What is
Spiral Dynamics?
Spiral Dynamics?
Origins
In 1971 professor Clare Graves presented a seminar on the “Levels of Human Existence” and went on in subsequent years to present the results of rigorous research into how mature adults conceive a health personality. The results, after detailed analysis, showed that he could identify six separate groupings of conceptualised personality and associated behaviour. In 1996 two of his former students, Don Beck and Christopher Cowan developed the ideas further in a book entitled Spiral Dynamics.
Key Features
One of the key elements was the understanding that all humans, as they mature, start at the same stage of development and move through the same stages of development in the same order. Just as in nature where plants adapt to different life conditions, so with the human mind. It is the life conditions that surround us and the complexity of thinking that we require which causes the mind to move through the stages.
In 1971 professor Clare Graves presented a seminar on the “Levels of Human Existence” and went on in subsequent years to present the results of rigorous research into how mature adults conceive a health personality. The results, after detailed analysis, showed that he could identify six separate groupings of conceptualised personality and associated behaviour. In 1996 two of his former students, Don Beck and Christopher Cowan developed the ideas further in a book entitled Spiral Dynamics.
Key Features
One of the key elements was the understanding that all humans, as they mature, start at the same stage of development and move through the same stages of development in the same order. Just as in nature where plants adapt to different life conditions, so with the human mind. It is the life conditions that surround us and the complexity of thinking that we require which causes the mind to move through the stages.
Why is this Important?
The understanding that comes with recognising what value systems are active within any individual helps us communicate and understand how that individual perceives the world. This is hugely significant in every aspect of modern life including recruitment, communications, motivation and understanding how whole culture move and develop.
If we understand why people change in their stages of thinking and which stage is next, we can provide the necessary motivations for that change and understand the frustrations developed when change is blocked. This is key to understanding such issues as terrorism, knife crime and societal malaise.
The understanding that comes with recognising what value systems are active within any individual helps us communicate and understand how that individual perceives the world. This is hugely significant in every aspect of modern life including recruitment, communications, motivation and understanding how whole culture move and develop.
If we understand why people change in their stages of thinking and which stage is next, we can provide the necessary motivations for that change and understand the frustrations developed when change is blocked. This is key to understanding such issues as terrorism, knife crime and societal malaise.