Spiral Dynamics

Spiral Dynamics is a dynamic model of human development and development of memes carrying systems - such as a social network, society or company - introduced in the 1996 book Spiral Dynamics by Don Beck and Chris Cowan. The book was based on the 1970s theories of psychologist Clare W. Graves.
Spiral Dynamics argues that human nature is not fixed: humans are able, when forced by life conditions, to adapt to their environment by constructing new, more complex, conceptual models of the world that allow them to handle the new problems. Each new model transcends and includes all previous models. According to Beck and Cowan, these conceptual models are organized around so-called memes (pronounced "v memes"): systems of core values or collective intelligences, applicable to both individuals and entire cultures.
In spiral dynamics, the term meme refers to a core value system, acting as an organizing principle, which expresses itself through memes (self-propagating ideas, habits, or cultural practices). The superscript letter v indicates these are not basic memes but value systems which include them. The colors act as reminders for the life conditions and mind capacities of each system and alternate between cool and warm colors as a part of the model. Within the model, individuals and cultures do not fall clearly in any single category (color). Each person/culture embodies a mixture of the value patterns, with varying degrees of intensity in each. Spiral Dynamics claims not to be a linear or hierarchical model.
According to Spiral Dynamics, there are infinite stages of progress and regression over time, dependent upon the life circumstances of the person or culture, which are constantly in flux. Attaining higher stages of development is not synonymous with attaining a "better" or "more correct" values system. All stages co-exist in both healthy and unhealthy states, meaning any stage of development can lead to undesirable outcomes with respect to the health of the human and social environment.
First-tier vMemes
First-tier value-systems Memes (vMEMEs) are focused on different themes for existence and include almost all of the worldviews, cultures, and mental attitudes up to today. New systems build on adaptations of previous levels and seek to solve problems created by living in those earlier ways. Attaching concrete examples to these levels of psychological existence is difficult and often misleading because there can be multiple reasons for the same behavior and centralization in a single level regarding all aspects of living is rare. Some advocates of spiral dynamics argue that these are ways of thinking about things, not types of people. Spiral Dynamics explicitly defines a category of people labeled "spiral wizards" who have attained equilibrium around "higher-level" vMEMEs.
Memes at this tier are considered to be "The Levels of Subsistence".
Beige
"Survival/Sense. The Instinctive MEME
:
:* Automatic, autistic, reflexive
:* Centers around satisfaction
:* Driven by deep brain programs, instincts and genetics
:* Little awareness of self as a distinct being (undifferentiated)
:* Lives "off the land" much as other animals
:* Minimal impact on or control over environment"
Purple
"Kin Spirits. The Clannish MEME
:* Obey desires of the mystical spirit beings
:* Show allegiance to elders, custom, clan
:* Preserve sacred places, objects, rituals
:* Bond together to endure and find safety
:* Live in an enchanted, magical village
:* Seek harmony with nature's power"
Red
"PowerGods. The Egocentric MEME
:* In a world of haves and have-nots, it's good to be a have
:* Avoid shame, defend reputation, be respected
:* Gratify impulses and sense immediately
:* Fight remorselessly and without guilt to break constraints
:* Don't worry about consequences that may not come"
Blue
"TruthForce. The Purposeful MEME
:* Find meaning and purpose in living
:* Sacrifice self to the Way for deferred reward
:* Bring order and stability to all things
:* Control impulsivity and respond to guilt
:* Enforce principles of righteous living
:* Divine plan assigns people to their places"
Orange
"StriveDrive. The Strategic MEME
:* Strive for autonomy and independence
:* Seek out "the good life" and material abundance
:* Progress through searching out the best solutions
:* Enhance living for many through science and technology
:* Play to win and enjoy competition
:* Learning through tried-and-true experience"
Green
"HumanBond. The Relativistic MEME
:* Explore the inner beings of self and others
:* Promote a sense of community and unity
:* Share society's resources among all
:* Liberate humans from greed and dogma
:* Reach decisions through consensus
:* Refresh spirituality and bring harmony"
Second-tier vMemes
Spiral dynamics theory sees second-tier MEMEs as emerging levels that gradually move away from a focus on subsistence-level concerns of the first tier and towards a being-level existence. The existence of two different tiers of psychological development was introduced by the founder Graves. Cowan claims it is possible that Graves introduced the tier system as a marketing instrument. Cowan no longer supports the existence of two tiers but claims the only thing now known about the yellow and turquoise systems is that they are more complex versions of orange and green. The open-ended theory suggests that the levels Coral and beyond are not yet substantially formed and will solidify as a greater portion of society develops towards those MEMEs.
Turquoise
"GlobalView. The Holistic MEME
:* Blending and harmonizing a strong collective of individuals
:* Focus on the good of all living entities as integrated systems
:* Expanded use of human brain/mind tools and competencies
:* Self is part of larger, conscious, spiritual whole that also serves self
:* Global networking seen as routine
:* Acts for minimalist living so less actually is more"
Further development
The color system was added in the 1970s as a graphic element to decorate training materials used by Cowan and Beck. The term Meme was introduced by Beck and Cowan in Spiral Dynamics where the color language replaced original Graves terminology. Graves had used letter pairs to refer to each level and had not considered any connection with memetics. Beck and Cowan emphasized "change states" which are part of the Graves theory. They identify landmarks on the transformational path between the levels. Graves's original theory uses a double helix model to show the interrelatedness of an individual's perception of life conditions with their inner neuronal systems, producing a level of psychological existence. This double helix of two interacting forces is referred to as a spiral in Spiral Dynamics.
Following the release of their book, Beck and Cowan taught this theory in two courses, SD I (Spiral Dynamics 1) and SD II (Spiral Dynamics 2). They ceased their formal working relationship in 1999. Since this break, both have continued to offer training courses of various types as well as carrying out consultancy work. Beck spent several years applying the theory of spiral dynamics while working with individuals and groups in South Africa involved in the transition from Apartheid, for which he received a legislative honor from the state of Texas. Beck has continued to facilitate sessions using the model in both business and politics.
Beck and Ken Wilber (with his integral theory) became interested in each other's work, resulting in Beck developing a branch of spiral dynamics that he calls Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi). This version of the theory uses integral concepts such as the four quadrants. Beck is also associated with the spiritual teacher Andrew Cohen. This approach continues to be applied and further developed in organizational and societal contexts.
Cowan does not subscribe to these developments and promotes a version of the theory which he describes as remaining more faithful to the original research of Clare Graves and extending from it. He continues to use the term "spiral dynamics" to describe his work since he co-created it. With his partner, Natasha Todorovic, he has undertaken work in integrating spiral dynamics with NLP and other models, and in developing corporate strategy and practical applications. He has also suggested an additional second-tier meme Coral which deals with the development of neurological capacities.
In 2013 after working with Beck for more than a decade in research and training at The Center for Human Emergence Middle East, cultural economist Said E. Dawlabani published MEMEnomics; The Next Generation Economic System (with a foreword by Beck). The book frames US economic history, present and future through the different levels of Spiral development and provides numerous examples and analysis that serve as real life applications of the value-systems framework. While his work provides for an evolutionary understanding to the field of economics, Dawlabani acknowledges that over 90% of global economic policies today are still driven by First Tier values. In his book, Dawlabani added a clarification to the MEME Attractor concept based on his experience with Beck. While Beck & Cowan referred to large meme groupings, such as religion, fashion, philosophy, etc.. as " MEME-attractors", Dawlabani re-branded these specialized meta-memes as General category Memes, or MEMEs for short, which gave continuity to the concept of memes for large scale applications such as the economics MEME. Beck considers Dawlabani's work a representation of the Third Generation Gravesian thinking.
In 2014 Elza Maalouf, Beck’s partner since 2003 who pioneered the use of Spiral Dynamics in the Middle East and co-founded the Center for Human Emerge Mideast
Pathologies
According to Don Edward Beck and Ken Wilber, each meme has both healthy and unhealthy versions. The pathologies are sometimes referred to as being "mean" as in "mean green MEME" (MGM) or "mean orange MEME" (MOM) . As examples, the MOM includes the extremes of capitalism like exploitation, environmental devastation and a general lack of ethics and sensitivity, while the MGM includes performative contradictions like anti-hierarchy, anti-competition, etc.
Cowan disputes that any credible evidence exists for the existence of the mean green meme and that it is a misrepresentation of the theory. While he recognizes the problems mentioned above, Cowan argues that they exist in other value systems as well, such that attaching them only to the green MEME is too simplistic. He considers the term "mean" to be inappropriate and a theoretical distortion when questions of adaptation or maladaptation, congruence or ineffectiveness are more to the point. Psychopathology potentially exists at all levels and is a different dimension.
Todorovic offers data and analysis leading to the conclusion that the mean green meme conjecture is contradicted by the data. Todorovic further concludes that MGM is a "failure of analysis" based on a variety of misconceptions about spiral dynamics and constitutes an "alarming misdiagnosis" and brands MGM a harmful "form of spiral fundamentalism."
Dawlabani in his framework argues that the MGM label by Beck and Wilber came from an incomplete set of data gathered during the early onset of the values of the Green system in the West. The psychosocial imprint of the Information Age, which Dawlabani believes is the widest expression of the Green system, was not a part of Grave's seminal work, nor was it examined in depth by Beck or Wilber. In What he calls The Fourth MEMEnomic Cycle, Dawlabani considers the information revolution the quintessential expression of the Growth and Maturity phases of the Green system's life cycle that is driven by the values that seek the democratization of information and resources. He considers this an essential phase for capitalism before it can begin its journey into Second Tier values.
Criticism
Critics point out that the model's implications are political as well as developmental and that while the terminology of the theory is self-consciously inclusive, the practical implications of the model can be seen as socially elitist and authoritarian. In his work on the subject, Beck emphasizes that one of the characteristics of "tier two" individuals, also called "spiral wizards," is their ability to make superior decisions for all parties concerned and to manufacture consent for their approaches at lower levels using resonant terms and ideas. In addition to outlining an underlying developmental theory, Spiral Dynamics gives explicit suggestions to these "wizards" for both consensual and non-consensual management of "lower-tier" individuals. One critic of spiral dynamics, Michel Bauwens, has argued that some conceptions of what it means to be "second tier" have come to resemble Nietzsche's idea of the Übermensch. Co-author Cowan has publicly dissociated himself from the ideas that are currently being promoted by his ex-partner Beck in conjunction with Ken Wilber. Many practitioners of Beck's branch of Spiral Dynamics today see Bauwens' views as those of the Green-Egalitarian Sixth level system that is arrested in political correctness and only sees the unhealthy half of the emergent nature of the theory.

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