Election 2016 — How Do We Respond?

Part II

Spiral Dynamics: A Larger Perspective on Politics

Perspective is the way we see things when we look at them from a certain distance and it allows us to appreciate their value.

— Rafael E. Pino

Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.

— The Buddha

In the first part of this article, I wrote about becoming less reactive in response to the current election and to politics in general. Being less reactive can help us find greater clarity and understanding; it allows us to step back, see the big picture, take the long view, and strategize more wisely. The big picture is particularly needed in today’s troubling, chaotic world; in fact, our survival as a species may depend on it. Spiral Dynamics is a theory that that offers one such larger perspective. In the next few pages, which make up Part II of this article, I will give an overview of the fresh and evocative theory of Spiral Dynamics. Part III of the article will apply Spiral Dynamics to politics.

Spiral dynamics addresses the evolution and development of both the individual psyche and the larger culture.

Spiral dynamics is an evolutionary theory of human development. Spiral dynamics originated in the work of psychologist Clare Graves, was further elaborated by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan, and then expanded and popularized by Beck and Ken Wilber. (The collaboration between Beck and Wilber ended after 2002 because Beck believed Wilber had begun to consistently distort the model). Spiral dynamics addresses the evolution and development of both the individual psyche and the larger culture. The model was influenced by the work of other developmental psychologists, including Jane Loevinger, Lawrence Kohlberg, and especially Abraham Maslow, who was Graves’ teacher. The original research data for Spiral Dynamics was impressive; the model has been tested in over 50,000 people in a variety of cultures all over the world. Although Graves was a psychologist, much of his research was published in the business sector because of the applications of the work to leadership, business and management.

Spiral Dynamics may be most known for its role in facilitating the dismantling of Apartheid in South Africa.

Spiral Dynamics may be most known for its role in facilitating the dismantling of Apartheid in South Africa. In the 1980’s, Don Beck made 63 trips to South Africa; he worked closely with F.W. de Klerk, Nelson Mandela, and John C. Hall in the process of ending Apartheid. Spiral Dynamics was the basis for the creation of the South African Peace Committees and subsequent CODESA negotiations, which lead to the first post-Apartheid elections.

Spiral dynamics proposes that each individual and each society undergoes stages of evolutionary development. The first of these developmental stages is believed to have appeared about 100,000 years ago in the earliest human culture. Over the centuries, new stages of development have periodically emerged in response to the problems and limitations of the previous stages. According to the theory, there are currently eight stages of development possible. Few people reach the highest stages; it is believed that less than 1% of the population has reached the rarified eighth stage of development. Because this is an evolutionary model, it is expected that new stages of development that we cannot yet describe will emerge in the future.

Each successive stage in the spiral is characterized by decreased narcissism and increased consciousness. Each stage is also qualitatively different from the previous stage, with distinctly different values, ways of experiencing the world, and coping strategies. Because the stages are qualitatively different, they are represented by colors, from beige for the earliest level of development to turquoise for the latest level. Coral represents the next, as yet unknown, stage of development. These stages form a holarchy, which is a hierarchy that is based on wholeness; each successive stage is larger, more inclusive, and more whole than the previous stage. Unlike traditional stage theories, which consider stages to be static and absolute like the steps of a ladder, spiral dynamics conceives of the stages as dynamic waves that are in constant motion. Each of us, and the cultures we live in, move up and down the spiral based on external circumstances and how stressed we are.

Following is a brief description of the stages. I will emphasize what the world looks like from each level of development, because I believe a phenomenological approach illuminates our political situation best. More information on the theory can be found in Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership, and Change by Don Edward Beck and Richard C. Cowan. A helpful basic overview is contained in A Theory of Everything by Ken Wilber and Integral Psychology by Ken Wilber.

First Tier Stages

Donald Trump appears to operate at the exploitative, dominance-oriented red level much of the time, and he appealed to this in the American electorate. He also appealed powerfully to the ethnocentric and misogynistic elements of the blue level.

All people and all cultures start at the beige stage of development. The overriding concern at this level is survival in a hostile and threatening world. This level of consciousness is largely instinctive, reflexive and automatic, and motivated by biological drives and urges. This is the level of the first human societies, and is estimated to have appeared more than 100,000 years ago. Currently, well under 1% of the adult population is believed to be at this level. From this level, the world appears to be a dangerous place dominated by the need to find food, water, and shelter for survival. Desire and fear are dominant at this level. The individual moves reactively from one crisis to another, with periods of calm and comfort occurring, all depending on external circumstances.

Purple is the second stage of development. This is a superstitious phase, marked by magical thinking and animism (the belief that natural objects possess a soul). There is also an emphasis on customs, family, and ancestors, and ancestor worship is common. At this level, people work together and cooperate because survival depends on it. This level is tribal, and is still prevalent today in third world settings. Purple is believed to have appeared about 40,000 years ago. Currently, about 1 % of the adult population appears to be at this level. At purple, a dangerous and incomprehensible world is made to feel safer and more predictable through superstition, magic, ritual, family ties, and the relative safety of the tribe.

Red, the third stage, also perceives the world as a dangerous place, but the emphasis is on the survival of the strong. It is egocentric, and dominance is of primary importance. At this level the alpha establishes him or her herself, and the weaker serve. This level is exploitative; the strong dominate and take advantage of the weak. Nature is also seen as something to conquer. The capacity for shame emerges at this stage. The red level emerged in feudal kingdoms about 10,000 years ago. Fully 20% of the adult population appears to be at this level. From red, a hostile world is conquered by the strong. The weak are also conquered by the strong. Individuals either exploit others or are exploited by them. The novel Lord of the Flies illustrates this level. Donald Trump appears to operate at this level much of the time, and he appealed to this level in the American electorate.

Blue is the fourth developmental stage. At this level, obedience to tradition, rules and authorities is primary. This level is ethnocentric, meaning that one’s own ethnic group is considered primary and most important, and other ethnic groups are secondary at best. This level tends to be aggressively nationalistic. Racism and sexism are characteristic of this stage. Belief in a God or higher power who rewards obedience and punishes noncompliance characterizes this stage. People at blue think in black and white, absolutistic terms. The capacity for guilt first emerges at this level. Religious fundamentalism is characteristic of blue consciousness. Confucian China and Puritan America are examples of cultures that operated at this level. The blue level is believed to have emerged about 4,000 years ago. Forty percent of the adult population is believed to be at this level. From this level, a difficult world is dealt with by adhering to tradition, obeying the rules of one’s government and religion, and by being “good.” Fear is kept at bay by a sense of certainty that comes from absolutistic thinking. A sense of belonging and comfort comes from believing in the importance and superiority of one’s own ethnic group. Trump also appealed powerfully to the ethnocentric and misogynistic elements of this level.

Orange is the fifth stage. This is the level of scientific achievement, rational thinking, secular humanism, competition, and capitalism. At the orange level, consciousness moves from the herd mentality of blue and into seeking truth and meaning scientifically. Superstition is overthrown for rationalism. This stage is highly achievement oriented and materialistic. The orange stage appears to have emerged about 1,400 years ago and it flowered during the enlightenment, beginning in the late 17th century. Currently, 30% of the adult population is believed to be at this level. From this level, the challenges of the world can be met through human ingenuity, rational thinking, modern science, and competition. Religion is typically dismissed as superstition. Rationality is considered more important than feeling, which can make this level cold and unsatisfying, as well as lacking in compassion and empathy. Optimism marks this level, as it is believed that rational thinking and modern science can solve the world’s problems.

Green is the sixth stage, and the top of the first tier stages. Green consciousness is empathetic, sensitive to others, relativistic, and pluralistic — it recognizes the value of others and of multiple perspectives. Green is relational, and values consensus and affiliation. Green is also environmentally sensitive. Socialism is characteristic of green consciousness. Individuals at green tend to be opposed to hierarchy and absolutes. While green recognizes the value of multiple perspectives, it also tends to conclude that different perspectives are all equally valid, a tendency that has led to the problematic aspects of political correctness. Green appeared around 1900 and began flourishing in the 1960’s. Only 10% of the adult population is believed to be at this level. Green consciousness cares and has compassion. From a Green perspective, sensitivity, empathy, and consideration of others are of the utmost importance. Ethnicity and difference are unimportant, as the individual realizes that those of different ethnicity and gender have essentially the same feelings, passions, and struggles. The world is a place of many perspectives, all of which are to be understood and valued. Absolutistic, black and white perspectives are rejected for relativistic perspectives.

Two specific aspects of the first tier stages are important to this discussion. First, people and cultures at the earlier stages of development are (not surprisingly) unable to appreciate the consciousness of the later levels. Because the later levels are more complex and qualitatively different, they make no sense to individuals at the earlier stages; in fact, those at the earlier stages of development often label people at the later stages as “crazy” or “liars.” Second, as each new stage emerges, it recognizes the problems and limitations but not the useful qualities of the preceding stages, and represses the previous stages. For example, scientific orange, with its emphasis on rational thinking and science, tends to dismiss all religion as ignorant blue superstition. Another example can be found in relativistic green consciousness, which can minimize the rational, scientific thinking of orange in its emphasis on sensitivity, political correctness and valuing all perspectives. Green, with it relativistic and sensitive perspective, also represses the absolutistic thinking of the blue level, despite the fact that absolutistic thinking can occasionally be useful. Because of the qualitative differences in each level’s understanding of the world, the levels end up in conflict with one another. The result is a pervasive, ongoing battle between people and cultures at different levels of development, which appears to be the prominent dynamic in our political world right now.

Today’s Republican Party appears to operate in the red to blue to occasionally orange levels. The Democratic Party, in contrast, seems to work from the orange to green levels of development. There is variation within each party of course, and there are liberals who operate partly on the red level and conservatives who operate partly on the green level. By and large, however, the political parties have different centers of gravity and operate from radically different understandings of the world.

Second Tier Stages

The second tier of developmental stages makes an important quantum leap from the first tier: second tier stages are characterized by integrative and holistic thinking. The multiple perspectives found in green are integrated into new, larger perspectives. Consciousness at the second tier no longer concludes that all perspectives are equally valid, and it looks to determine how the many perspectives fit together. Perspectives are integrated in a holarchy, or hierarchy based on wholeness; narrower perspectives are encompassed in larger perspectives, which “transcend and include” the smaller perspectives. Because of this integrative approach, second tier stages no longer feel the need to repress or eliminate the previous stages. Consciousness at second tier has come to understand what is valuable and useful in all the previous stages of development.

Second tier consciousness recognizes that each stage of development “transcends and includes” the previous stages; each stage goes beyond its predecessors and yet includes the previous stages in its makeup. An example of “transcend and include” from biology can be helpful in understanding the concept: a living being is a whole which includes but is more than its individual cells. Each cell includes and is more than the cell’s molecules. Each molecule includes and is more than its atoms. Each atom includes and is more than the elementary particles (protons, neutrons, electrons) that make it up. In this example, each level (organism, cell, molecule, atom, elementary particles) is larger and more complex than the previous level, but is also made up of the previous level. Each level in our example is a Holon, a whole which is made up of smaller wholes, and is also part of a larger whole. According to Spiral Dynamics, the same principle is true in the stages of human development; each developmental stage is a building block for the next, larger stage. From this perspective, there is no need for conflict between one’s level of consciousness and previous ones; the more basic levels of development are actually the necessary constituents of one’s current level of development. Because second tier consciousness recognizes this, it is not at odds with the consciousness of earlier levels of development.

Second tier, holistic consciousness is a valuable achievement, and much needed in our world. I will elaborate on this shortly, but first, here is a brief summary of second tier stages:

Yellow is an integrative consciousness that recognizes the systemic nature of our world. It finds interconnections, layers of causality, and is invested in learning constantly. Yellow consciousness recognizes itself as a chaotic form with underlying order. It is autonomous, flexible, spontaneous, and emphasizes function. Change is accepted as the nature of existence, and uncertainty is recognized as both acceptable and inevitable as our understanding of the universe evolves. Different levels of reality and dynamic patterns of movement up and down the spiral are perceived. Egalitarianism is complemented with meaningful ranking by holarchy. Politics and governing at this level facilitate the movement of individuals and cultures up the spiral of development. Yellow appears to have emerged about 1950. Only 1% of the population is believed to be at his level. From the yellow perspective, the world is made up of many points of view, some of which are more “true” or useful than others, and all of which can be integrated into a larger understanding. The seemingly solid world gives way to a world of flow, in which change and impermanence are natural parts of life. It is recognized that our available knowledge is always evolving, and requires continual learning. Mystery and uncertainty are accepted and valued aspects of life. Each person at this level experiences him or herself as an individual who is also part of a larger collective. Paradox is the norm and no longer seems mystifying; as F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.”

Turquoise is believed to be the most developed level yet obtained by humanity. Turquoise is holistic, transpersonal, and collective. At turquoise, a grand unification of existing knowledge is both possible and achievable. At this stage, integrative consciousness becomes increasingly more than a merely cognitive experience; it is known throughout the entire body/mind as feeling and knowledge are united. Universal order emerges organically and consciously, not based on rules as in blue or group bonds as in green. Thinking at this level makes use of the entire spiral, and perceives multiple levels of interaction in the spiral. Turquoise is believed to have appeared around 1980, and currently includes only about 0.1% of the adult population. From the Turquoise perspective, the world is a vast whole, occupied by a collective of beings. A unified “theory of everything” exists, and continues to evolve. It becomes clear that there is no conflict between radically different academic disciplines, which are each seen as part of a larger body of understanding. Emotional experience is an inseparable mix of the entire gamut of emotions, including love, anger, grief, joy, fear, and bliss, in constant motion in response to inner and outer events. All feelings and all experience have a place in the whole.

Coral is the next, hypothetical stage of development. We don’t know much about it yet as it hasn’t emerged or is just emerging. It may involve new evolutionary neurological capacities. Spiral dynamics proposes the possibility of endless developmental stages emerging for as long as the human race survives. The stage following Coral has been dubbed Teal. This stage is completely unknown to us currently.

Potential Hazards of Spiral Dynamics

A potential hazard of Spiral Dynamics is the mistaken idea that we are evolving into some kind of “golden age” on earth.

I would like to finish this overview of Spiral Dynamics with a few cautions. While I find that this model adds missing dimensions to my understanding of human beings, cultures, and politics, it has potential hazards. One of those missing dimensions — the recognition of qualitatively different levels of consciousness — can be used lazily to categorize and stereotype people. In reality few people fit cleanly into categories like red, blue, orange, and green. Even when they do, each individual’s level of functioning varies from day to day and moment to moment. Someone who usually functions at green, under the stress of a job loss, divorce, or simply the strain of a difficult day, may find herself functioning largely at the red level. Someone who usually functions at orange may, under stress, function at blue, e.g. the scientist who treats his pet theories as fundamentalist truth when challenged by colleagues. It is most helpful to think of these levels, like the model suggests, as waves that crest and fall and are never static.

It is also true that Spiral Dynamics describes only part of human nature. For example, personality style or type, which is described in systems like the Enneagram, is also important in understanding human beings. Furthermore, Spiral Dynamics (and the Enneagram as well) uses broad descriptors that can never capture the specifics and subtleties of any individual’s personality; human individuality can never be fully understood through systems like Spiral Dynamics and the Enneagram. When it comes to understanding human beings, I recommend keeping in mind Shakespeare’s words:

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Spiral Dynamics may give us some important information about people, but it will only be part of a puzzle that is larger than our capacity to understand.

Another possible hazard of Spiral Dynamics is the mistaken idea that we are evolving into some kind of “golden age” on earth that will characterized by holistic and enlightened second tier thinking. That is not what the model actually predicts. As the research data shows, very few people have entered the second tier so far, and none of our world cultures appear to have done so. Second tier coping strategies may be crucial for the survival of the world, but it will be many generations at best before the second tier is dominant in developed countries. We have no way knowing whether the human race will survive our own ignorance long enough for second tier development to become the norm. In addition, no matter how evolved the human race might become, everyone is born into the lowest, beige level, and development can stop anywhere on the spiral. Therefore, exploitative red will always be with us. No matter how advanced the overall culture might become, there will still be groups of red anarchists and terrorists who would be willing to set off a nuclear bomb in a major city. And finally, even if we do reach the point at which yellow and turquoise are dominant and red is a miniscule part of the population, history suggests that unpredictable new challenges will arise and the human race will need to evolve into even higher levels in order to cope effectively. Spiral Dynamics does not offer the promise of ushering in a “golden age;” instead, it offers us a larger and more useful map for navigating the challenges of our time.

This wraps up our overview of Spiral Dynamics. In Part III of this article, I will apply Spiral Dynamics to the political challenges of our time.

References

Beck, Don Edward, and Cowan, Richard C. Spiral dynamics: Mastering values, leadership, and change. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 1994.

Wilber, Ken. A theory of everything: An integral vision for business, politics, science, and spirituality. Boston: Shambhala, 2000.

Wilber, Ken. Integral psychology: Consciousness, spirit, psychology, therapy.Boston: Shambhala, 2000.