when individuals move to the next system in the spiral, red.
Red
When moving from purple to red, individuals feel a sense of individualism which fueled their need to question and find weakness in the tribal leader's superstitions. Individuals in the red system are egocentric, independent, love thrills, and taking risks. This need for adventure is unrestrained as individuals in this system satisfy impulses immediately and do not worry about consequences. Working through the hierarchy of needs, the physiological needs are met as individuals take what they want when they want it. The safety need is met as individuals do not have fear. They challenge death and win. Although most of the needs in Maslow’s hierarchy cannot be rearranged, there are situations where esteem and love can be reversed. I believe this is present in the red system. Individuals in the red system are creative and free and driven by earning the respect of others and esteem is gained through this respect. Once these needs are met individuals in this system begin to focus on love and start to feel for others. It would be common for these individuals to believe God was speaking to them and they must help and love others. This is the red ego moving towards self-actualization, the need to find a higher purpose, and thus towards the blue system.
Blue
Exiting the red system and moving into the blue system, individuals shift from a mentality that is focused on themselves to being focused on the community. Individuals in the blue system find meaning and purpose in life, they are called to a greater good, they are charitable, and believe there is a divine plan for their life. They execute their plans with order, structure, and tight schedules. In this system, we have the development of causes such as nationalism and feminism in which people are willing to sacrifice now for a greater future. Religion is not the basis of this system but a product of it. Looking at Maslow’s needs, individuals in this system have their basic needs such as food and water met. They are safe because of their divine plan, whatever happens, happens, and there is a sense of security in knowing God or the Divine or Allah has already determined their destiny. Love comes from the pleasure of serving the community and individuals surround themselves with friends who share their same faith or beliefs. Esteem is met by excelling and achieving but doing so within the structures of the system. Individuals strive to be known as dependable and good. Once these needs are met, individuals can move into the self-actualization stage and thus begins the period of enlightenment. Individuals begin to believe that their cause has more meaning than someone else’s cause and they are more moral and better problem solvers than the current authority. This is a transition from the “we and us” to the “I, me, mine” belief and initiates the movement into the next system, orange.
Orange
Leaving the blue system and venturing into the orange system, individuals start to feel the need to control one’s own destiny, search for the best solutions and explore different possibilities. Science, technology, and success drive this system. Individuals in the orange system love competition, they love to win, take risks and learn from experiences. There is a sense of limitless possibilities in this system. In this system, the physiological needs in Maslow’s hierarchy are met and the safety need shifts to feel financially safe. Attaining safety in this system means having a retirement account, a savings account, insurance, and owning property. The love needs are met with the family at the center, living in a gated community, married, with two and a half children and a dog. Esteem is met through business ventures and creatively improving the world thus earning respect from peers and colleagues and a general belief that you can accomplish anything. Once these needs are met, then individuals begin to shift to self-actualization and the bottom line no longer becomes the priority, morality or social issues take hold and individuals begin to try and make meaning of life on this planet.
Green
This shift from orange, center on self, to green and wondering about the meaning of life is again part of the cyclical process, “I” to “we”. Individuals in the green system begin to explore their inner self, they renew their spirituality in a freer fashion than previously seen in blue. They believe in community and sharing resources and decision-making. Rather than starting corporations with CEOs on the top, individuals start co-ops based on values. In the green system, everyone is equal, everyone’s voice needs to be heard, and there should be peace and love for all. The physiological needs are met in this system and the safety concerns from orange are now met through affluence and wealth security. The love needs are met through communal experiences and sharing togetherness and fulfillment of love and peace for all. Esteem is met through being accepted by the community and individuals feel confident as a group. Self-actualization begins in this stage when individuals begin to wonder if groupthink is really the best way to make progress, they begin to doubt collectivism and have a stronger sense of self. They begin to wonder what it means to be alive and do not need the comfort of the group.
There are many other components of the spiral and the hierarchy of needs however, I believe it is useful to look at the healthy transitions within the spiral. It is easy to use spiral dynamics to label people and blame others for various problems. The healthy transitions through the spiral help us to appreciate the different characteristics and values found within each system.
I would like to conclude this article with a quote from Don Beck which I believe sums up the journey of traveling through Maslow’s pyramid in one level of spiral dynamics only to start again in the next level.
“We never get to unpack our wagons.” — Don Beck
