Life and Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Author.
In this blog, we will try and understand the Conflicts and tensions using Spiral Dynamics.
Spiral Dynamics is a psychological model that describes the development and evolution of human societies, cultures, and individuals. Developed by Clare Graves and expanded upon by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan, the model suggests that human beings progress through different stages of development, each characterized by a unique set of values, beliefs, and worldviews.
The model uses a color-coded system to describe these stages of development, with each color representing a different set of values and beliefs. The colors are arranged in a spiral pattern, with each level building upon and transcending the previous level.
Conflicts and Tensions are part of Human Evaluations, be it outside or Inside. In comparison, outside conflicts are more uncomplicated than internal conflicts.
Beige: The Beige level represents the most basic level of human existence, focused on survival and meeting basic needs. At this level, individuals are primarily motivated by instinctual drives and impulses, and are often reactive to their environment. The polarity within this level is between fear and security.
Purple: The Purple level represents a tribal and animistic worldview, where individuals seek to belong and form close-knit groups. At this level, individuals are motivated by a sense of connection to family, community, and ancestral traditions. The polarity within this level is between safety and danger.
Red: The Red level represents a more individualistic and power-oriented worldview, where individuals seek to assert themselves and dominate others. At this level, individuals are motivated by the desire for personal power and control, and are often driven by impulses and passions. The polarity within this level is between pleasure and pain.
Blue: The Blue level represents a traditional and authoritarian worldview, where individuals seek order, structure, and stability. At this level, individuals are motivated by the desire for rules, discipline, and moral guidance, and are often guided by religious or ideological beliefs. The polarity within this level is between right and wrong.
Orange: The Orange level represents a more rational and individualistic worldview, where individuals seek success, achievement, and innovation. At this level, individuals are motivated by the desire for personal gain and progress, and are often guided by scientific, economic, or technological principles. The polarity within this level is between win and lose.
Green: The Green level represents a more communitarian and pluralistic worldview, where individuals seek social justice, equality, and diversity. At this level, individuals are motivated by the desire for empathy, harmony, and cooperation, and are often guided by postmodern, environmental, or spiritual values. The polarity within this level is between freedom and control.
Yellow: The Yellow level represents a more integrative and holistic worldview, where individuals seek to understand the larger systems and patterns that underlie human behavior and development. At this level, individuals are motivated by the desire for complexity, evolution, and emergence, and are often guided by systems theory, integral philosophy, or spiritual insights. The polarity within this level is between autonomy and interdependence.
Turquoise: The Turquoise level represents a more transcendent and mystical worldview, where individuals seek to embrace a more interconnected and sustainable way of being. At this level, individuals are motivated by the desire for wholeness, spirituality, and planetary consciousness, and are often guided by eco-spirituality, integral ecology, or universal wisdom. The polarity within this level is between the individual and the collective.
It's important to note that the polarities within each level are not absolute, but rather represent the different tensions and trade-offs that individuals experience as they navigate their worldviews and values. Additionally, individuals may not fit neatly into a single level, but may exhibit elements of multiple levels depending on their context and life experiences. The Spiral Dynamics model is intended to be a flexible and dynamic framework for understanding the evolution of human consciousness and development.
Originally published May 2, 2019