Theory of spiral dynamics. Graves Spiral Dynamics

Spiral Dynamics is a theory of human and social development introduced in 1996 in the book of the same name by Don Beck and Chris Cowan. This book is based on the psychological theory of Professor Claire Graves. "Spiral Dynamics" is a registered trademark of the National Value Center.

Spiral Dynamics asserts that human nature is not immutable: people are able, when forced by the conditions of life, to adapt to their environment by creating new, more complex, conceptual models of the world that allow them to cope with new problems. Each new model includes and surpasses (overcomes) all previous models. According to Beck and Cowan, these conceptual models are organized around so-called V-Memes: these are systems of fundamental values or a kind of collective intelligence that applies both to individuals and to culture as a whole.

In Spiral Dynamics, the term V-Meme refers to an underlying value system that acts as an organizing principle that expresses itself through memes (self-propagated ideas, customs, habits, or cultural practices). The letter "V" in upper case before the word "Meme" means that we are not talking about basic memes, but about the value system that includes them ("V" - from the word "value" - value). The colors of V-Memes serve to more conveniently remember the Conditions of Life and Mental Abilities specific to each system. In this case, there is a transition between cold and warm colors as part of the model.

Within this model, no individual or culture falls completely and exactly into any one category (color). Every person/culture embodies a mixture of value patterns, with varying degrees the intensity of each. Spiral Dynamics does not claim to be a linear and hierarchical model, although it is accused of this. According to Spiral Dynamics, there are many stages of progress and regression, depending on the circumstances of the life of the individual/culture, which are in constant change. Achieving higher stages is not at all synonymous with achieving "better" or "correct" value systems. All stages can exist in both a "healthy" and "pathological" state, whereby each stage of development can lead to undesirable consequences regarding human health and social environment (see Shadow and Sub-personalities).

The first tier of V-Meme levels is focused on the various tasks that are set by the individual and society, and includes almost all kinds of worldviews, cultures and mental states that take place to date. New systems are built on the adaptation of previous levels and on the search for solutions to problems created at these previous levels. Bringing any concrete examples these levels of psychological existence is difficult and often confusing because (a) there can be several causes for the same behavior and (b) centralization at any one level, considering all aspects of life, is very rare. Some defenders of Spiral Dynamics argue that these are ways of thinking about things, not types of people. However, Spiral Dynamics highlights a category of people called "Spiral Sages" who have achieved a steady stay on the "top level" V-Memes.

Brief description: Archaic-instinctive - survival / automatic / reflex

Appearance time: approx. 100,000 years BC

Description: "Expressed through the satisfaction of urgent physiological needs through the instincts of Homo Sapiens."

Purple

Brief description: Animistic-tribal magical-animistic tribal order

Time of appearance: 50,000 years BC

Description: "Worshiping the customs and ways of the ancestors as the unit of the group." This is the level of traditional cultures.

Brief description: Egocentric exploitative, strong gods/lords

Time of appearance: 7000 BC

Description: "Expressed (impulsively) in the satisfaction of personal desires without guilt, but to avoid shame (loss of face)." Expressed in the mentality of street gangs.

Brief description: Absolutist mythical order based on obedience - purposeful / authoritarian

Appearance time: approx. 3000 BC

Description: "Sacrifices himself in order to come to righteous power through obedience in a purposeful Path." Embodied in fundamentalist religions.

Note: Ken Wilber calls this stage "amber"

Orange

Brief description: flexible goal achievement, scientific/strategic approach

Appearance time: approx. 1000 AD today (or c. 600 AD according to Graves and Calhoun)

Description: "It is expressed (calculatively) in achieving benefits and goals, if possible without hurting the interests of those people who are important to you for some reason." Expressed in the Scientific and Industrial Revolution.

Brief description: Relativistic-personalist approach, communal/egalitarian

Time of appearance: from 1850 to the present (peak at the beginning of the 20th century)

Description: "Sacrificing personal interests now to gain the approval of the group and its harmony." Expressed in the pluralism of the 1960s and in systems theory.

The theory of Spiral Dynamics also singles out the second tier of V-Memes. These are relatively new levels, which are gradually moving from focusing on purely "mundane" moments, characteristic of the First Tier, to existence on an existential level. The existence of two different tiers of psychological development was introduced by Graves. Cowan states that perhaps Graves introduced the tier system as some kind of marketing tool. Before today, no study has been able to prove that these two tiers exist. Cowan no longer supports the idea of two tiers, but states that the only thing known about the Yellow and Turquoise systems is that they are a more complex version of the Orange and Green tiers, respectively. The open end theory suggests that levels from Coral and above are simply not yet formed and will be established as more communities develop to the level of these memes.

Brief description: System integrative

Time of appearance: 1950s

Description: "Expressed in the satisfaction of personal desires, but avoiding harm to others, so that the benefit is for everyone, and not just for oneself personally"

Turquoise

Short description: Holistic

Time of appearance: 1970s

Description: an integrative system that combines the personal interests necessary for the organism with the interests of the communities of which the person is a part. This theory is in the process of formation.

Further development.

The color system was added in 1970 as a graphic element to illustrate the teaching materials used by Cowan and Beck. The term VMeme was coined by Beck and Cowan in Spiral Dynamics, where the language replaced Graves' original terminology. They identified milestones in the transition path between levels. Graves' original theory uses the double helix model to show the interconnectedness of individual perceptions of living conditions with the neuronal systems that produce the level of psychological existence. This double helix of two interacting forces corresponds to the helix in Spiral Dynamics.

After their book was published, Beck and Cowan taught their theory in two courses, SDI and SDII. Officially teamwork was discontinued in 1999. After that, both continued to teach training courses of various types, as well as doing consulting work. Beck spent several years applying the theory of Spiral Dynamics while working with individuals and groups in South Africa, participating in the deconstruction of apartheid, for which he received an award from the State of Texas. Beck continued to tailor his courses using this model in both business and politics.

Beck and Ken Wilber (with his integral theory) became interested in each other's work, as a result of which Beck developed his own branch of spiral dynamics, which he called Integral Spiral Dynamics. This version of the theory uses integral ideas such as the Four Quadrants. Beck is also associated with a spiritual teacher, Andrew Cohen. This cooperation still promises to yield certain organizational and social results.

Cowan does not join in these developments and promotes a version of the theory that he describes as remaining closer to and developing on Claire Graves' original research. He has continued to use the term "Spiral Dynamics" to describe his work since he co-created it with Beck. With his assistant, Natasha Todorovich, he undertook work in integrating Spiral Dynamics with NLP and other models, and in developing corporate strategy and practical applications. He also proposed an additional second tier VM-Meme, Coral, which deals with the development of consciousness abilities.

Pathologies

According to Don Beck and Ken Wilber, each V-Meme has both "healthy" and "unhealthy" versions. Pathologies are sometimes referred to as "low", such as "Low Green VMe" (LGM), or "Low Orange VMe" (LOM). For example, NOM is characterized by the extremes of capitalism such as exploitation, ecological catastrophe and a general lack of ethics and sensitivity, while NZM has internal contradictions such as anti-hierarchy, anti-competitiveness, etc.

Cowan counters that there is no credible evidence for the existence of the Low Green V-Meme, and that this is a misrepresentation of the theory. Although he acknowledges the aforementioned problems, Cowan claims that they exist in the same way in other value systems, so assigning them only to the Green V-Meme is oversimplifying. He believes that the term "low" is inappropriate and distorts the theory, while it is more appropriate to use the terms of adaptation and maladjustment, efficiency and inefficiency. Psychopathology potentially exists at all levels and is another dimension.

Todorovic offers data and analysis leading to the conclusion that the hypothesis of the existence of the MSM is inconsistent with the data. Todorovic further concludes that MGM is an "analysis error" based on a number of misconceptions about spiral dynamics, giving a "faulty alarmist signal", and classifies MGM as a harmful "form of spiral fundamentalism".

Criticism of Spiral Dynamics

Critics point out that the implications of this model apply not only to personal development, but also to politics, and although the terminology of the theory has more to do with self-consciousness, the practical applications of this model can be rather elitist and authoritarian in nature. In his work on this subject, Beck emphasizes that one of the characteristics of "second tier" individuals, the so-called "Spiral Wise Men," is their ability to make the best decisions for all parties and bring their methods into line at lower levels using resonant terms and ideas. In addition to general and particular developmental theory, Spiral Dynamics gives detailed advice to such "Wise Men" for both consensual and non-consensual management of "lower tier" individuals. One of the critics of Spiral Dynamics, Michael Bowens, argues that some concepts of what is called the "second tier" are similar to Nietzsche's idea of the Superman. Co-author Beck Cowan publicly disassociated himself from the ideas that his ex-partner Beck is now promoting in collaboration with Ken Wilber.

Addendum: Interpretation of memes by Ken Wilber.

Scarlet (aka purple) (egocentric, magical). Starts about 50,000 years ago, and is a designation for an egocentric, magical outlook, and impulsiveness. It is expressed in magicism / animism, the cult of ancestral spirits and the like. Small children initially have a scarlet outlook on the world. The scarlet level for all lines of development is the initial one, which is called “full circles” for all new tasks. Scarlet-level emotions and worldviews can be seen in cultural phenomena such as comics and superhero movies.

Red (ego- to ethnocentric, egotistical): The red level began c. 10,000 years ago and is a marker of egocentric systems based on power, where "power is always right", where aggression rules, and where the ability to understand another person, to stand in his place is very limited. Red pulses are classically seen in middle school and early high school, where bullying, teasing, and the like are the norm. Culturally red motivations can be seen in No Rules Fighting competitions that have no fixed rules (fixed rules come in the next level, amber), teenage rebellion and movies that cater to all of that (like Fast & Furious), gangster gangs (where the strong govern the weak) and the like.

Amber (that is, blue) (ethnocentric, mythical): The amber level began about 5000 years ago and characterizes a traditionalist and mythical worldview in nature - and mythical worldviews are almost always absolutist (this stage is often called absolutist). Instead of the “might is always right” rule, amber ethics is more group-oriented, but purely and only for “my” group. Middle and high school kids usually show amber motivations to fit into the group. The amber ethic helps control the impulsiveness and narcissism of the red. Culturally, the amber worldview is presented in the form of fundamentalism (my God is right no matter what); extreme patriotism (my country is right no matter what); and ethnocentrism (my people are right no matter what).

Orange (worldcentric, rational): The orange level begins about 500 years ago, during a period known as the Age of Enlightenment. In the orange worldview, the individual begins to move away from amber conformism, which makes views on their own religion, nation or tribe more flexible. The orange worldview often begins to emerge in last grades school, college, and adulthood. The cultural orange worldview represents the understanding that "truth is not something that is given, it is something that must be discovered on its own", it stimulates the rapid development of science and formal rationality. The orange ethic already embraces all people – “we consider it a self-evident truth that all people are created equal…”. Ayn Rand's objectivism, the US Bill of Rights, and many laws designed to protect individual freedom are all products of the orange worldview.

Green (worldcentric, pluralistic): The green level begins about 150 years ago, although it comes into full expression in the 1960s. Green worldviews are characterized by pluralism, or the ability to see that there are many ways to see reality. Where orange sees universal truths (“All men are created equal”), green sees multiple universal truths—different universes for different cultures. The green ethic continues and radically expands the trend towards inclusiveness of all people. The green statement will sound like this: “we consider it a self-evident truth that all people are created equal regardless of race, gender, class…”. The green ethic spawned civil rights, feminism, the gay rights movement, the environmental movement.

The multifaceted vision of a green worldview provides an opportunity for greater compassion, idealism, participation in its healthy form. Such qualities can be seen in such organizations as the Sierra Club, Amnesty International, the Union of Caring Scientists, Doctors Without Borders. In its unhealthy form, the green worldview can lead to extreme relativism, where all beliefs are considered equally relative and equally true, which in turn can lead to the nihilism, narcissism, irony, and meaninglessness represented by many of today's intellectuals, scientists, and trendsetters... not to mention about other "lost" generations.

Second tier:

Canary (yellow) (worldcentric to "cosmocentric", integral): The yellow meme signifies the beginning of an integral worldview in which pluralism and relativism are transcended and incorporated into a larger systemic whole. The transition from green to yellow is also known as the transition from the values of the first tier to the values of the second. The most striking difference is that each level of the first tier considers its values to be the only true ones, while the second tier recognizes the importance of all previous stages of development. Thus, the yellow worldview does justice to the insights of the green level, but places it in a deeper context that allows you to create healthy hierarchies and a healthy distinction of value systems.

Perhaps more importantly, the yellow worldview is beginning to see the process of development as such, recognizing that each of the previous stages (from purple to green) plays important role in human experience. The yellow consciousness sees that each of the previous stages opens up some important truth and gathers these truths together, integrating them without trying to remake them for themselves, but also without extreme cultural relativism (“everyone is equal”). The yellow worldview does not just see all points of view (like the green level) - it can give them their due, but at the same time critically evaluate them.

Turquoise ("Cosmocentric", Integral): The turquoise level is the prerogative of integral vision, in which a person can not only see a healthy hierarchy, but also the various quadrants of human knowledge, expression and requests (at a minimum: me, we and it). While the yellow worldview is still "mundane", the turquoise level for the first time begins to include the Spirit as an active force in the world (embodied through any or all of the three persons of God - "I" - "selflessness" or "witness" of Buddhism; "we/you" is the "great Other" of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, etc., or "it" is the "Web of Life" seen in Taoism, Pantheism, etc.).

I also give here a translation of another description of Spiral Dynamics given by Wilber.

KU: In Integral Psychology, I present chapters that summarize over one hundred developmental psychologists, Eastern and Western, ancient and modern and post-modern. Spiral Dynamics is just one of those hundred, but I use it for its simplicity and clarity, even for beginners. Based on the extensive research begun by Claire Graves, Spiral Dynamics (developed by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan) views the individual as evolving through eight major waves of consciousness. For convenience, I will give a brief description of them.

SPIRAL DYNAMICS AND WAVES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The first six levels are the "living wage" levels, labeled "first-level thinking." Next, there is a revolutionary shift in consciousness: the emergence of "existential level" or "second-level thinking", where there are two main waves. Below is short description these eight waves, the percentage of the population and social power, held by this part of the population.

Beige: Archaic-instinctive. Basic survival level; food, water, warmth, sex and safety take precedence. Self-consciousness is barely discernible. Such people stray into survivalist herds.
Where can be observed: The first human communities, newborns, very old people, late stage Alzheimer's syndrome, mentally ill homeless, starving masses, shell-shocked. Approximately 0.1% of the adult population, 0% of power.
Purple: Magical-animistic. Thinking is animistic; magical spirits, good and bad, bury their blessings in the ground, spells determine events. Such people form ethnic tribes. Ancestral spirits bind the tribe together. Political ties are determined by kinship and origin. It sounds “holistic”, but in fact it is atomistic: “every bend in the river has a name, but the river as a whole has no name.”
Where to See: Believers in voodoo spells, blood oaths, ancient curses, good luck charms, family rituals, ethnic magic, and superstitions; strongly in third world countries, in gangs, sports teams and corporate "tribes". 10% of the population, 1% of the government.
Red: Strong gods. The first occurrence of the separation of the "I" from the tribe; powerful, impulsive, self-centered, heroic. Magic-mythical spirits, dragons, creatures and powerful people. Archetypal gods and goddesses, powerful beings to be reckoned with, both good and bad. Feudal lords protect subjects in exchange for obedience and labor. The basis of feudal empires is power and glory. The world is a jungle full of dangers and predators. Conquerors, cunning and strong; take everything you want from life without regret and repentance; be here and now.

Where to watch: Bonnie and Clyde, rebellious youth, frontier mentality, feudal kingdoms, epic heroes, James Bond villains, gang leaders, soldiers of fortune, New Age narcissism, wild rock stars, Attila Goon, Lord of the Flies. 20% of the population, 5% of the government.

Blue: Mythic order. Life has meaning, direction and purpose, with results determined by the almighty Other or Order. This one and only true Order implements a code of conduct based on the absolutist and unvaried principles of "right" and "wrong." Violation of this code entails severe, possibly eternal punishment. Following the code is richly rewarded. Foundation of ancient nations. Rigid social hierarchy; paternalism; one right way and only one right way to think about everything. Law and order; impulsivity is controlled through guilt; literal and fundamentalist faith; obedience to rules and Order; adherence to the generally accepted, conformism. Often - "religious" and "mythical" [in the sense of participation in the myth; Graves and Beck refer to this as a level of "holiness/absolutism", but an Order or Mission can be either secular or atheistic.
Where to watch: Puritan America, Confucian China, Dickensian England, Singapore order, totalitarianism, codes of chivalry and honor, Whereseen: PuritanAmerica, ConfucianChina, DickensianEngland, Singaporediscipline, totalitarianism, codesofchivalryandhonor, charity, religious fundamentalism (e.g. Christian and Islamic), scouting organization, "moral majority", patriotism. 40% of the population, 30% of the government.

Orange: Scientific advances. On this wave, the self moves away from the herd psychology of the blue meme, and seeks truth and meaning in individualistic terms - hypothetical-deductive, empirical, objectivist, mechanistic, operational - "scientific" in the usual sense of the word. The world is a rational and well-oiled machine with natural laws that can be learned, mastered and used for the purposes of man. Achievement-oriented, especially (in the US) material benefit. The laws of science govern politics, economics and human life. The world is Chess board where the games are played by the winners and the losers are sidelined. Trade unions; managing the planet's resources for strategic gain. Foundation of corporate states.
Where to watch: The Enlightenment, Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, Wall Street, the rise of the world's middle class, the cosmetics industry, trophy hunting, colonialism, the Cold War, the fashion industry, materialism, secular humanism, liberal selfishness. 30% of the population, 50% of the government.
1. Green: Sensitive self. Community, human connection, environmental sensitivity, networks. The human spirit must be free from greed, dogma and dissension; feelings and care come to replace cold rationality, cherishing the Earth, Gaia, life. Against hierarchy, creates horizontal connections and unity. Permeable self, relative self, group relatedness. Emphasis on dialogue, relationships. The basis of value communities (that is, freely chosen affiliation based on common sentiments). Makes decisions based on conciliation and consensus ( back side: endless "processing" and inability to make decisions). Renewal of spirituality, harmony, enrichment of human potential. Strongly egalitarian, anti-hierarchical, pluralistic, social construction of reality, diversity, multiculturalism, relativistic value systems; this worldview is often referred to as pluralistic relativism. Subjective, non-linear thinking; shows greater degree cordiality, sensitivity and care, for the Earth and all its inhabitants.

Where can you watch: Depth psychology, postmodernism, Dutch idealism, Carl Rogers psychotherapy, Canadian health system, humanistic psychology, liberation theology, World Council of Churches, Greenpeace, animal rights, ecofeminism, post-colonialism, Foucault/Derrida, political correctness, diversity movements, human rights issues, ecopsychology. 10% of the population, 15% of the government. [Note: this is 10% of the world's population. Don Beck estimates that about 20-25% of the American population is green.]

With the end of the green meme, human consciousness is undergoing a quantum leap to "second-level thinking." Claire Graves calls it "an important leap" in which "an abyss of incredible depth of meaning is crossed." In essence, with second-level consciousness, a person can think both vertically and horizontally, using both hierarchies and heterarchies (both ranking and horizontal connections). Therefore, here a person can for the first time vividly cover the entire spectrum of internal development and thus see that every level, every meme, every wave is extremely important for the health of the entire Spiral.

As I would call it, every wave here is topped and turned on. That is, each wave goes ahead of its predecessor and yet includes or embraces it in its own structure. For example, the cell transcends but includes molecules, which transcends but includes atoms. To say that a molecule goes beyond atoms is not to say that molecules hate atoms, but that they love them: they embrace them in their own structure, they include them in themselves, they do not reject them. Only in this way, each wave of existence is a fundamental component of all subsequent waves.

Moreover, each wave can itself be activated or deactivated by certain life circumstances. In extreme situations, we can activate red forces; in response to chaos, we may need blue order; in the search for a new job, we may need an orange focus on achievement; in family life and friends need green connections. All these memes make their important contribution.

But each Level 1 meme is deficient in itself in the sense that it doesn't value other memes. Each of the memes of the first level thinks that his worldview is correct and the best. If he is challenged, he reacts negatively; he attacks with his tools at any threat. The blue order strongly dislikes red impulsiveness and orange individualism. Orange individualism thinks blue order is for the rednecks and green egalitarianism is for the weak. Green egalitarianism cannot easily follow perfection and value hierarchies, big pictures, hierarchies, or anything that looks like authoritarianism, and thus green reacts painfully to blue, orange, and second-level memes.

All this changes at the second level of thinking. Because second-level consciousness is fully aware of the stages of inner development – even if it cannot formulate it in a technically clear way – and steps back, embracing the whole picture, and thus second-level thinking appreciates the role played by each meme. Second level thinking thinks in terms of the whole spiral of being, not just in terms of any one level.

Where the green meme begins to embrace numerous various systems and the pluralistic contexts that exist in different cultures (which is why it is indeed a sensitive self, i.e. sensitive to the rejection of others), second-level thinking goes one step further. It searches for the contexts that unify these disparate systems, and in this way it gathers these separate systems and begins to embrace, include and integrate them into a single spiral and integral interconnectedness. Second-level thinking, in other words, moves from relativism to holism, from pluralism to integralism.

Extensive research by Graves, Beck, and Cowan indicates that there are at least two main waves in this second-level consciousness:

Yellow: unifying. Life is a kaleidoscope of natural hierarchies [holarchies], systems and forms. Flexibility, spontaneity and functionality have the most top priority. Differences and multiplicity can be combined into interdependent, natural flows. Egalitarianism is complemented by natural degrees of ranking and mastery. Knowledge and competence transcend power, status, or group instincts. The prevailing world order is the result of existence different levels reality (memes) and various patterns of movement up and down the dynamic spiral. Good governance encourages entities to emerge through levels of increasing complexity (nested hierarchy). 1% of the population, 5% of the government.
Turquoise: holistic. Universal holistic system, holons/waves of integrative energies; sense of unity and knowledge; multiple levels linked into one system of Consciousness. Universal order, but in a living, aware sense, not based on external rules (as in the blue meme) or group connections(as in green). A "grand unification" [a "theory of everything"]—perhaps in theory and in reality. Sometimes it includes the emergence of a new spirituality as a network structure of being. Turquoise thinking uses the entire Spiral; sees multiple levels of interaction; captures harmonics, mystical forces and penetrating currents-states that permeate any organization. 0.1% of the population, 1% of the government.
Level 2 consciousness is relatively rare (2% of the population and 0.1% for the teal meme) as it is now at the forefront of collective human evolution. As examples, Beck and Cowan mention Teilhard de Chardin's noosphere, chaos and complexity theories, universal systems of thought, integral holistic theories, pluralistic integration of Gandhi and Mandela. The frequency of such manifestations is increasing and even higher memes may appear.

Today I propose to get acquainted with a very interesting theory of spiral dynamics, built on the research of the American psychologist Claire Graves.

Main ideas of the theory of spiral dynamics

The development of each individual person and of all mankind proceeds along a spiral trajectory, passing through a successive series of levels.
Six levels of the first order - "survival", "mysticism", "pull for order", "service highest goal”, “materialism” and “striving for the common good”.
At the levels of the second order, personal potential is revealed and people unite with each other.
Levels, each of which has its own socio-cultural “meme” and conditional color, characterize not types of people, but ways of thinking.
Harmonious development presupposes forward movement upward in a spiral; levels partially overlap.
Each level goes through the stages of “birth”, “climax” and “fading”.
People and collectives can be affected only by those forces that correspond to the current circumstances of their life and the level of their development.

Spiral model

The theory of spiral dynamics describes eight interconnected levels of maturity of the individual and society. Each level corresponds to a certain set of cultural values, its own color, its own priorities, beliefs and peculiarities of the worldview. Developing, people and nations move from level to level under the influence of living conditions and experience in solving problems. When the conditions for the existence of a person, organization or society change, this transformation forces us to reconsider the basic values and beliefs. Problems that cannot be solved within the framework of the existing value system force us to rise to the next turn of the spiral. The levels partially overlap each other, passing through the phases of “birth”, “climax” and “fading”. This evolution takes place over a long period of time: a person or society leaves the previous level and slowly moves towards the next level that appears on the horizon. Problems arise when something interferes with such forward movement.

The spiral model is a tool that allows you to manage the transformation process. But in order to use it, first of all, it is necessary to understand at what level of development a person or team is, and then one can choose the methods of implementing changes accordingly. These levels characterize not the type of personality, but the way of thinking.

As a rule, we are under the influence of several layers of values at once, or ideological complexes, called “memes”. Any major transformation must take into account the characteristics of the level at which

person or society. Thus, attempts to quickly create a free market economy in a country that has been dominated by an authoritarian regime for decades are doomed to failure in advance. Such a country must go through a stage of gradual liberalization and education of respect for individual freedom so that the desire for independence and the spirit of entrepreneurship develop in society.

Learning to determine where an individual or group is is not easy, just as difficult as it is to cope with the desire to accelerate change. The Spiral Dynamics model has great potential to drive change in

contexts, including organizations. The scope of its application is almost limitless. Colors: levels and value systems

Levels of development, each of which corresponds to a certain value "meme", reflect the psychocultural maturity of an individual or society. The first six levels (levels of the first order) correspond to the following colors:

Beige. It " stone Age”, in which people are ruled by instincts, and their main concern is survival. They gather in groups not to communicate, but to jointly obtain food and protect themselves from threats. Children quickly leave this turn of the spiral, as do most primitive cultures. Older people can go down to the "beige" level if they suffer from Alzheimer's disease. It is necessary to work with teams that are at the “beige” level, appealing to the senses (vision, taste, touch). At this level of development is less than 0.1% of the world's inhabitants, in the hands of which only 0.01% of political power.
Violet. Driven by the desire to improve their living conditions, people enter into more complex social associations, moving from families and clans to tribes. Tribal life is governed by rituals, mysticism, belief in spirits and ancestor worship. Their members obediently obey common rituals, observe prohibitions and respect blood ties. To influence a person or a group with this level of consciousness, show its members that you respect their customs and customs. For example, a sports team might exhibit purple traits. Criticism of the superstitions common in such a group causes in him backlash. About 10% of people still live in clans and tribes, concentrating about 1% of political power in their hands.
Red. Purple changes to red when people realize the failure of superstition and the meaninglessness of rituals. When members of the group begin to challenge the power of the rulers who exploit them, the latter become even more despotic, which accelerates change. As soon as there is no agreement between the members of the group, anarchy arises, after which power is in the hands of dictators. In the cruel "red" world, the law of the jungle reigns, tyrants rule over empires, and power has the highest value. Everyone strives to snatch their share of the benefits and believe that the fittest will survive. A rigid hierarchy, authoritarianism, inertia of thinking, and cruelty reign in society. People don't have empathy for each other. To bring about change at the red level, teach people to respect others and protect their own reputations. Any attempts to bring the team together will be perceived by its members with hostility. Explain to the Reds what their “benefit” is: instead of anarchy, offer them order and service to a higher goal. At this level, there are about 20% of the people, who account for about 5% of political power.
Blue. The desire for order heralds an approach to the "blue" level, which is characterized by predictability, patriotism and self-sacrifice for the sake of a higher goal. Tight control and authoritarianism still reign in the “blue” world, but the leaders are distinguished by a “paternal” attitude towards the people, and not by the desire for self-aggrandizement. To transform this society, teach people to value personal merit and to be rewarded for success. Respect their traditions. Do not encourage wasteful, conspicuous consumption and social dependency. The “blue” level is the largest segment of the world's population, these 40% of people concentrate 30% of political power in their hands.
Orange. This level replaces “blue” when people question the authority of the authorities. If leaders abuse their position, it accelerates change. As soon as people realize that they know better than the authorities how to live, they cease to be loyal. They begin to think more freely, and the beginnings of entrepreneurship and careerism appear in society. Wanting more, people see the way to a better life in science and technology. Neglect of personal interests for the sake of a higher goal gives way to the pursuit of material wealth. The society is dominated by "meritocracy", the power of the worthy. To influence the orange team, focus its members on professionalism, the needs of the team, and the benefits of living in the community. Constituting 30% of the population, this group holds 50% of political power.
Green. The “orange” level is replaced by “green” when people begin to strive for mutual understanding and the development of spirituality. Material wealth and personal achievements no longer bring them joy, and the lack of relationships makes them feel lonely. The spirit of competition is weakening, and collective well-being and concern for the world around us come to the fore. Decisions are made not by a minority, but by consensus. People begin to be guided by the principle of reasonable necessity, and not by greed, they strive for a simple life, not burdened by rampant consumption. To help them move to the next level, let them know that going “whole” is ineffective and limits the individual. Advise to take all the good things from other levels. This segment covers 10% of the population and holds 15% of political power.

Two levels of the second order correspond to the following two colors:

Yellow. The transition to the second order levels is a much more important step than the transition between the first order levels. Thoughts and actions acquire special flexibility and multidimensionality here. Individuals and communities reach this level when they become disillusioned with collectivism and begin to recognize its limitations, but still feel the need to dedicate themselves to activities for the common good. Repressed individualism is resurgent, devoid, however, of the desire for luxury and display of high status, characteristic of the “orange” level. Those at this level skillfully unite individuals and groups at different levels of development into a single organism to solve problems. specific task. However, they do not feel the need to recognize their merits. These people have outgrown the desire to compete and assert themselves and in search of their "I" try not to harm others. The “yellow” level begins to recede as soon as people realize the limited capabilities of the individual and unite to solve the global problems of human existence. The 1% of the population that reaches this level controls about 5% of political power.

Turquoise. As people, having thoroughly explored the possibilities and limitations of individualism, return to a balanced collectivism, they again begin to show the self-sacrifice that was lost after leaving the "blue" level. If the “yellow” level is creation and problem solving, then the “turquoise” one is the unification of humanity into a single spiritual whole with a focus on such priorities as caring for the world around us, simplicity of life and respect for people at any level. Those who are at this level aspire to be part of unified system interconnections that form all forms of life. They are able to combine the strengths of all other levels without compromising their own “I”. In the hands of 0.1% of representatives of this level, 1% of political power is concentrated.

Six conditions for change

In order for people and collectives to be able to go through the development process described, certain conditions must be met. The scale of change and its sustainability depend on this.

Potential assessment. Is the person, organization, or culture receptive to the changes you intend to make? Are they in “open” (one can act), “chained” (remove all barriers first and don’t expect quick success) or a “closed” state (it is useless to even try to change something)?
Searching of decisions. Find solutions to problems that exist on given level before stimulating upward spiral movement. When starting a change, first make sure that a solid foundation has been prepared for it.
Creating dissonance. Give evidence that the traditional way of thinking does not meet the new requirements and conditions of life. Describe the dangers that will inevitably arise from this. Bring people out of their complacency to awaken their desire to change.
Destruction of barriers. Individuals and groups tend to erect barriers around themselves that protect against change. Reveal these barriers and destroy them.
Awakening understanding. Explain why the person or organization needs to change. Point out what needs to be fixed and help people imagine how it will change their lives for the better.
Consolidation. Making changes is a long process that alternates between breakthroughs and setbacks. It needs to be constantly supported. If changes occur in an organization, its leader must be at the center of the process of change, providing all kinds of support to subordinates.

If these conditions are met, the transformation process will take place in five stages:

"Alpha stability". Everything is in order, people are happy, the system works.
"Beta Conditioning". Small problems turn into big ones, traditional solutions do not work in the new conditions. Doubts about the viability of the system are growing. Attempts to rectify the situation through more effective use of old ways of working only exacerbate the problems.
"Gamma Trap". The problems are becoming more and more obvious. Denying them is not the best way out of the situation. It seems to you that it is better to wait and see how things develop before acting. But you need to act right now. By procrastinating, you may find yourself in a "trap" that will lead to personal, organizational and social collapse. Recovery from such a crash will be long, if possible at all.
"Delta Splash". By avoiding the "gamma trap", you will experience a feeling of euphoria. But other pitfalls await you. Changes can make things worse or be superficial and you start to slide back into the “trap”.
"New alpha stability". If the transformations were successful and you avoided the "gamma trap", you are at a new stage of development. Ensure the system is stable before the cycle restarts.

Use the accurate assessment of the five conditions for successful change and the control of the five stages of the process as tools to help people and teams achieve sustainable change. Act on all levels at once, take into account the benefits that each level provides, and develop solutions that are appropriate for each level. Follow the principles of “politeness” (show respect for others), “openness” (listen to others), and “autocracy” (govern with a firm hand and boldly accept responsibility).

Before embarking on the path of transformation, figure out what level you are now and where you want to be. Review the resources and means available to implement the changes. Formulate your vision for the future and share it with your group members. Develop a workflow that covers all activities that affect the change process. Assemble a management team to support the program throughout its implementation. Control the process and coordinate the work of people making changes. Steadily move forward, looking for optimal solutions to problems as they arise.

According to D.Beck and K.Kovan

Principles of Spiral Dynamics Principle 1: People have the ability to create new memes

The key point in Graves' concept of Spiral Dynamics is that people have the inherent ability to exist at various levels of psychological development, and even add new levels. These are not some "best" or "worst" states - they simply reflect different views on what the world is like and the complexity of its structure. This is confirmed by the latest findings in the field of neurological research.

According to them, in order for the awakening of new functions of the brain / consciousness is due to three factors:

Inherited factors driving the addition and even replacement of old systems with new ones

Dynamic forces generated under the influence of the environment and upbringing, "launching" the corresponding systems

The ability of the human brain / consciousness to operate simultaneously within several subsystems, some of which are active, while others are relatively passive

Principle 2: Memes are awakened as a result of changes in the conditions of life, as a result of which memes will arise, develop, or die out.

Memes are a product of interaction internal device our consciousness with living conditions that we are facing. The emergence of memes is not something like stations at which the train inevitably stops sooner or later. They are not something programmed by human biology. On the contrary, the dynamics of the Spiral is activated by the interaction between the internal state of consciousness and the external world. If certain external conditions become regular or repetitive, then this gives rise to the emergence of appropriate stereotypes of behavior / thinking. Otherwise, they disappear.

There are four important aspects of these living conditions: Time, Place, Tasks and Context.

historical Time: Position on the general line of development of mankind, the stage of development of a particular culture, the age phases of an individual's life.

Key Concepts: Epochs, generations, periods, cycles, dates, time frames, personal history, phases, feelings of the past/present/future

At any point in Chronological Time, and in virtually any community, you can find people living in the same year, but whose thinking is rooted in completely different eras. At any given moment in your life, you are living with a unique package of memes that has evolved according to this Time and the culture that surrounds it. For many people in Western culture, the 1940s were very different from the 1950s, 1960s, 1990s, or 2000s. However, for some Third World countries, Time has remained virtually unchanged for many generations.

When the passage of Time does change external conditions, stress awakens our internal resources so much that we can add new (or reorganize old) memes in response. This successive layering of adaptive human thought patterns is like the annual circles of a tree. Each ring reflects environmental conditions throughout the year. The change of "seasons" in a person's life leaves rings in the system of memes, manifested in culture and psychosocial development. Who you are today, who you were yesterday and who you will be tomorrow, is in large part shaped by the conditions you face at different stages of your life. We are not prisoners of our Time, but certainly subject to its influence.

Geographic Place: Physical conditions, the natural and artificial ecology in which an individual or group resides.

Key Concepts: Atmospheric conditions, electromagnetic influences, natural environment (snow, desert, jungle, city, village), architecture, population density, number and characteristics of external stimulants, chemical and mineral composition of air, soil and food, sources and types of lighting, climate.

There are many factors in our geographic location that greatly influence our social values and interactions. Living on an isolated island gives rise to collective behaviors that are different from the behavior nomadic tribe or cultures developed in a warm, fertile valley.

Geographic environmental factors include everything from a variety of natural influences ( geomagnetic fields, topography, sky, weather, seasons, etc.) to artificial environments - rooms, workplaces, buildings, cities, and living spaces. This echoes Chinese Feng Shui, which describes the process of harmonizing people with their environment. So ancient wisdom resonates with modern "discoveries".

human Tasks: The priorities, needs, concerns, and demands of being made by a particular individual or group, some of which are common to all people, and some of which are unique to a particular culture, social group, or individual.

Key Concepts: Survival tasks such as food and water; accessibility and wealth/poverty of social niches; perceived levels of threat or safety; cultural norms and requirements; communications and languages; prevailing temperaments; heroes and anti-heroes; technology; social memory of the past; unauthorized historical issues; images and legacy of the past; diseases and epidemics; social upheavals.

Such tasks of being trigger mechanisms in the human brain/consciousness that 1) allow for more accurate perception of environmental conditions and 2) release physical and psychological resources to properly deal with them. Each base meme of the Spiral is designed to solve its own unique set tasks. When several memes appear at the same time in the same place, the level of conflict and turmoil increases accordingly. Many of today's "hot spots" are fueled not only by friction between different memes, but also by the problem of competition for limited resources.

Social Context (Environment): The position of an individual, group, and culture in a hierarchy of power, status, and influence.

Key Concepts: Social roles; position in the flow of resources; socioeconomic class; the level of education; opportunities and access to certain niches; appearance and physiognomy; relationship dynamics; political systems; pedigree; national, age and gender factors.

No two people will be in the same Context, even being in the same Place at the same Time and solving similar Problems. Ways of life, social position, heredity, family privilege, intellectual or physical ability, and just luck will vary. The same applies to any given group or social stratum. Whether we like it or not, these unequal living conditions have a significant impact on human life. No two people will perceive the world around them in the same way. Even twins will be different. Clearly, much of what happens in politics, religion, and therapy is closely related to this aspect of the Spiral.

The context defines the boundaries for us - open or closed. They must be taken into account when interacting with both the “majority” and the “minority”, successful and unsuccessful. The context can be filters, preventing us from seeing the entire Spiral in the same way that anyone else could. Like the other three elements living conditions, Context also dictates which memes are most likely to be acceptable and justified in a given context. Disagreements about effective education systems, employment relationships and cohabitation are associated with different contexts.

Let's sum up the description living conditions(Time, Place, Tasks, Context):

IF living conditions are very...	THEN "normal" people will...
Beige - natural	Act like animals
Purple - mystical and incomprehensible	Please the spirits and unite together for safety
Reds are tough and dangerous like the jungle	Fight for survival without thinking about others
Blue - guided by a higher power
Orange - full of practical possibilities	Pragmatically strive to gain an advantage and succeed
Green - emphasize the common in all people	Join the community to grow together
Yellow - complex, fraught with decay to chaos	Learning to remain free, but also to live by the principles
Turquoise - similar to a single organism	Search for order in the apparent chaos on Earth

Developing Hierarchy Concepts human needs A. Maslow, in the second half of the last century eminent psychologist K. Graves, having processed a huge amount of experimental and statistical data, formulated an amazing model of the system of human values. His work was developed by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan, who built on their basis a whole new direction in sociopsychology, which they called "memetics" or Spiral Dynamics.

At present, Spiral Dynamics captures the keen interest of not only scientists, but also politicians, businessmen, educators, etc., who find it a convenient tool for analyzing and solving many problems. practical tasks associated with management and training. In Russia, this topic is practically unknown. Therefore, we will be happy to present here the main concepts of Spiral Dynamics, citing a translation into Russian of some chapters from the book by D.E. Beck and K.K. Kovan “Spiral Dynamics – Mastering Values, Leadership, and Change.

Main characteristics of memes

We first describe the characteristics of those invisible deep thought patterns (memes) that often unconsciously influence people. We then look into the laws, rules, and principles that govern shifts, development, and internal organization in these evolving ways of being.

A meme manifests itself in the form of a worldview, a value system, a level of psychological existence, a belief structure, organizing principles, a way of thinking and a way of life.

Memes have the following qualities:

1. Memes exhibit deep thought patterns that shape systems and influence human behavior: A meme contains a basic package of thoughts, motives, and instructions that govern how we make decisions and prioritize our lives. Each of us has our own input and output channels, ways of organizing, levels of intensity, rules of conduct, and a set of assumptions about how the world works.

Memes shape our basic life priorities, which in turn, on a more superficial level, influence our behavior and decisions. Outwardly, people can do the same thing, but they will be driven by completely different memes. Unable to determine which meme is in this moment functions only by observing behavior - what a person does. Only by understanding why a person does or says certain things will we arrive at a meme. The unscrupulous type may try to convince you that he is speaking based on a very sensitive Green meme that is based on the good of the individual and social causes, while he may be driven by very self-serving forms of the Orange meme who wants to make you pay by supporting him " charitable event.

Here short review eight basic memes that have already emerged so far.

meme	Name	Basic motives
Beige	Survival	Staying alive thanks to physical instincts
Violet	Mystic	Family ties and mysticism in a magical and dangerous world
Red	Power	Selfish and exploitative power over self, others and nature
Blue	Law	Absolute Faith in the only right way and obedience to authority
Orange	ambition	Committed to the best opportunities for myself
Green	Relationships	Human welfare and consensus
Yellow	Flexibility	Flexible adaptation to change thanks to a systemic vision
Turquoise	Globality	Attention to global dynamics and actions at the macro level
Coral	Development	Global development of civilization

2. Memes affect every choice we make in life. memes are self-organizing entities that manifest themselves in coherent stereotypes covering literally all areas of our lives. Like powerful viruses, they can attach themselves to those ideas, people, objects and organizations that allow them to reproduce themselves and radiate their basic messages. Each contains their own concepts of religion, politics, family life, education, peace of mind, work and government, social order and the rule of law. The same meme can permeate stadiums, media, legislatures, offices, cathedrals, and classrooms.

memes act like magnetic fields, which bind objects or cause them to repel. Racial divisions are often driven by differences in memes. Churches are splitting as new memes are awakened in some of their followers. Serious meme shifts are taking place in business, causing major upheavals and the need for restructuring. The modern epidemic of “broken families” is largely a derivative of the change of memes. A well-established meme will be surrounded by strong and developed structures, and before a new meme can come and grow, it may often take painful processes to destroy them. This is the state of the countries that are transitioning from Marxism to market democracy, state structures, moving towards privatization and dictatorships that are on the verge of theocracy.

memes live independent lives. They have the ability to organize religious persecution, explore outer space, threaten our habitat, or advocate for human rights. No force on earth can stop a meme whose time has come - not media appeals, not military force, not UN resolutions.

3. Memes can exhibit both healthy and unhealthy qualities. Memes themselves are not good, not bad, not healthy, not unhealthy, not positive, not negative. For example, the same meme can manifest itself in the form of mystical revelations, Disney-style fantasies, or rituals of cannibalism. a meme that directs the imagination and devotion of millions to noble causes and gives their lives meaning and order can condition others within the framework of military fanatical religious or ethnic terrorism.

Healthy memes are those that allow or even encourage the positive expression of other memes in the evolutionary spiral, even if they compete with them for influence. Often memes become cancerous, losing the internal regulatory system that would tell them when to stop growing. Sometimes memes become limited, withdrawn and repressive, imposing an overprotective mindset.

4. Memes are structures of thought. A meme defines how people think or make decisions, as opposed to what they believe or value. These are "schemes" within which different "themes" can be found. Two apologists different religions will have the same memes. It is a conflict of content rather than deep thought patterns. Other examples are gang conflicts, rivalries between Republicans and Democrats, or struggles between company management and labor unions.

Conflicts between memes occur when they intersect in a limited space, physical or conceptual, in order to gain influence over the same people. For example, the conflict between Orange, secular Western values and Blue, ideological Eastern; confrontation between the technological Orange Society and the Green environmental movement; the invasion of the Orange expansive civilization into the Purple tribal life of the American Indians.

5. Memes can flicker on and off as life conditions change. memes have strong cybernetic abilities (take in feedback and adapt) and tend to retain their deepest mindsets and spread their influence over any fertile territory. Everyone has a regulator that allows him to increase or decrease his manifestations, under the dictates of internal "DNA" or changing external conditions of life. memes are not rigid, immovable structures. They can adapt, change intensity, points of application and fields of activity, penetrating, sometimes with speed. forest fire, entire communities, continents and professions. Yesterday's Red Recidivist Becomes Blue Apologist religious doctrine. The Green Hippie returns to the Orange pragmatic values of his parents. blue norms socialist morality come Orange values of capitalist society.

Often in different divisions of the same company, there are different memes that often collide at general meetings on literally every trifle. Perhaps you have a friend who is going through a painful meme shift in their family or personal life. Downsizing often results in a shift in memes as those who stay with the company feel guilty. Many large-scale change efforts fail because they completely ignore the meme anchors that people resist.

However, what are the dynamics that determine the behavior of the respective memes? Are there any patterns here, or is it a random result of independent manifestations of memes? Look at the following specs:

Beige. If thinking automatic, then the structures are free groups, and processes are survival

Violet. If thinking animistic, then the structures will be tribal, and the processes mutual responsibility

Red. If thinking egocentric, then the structures will be empires, and the processes exploitative.

Blue. If thinking absolutist, then the structures will be pyramidal, and the processes authoritarian

Orange. If thinking plural, then the structures will be delegating, and the processes strategic

Green. If thinking relativistic, then the structures will be egalitarian, and the processes consensual

Yellow. If thinking systemic, then the structures will be interactive, and the processes integrating

Turquoise. If thinking holistic, then the structures will be global, and the processes environmental

Principles of Spiral Dynamics

Principle 1: People have the ability to create new memes

The key point in Graves' concept of Spiral Dynamics is that people have the inherent ability to exist at various levels of psychological development, and even add new levels. These are not some "better" or "worst" states - they simply reflect different views on what the world is like and the complexity of its structure. This is confirmed by the latest findings in the field of neurological research.

According to them, in order for the awakening of new functions of the brain / consciousness is due to three factors:

* Hereditary factors causing the addition and even replacement of old systems with new ones
* Dynamic forces generated under the influence of the environment and upbringing, "launching" the corresponding systems
* The ability of the human brain / consciousness to operate simultaneously within several subsystems, some of which are active, while others are relatively passive

Principle 2: Memes are awakened as a result of changes in living conditions, as a result of which memes will arise, develop, or die out

Memes are the product of the interaction of the internal structure of our consciousness with the conditions of life that we face. The emergence of memes is not something like stations at which the train inevitably stops sooner or later. They are not something programmed by human biology. On the contrary, the dynamics of the Spiral is activated by the interaction between the internal state of consciousness and the external world. If certain external conditions become regular or repetitive, then this gives rise to the emergence of appropriate stereotypes of behavior / thinking. Otherwise, they disappear.

There are four important aspects of these living conditions: Time, Place, Tasks and Context.

historicalTime: Position on the general line of development of mankind, the stage of development of a particular culture, the age phases of an individual's life.

Key Concepts: Epochs, generations, periods, cycles, dates, time frames, personal history, phases, feelings of the past/present/future.

Geographic Place: The physical conditions, natural and artificial ecology in which an individual or group lives.

Key Concepts: Atmospheric conditions, electromagnetic influences, natural environment (snow, desert, jungle, city, village), architecture, population density, number and characteristics of external stimulants, chemical and mineral composition air, soil and food, sources and types of lighting, climate.

There are many factors in our geographic location that strongly influence our social values and interactions. Living on an isolated island produces collective behaviors that are different from those of a nomadic tribe or culture developed in a warm, fertile valley.

Geographic environmental factors include everything from a variety of natural influences (geomagnetic fields, topography, sky, weather, seasons, etc.) to artificial environments - rooms, workplaces, buildings, cities, and living space. This echoes Chinese Feng Shui, which describes the process of harmonizing people with their environment. So ancient wisdom resonates with modern "discoveries".

humanTasks: The priorities, needs, concerns, and demands of being made by a particular individual or group, some of which are common to all people, and some of which are unique to a particular culture, social group or personality.

Key Concepts: Survival tasks such as food and water; accessibility and wealth/poverty of social niches; perceived levels of threat or safety; cultural norms and requirements; communications and languages; prevailing temperaments; heroes and anti-heroes; technology; social memory of the past; unresolved historical issues; images and legacy of the past; diseases and epidemics; social upheavals.

Such tasks of being trigger mechanisms in the human brain/consciousness that 1) allow for more accurate perception of environmental conditions and 2) release physical and psychological resources to properly cope with them. Each base Spiral meme is designed to solve its own unique set of challenges. When several memes appear at the same time in the same place, the level of conflict and turmoil increases accordingly. Many of today's "hot spots" are fueled not only by friction between different memes, but also by the problem of competition for limited resources.

Social Context (Environment): The position of an individual, group, and culture in a hierarchy of power, status, and influence.

The context defines the boundaries for us - open or closed. They must be taken into account when interacting with both the “majority” and the “minority”, successful and unsuccessful. The context can be filters, preventing us from seeing the entire Spiral in the same way that anyone else could. Like the other three elements of living conditions, Context also dictates which memes are most likely to be acceptable and justified in a given context. Disagreements about effective education systems, employment relationships and cohabitation are associated with different contexts.

Let's sum up the description living conditions(Time, Place, Tasks, Context):

...if the living conditions are very...	...then "normal" people will be...
Beige - natural	Act like animals
Purple - mystical and incomprehensible	Please the spirits and unite together for safety
Reds are tough and dangerous like the jungle	Fight for survival without thinking about others
Blue - guided by a higher power	Obey the highest authority and keep faith in the Truth
Orange - full of practical possibilities	Pragmatically strive to gain an advantage and succeed
Green - emphasize the common in all people	Join the community to grow together
Yellow - complex, fraught with decay to chaos	Learning to remain free, but also to live by the principles
Turquoise - similar to a single organism	Search for order in the apparent chaos on Earth

Brief overview of memes

The evolution of memes occurs along several trajectories:

From less complicated To more complex natural, technological and social environment.

From jungle survival To"surfing" the Internet and beyond by awakening new ways of thinking and consciousness.

From small piece of land To"global village" and cyberspace through inter-territorial and information migration.

The first level is “memes of needs”

Beige meme– Survival– 1st Awakening

Main theme: Do whatever it takes to stay alive.

Uses instincts and habits just to survive

The individual self is weakly manifested

Priorities: Food, Water, Shelter, Sex and Safety

Forms survival groups to prolong life

Where is observed: primitive people, newborns, infirm old people, the seriously ill, the homeless, the starving masses.

purple meme – Mystic– 2nd Awakening

Main theme: Appeasing the spirits and keeping the tribal "nest" cozy and safe.

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

Obeys the desires of spirits and mystical signs

Shows loyalty to the "main", elders, ancestors and clan

Protects sacred objects, places, events and memories

Observes rituals related to life stages, seasons and tribal customs

Where is observed: Belief in guardian angels and curses, blood oaths, long-standing feuds, trance singing and dancing, love spells, family rituals, mystical ethnic beliefs and prejudices. Strong in Third World countries, (criminal) gangs, sports teams and corporate "tribes".

red meme– Pulse– 3rd Awakening

Main theme: Be who you are and do what you want, no matter what.

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

The world is a jungle full of dangers and predators

Breaks free from any domination or coercion to do whatever you want

Rising above all, expecting attention, demanding respect and commanding all

Enjoying "to the fullest" right now - without guilt or remorse

Conquers - by force or deceit - and dominates other aggressive characters

Where is observed: Selfish little kids, rebellious teenagers, feudal kingdoms, epic heroes, rock stars, riot police, Picasso, Attila.

blue meme – meaningfulness– 4th Awakening

Main theme: Life has meaning, orientation and purpose with predetermined results.

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

Man sacrifices himself for a transcendent Mission, Truth or righteous path

Law prescribes rules of conduct based on eternal, absolute principles

Righteous living brings stability in the present and guarantees future rewards

Impulsivity is curbed by guilt; everyone has their place

Laws, regulations and discipline form moral qualities and strength of character

Where is observed: Billy Graham, puritanical America, Confucian China, Hassidic Judaism, code of chivalry and honor, charity and good works, Salvation Army, Islamic fundamentalism, patriotism, "developed" socialism

orange meme– Success– 5th Awakening

Main theme: Act in your own interests, and most importantly - win.

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

Change and progress are an essential attribute of the nature of things

Progress through learning the secrets of nature and searching best solutions

Manipulate the Earth's resources to create and spread abundance in life

Optimistic, risk-taking and self-sufficient people deserve their success

The basis of the prosperity of society is strategy, technology and competition

Where is observed: Age of Enlightenment, "success" philosophy, middle class, cosmetics industry, Chamber of Commerce, colonialism, Mass culture, Cold War, new Russians

green meme– Community– 6th Awakening

Main theme: Seek peace at heart and develop bonds in the community together with others.

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

The spirit in man must be free from greed, dogma and separatism
Emotions, sensitivity and care take precedence over cold rationality
Distribute land resources and opportunities equally among all
Reach solutions through processes of conciliation and consensus
Refresh spirituality, bring harmony and enrich the human environment

Where is observed: Music by John Lennon, Rogerian psychology, World Council of Churches, Green Peace, Swedish socialism, animal rights.

The second level is "memes of being"

Yellow meme - Integration– 7th Awakening

Main theme: Live a full and responsible life in accordance with who you are and who you are learning to become.

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

Life is a kaleidoscope of natural hierarchies, systems and forms
The greatness of being has a greater value than the objects of material property
Flexibility, spontaneity and functionality are top priority
Knowledge and competence should take precedence over title, power, status
Differences can be integrated into interdependent, natural flows

Where is observed: Carl Sagan's astronomy, Peter Senge's learning organizations, Deming's Total Quality, chaos theory, eco-industrial parks, F.A. wolf

Turquoise meme - Integrity– 8th Awakening

Main theme: Feel the integrity of being - mind and spirit.

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

The world is a single, dynamic organism with a collective mind
"I" - has a uniqueness, and at the same time is part of a larger, "compassionate" whole
Everything is connected to everything else in a single ecosystem
Energy and information completely permeate the Earth's atmosphere
Expects holistic intuitive thinking and collaborative action

Where is observed: McLuhan's "global village", Gandhi's ideas, Ken Wilber's philosophy, Vernadsky's concepts, Teilhard de Chardin's noosphere.

Principle 3: Memes zigzag between the themes of Self-Expression and Self-Sacrifice

The Spiral Dynamic is a pendulum movement between focusing on the "I" and caring for the "we". Thus, one family of memes is indicated by warm colors (Beige, Red, Orange, Yellow). These are self-expression memes focused on "I". The other group is indicated by cool colors (Purple, Blue, Green, Turquoise), and these are the "we" oriented Self-Sacrifice memes.

Individuals and societies tend to be drawn from one pole of this "magnet" to the other. Whenever this human “pendulum” approaches its maximum deviation from the equilibrium position, it gives rise to new conditions of life with tasks that memes of the other pole can solve. If too much "I" orientation becomes a problem, then some form of "we" orientation will be required to restore the balance. If there is an excess of "we", then there is a need to release some degree of "I".

As the pendulum begins to swing down, our consciousness activates mechanisms capable of processing the messages associated with the upcoming family of memes. Shift towards Community/Collective "search inner world"requires a radar-like tool that picks up, amplifies, and responds appropriately to these external messages to ensure compliance. The shift towards the Individual/Elite "moving against and gaining control" requires an internal "gyroscope", a compass needed to explore new territories, navigate unknown waters, and break with the security created by tradition.

The individual/elite family of memes is focused on the outside world (outside of yourself) and how to gain power over it, learn how to use it, change it. Control is localized in the 'atomic' individual who seeks to bend things in his direction. The self-expressive systems it forms are more loosely organized, less connected, more prone to change, more willing to take risks, and markedly increase the degree of freedom in our behavior. They seek to break the shackles in order to expand horizons, but they also unforge the links that hold together parts of unified structures. As the sense of individuality and independence grows, demands for personal rights and freedoms, rewards and prerogatives, and power for "everyone" arise. The motto of this family is: "I am the captain of my destiny ... the master of my soul."

At the other extreme lives the radar-like family of Community/Collective memes. In this zone of self-sacrifice, control is given to something more powerful than any individual - relatives, a unifying Higher Power, a community of mutual interests, or life system Earth. However, just as the Self-Expressing Group focuses on changing the outside world, the self-sacrificing person's deepest concerns lie deep within - an effort to understand who I am, where I come from and why, and find peace of mind in this. Because of this emphasis, the style of thinking in this group of memes tends to be more conservative and focused on maintaining the status quo, seeking order. Community/Collective energy creates consolidation, acceptance of the outside world as it is and the sacrifice of immediate self-interest for the sake of supreme interest the corresponding group. Although there is some expansion of the conceptual space when moving into these areas of the Spiral, more energy is spent on building reliable structures, searching for stability and bringing a single coherence to life - "Duty, Honor, Country ..."

memes of warm colors divide others into hierarchies. Beige - who runs faster or jumps higher. Red is power. Orange - status. Yellow - knowledge and competence. Cold memes gather people into groups with a flat structure, equalize others and redistribute resources. For Violet, these are relatives. For Blue, it is a community of believers. For Green it is a community of people with common interests and sensitive moments. Such dynamics gives cyclicity to the Spiral development.

Principle 4: Memes Arise Like Waves on the Spiral

The awakening of new memes in a spiral movement occurs after sufficient energy has been accumulated to move to next system- usually upward in a spiral, but sometimes downward. Although such a shift may look random and chaotic, nevertheless, unnoticed movements have taken place under the surface throughout the entire previous time.

New meme systems roll in like waves on a beach. Each has its own crest, seeking to master new living conditions in this world. At the same time, each is superimposed on the previous, outgoing system. Sometimes the result of such interference generally slows down the movement along the Spiral and even reverses it. Sometimes the waves of memes resonate and reinforce each other, accelerating the evolution of thinking.

Each wave carries with it the seeds of its birth and death, the remnants of previous, fading systems, and the first glimpses of future ways of being. The active life of a meme consists of three phases:

Entry: When the meme begins to awaken, there is a preparatory period and energy is accumulated. This includes the initial formation and refinement of the system, as well as the period of "Eureka!" - discoveries and research. This, one might say, is an increasing segment of a sinusoid.
Peak: Then comes the dynamic stress interval and apparent stability around the maximum. Conditions of life and meme are synchronized, coordinated and balance each other. Of course, in reality, everything is not so simplistic, but it is convenient to take it as a model.
Exit: This interval of apparent stability is followed by a period of disintegration, troubled times when the system becomes unbalanced and inefficient, as new problems that arise are beyond its capabilities. Now we are on a slippery slope, and if we have the internal potential and resources, we are preparing for the next wave.

The life cycle of a meme

Spiral Dynamics is always a process in progress, but there are no guarantees of movement or change. Neither changing nor maintaining the status quo is the rule. If there is imbalance and imbalance of dynamic balance, changes occur. If not, no.

Principle 5: The movement of the Spiral occurs in parallel with the change in the level of difficulty

Spiral development proceeds from a lower level of difficulty to a higher one; from a lifestyle essential for solving one set of problems to a lifestyle essential for solving more difficult problems next level living conditions. Survivors are those who "fit" into these conditions, whatever it requires, and not necessarily the "most worthy" - whether in physical, intellectual or emotional terms.

We do not mean to say that every individual or group in social system will be in the same phase of development. Indeed, many will persist in inappropriate behavior, malicious, dysfunctional and diminishing the chances of society to survive in new living conditions. Just because someone has power, there is absolutely no guarantee that thinking can keep up with the level of complexity of the tasks that arise. Often the opposite is true, and as one comedian said: "We met the enemy, and we were the enemy." Often whole line significant variables in living conditions lies beyond the capabilities of a true set of leader memes. Revolutions often fail to deliver what their leaders promise because the act of rebellion destroys the critical minds and resources needed to meet people's expectations. Until new memes are introduced or activated, only stagnation and, more likely, degradation can be expected.

How relevant this or that meme is is a matter of point of view. Taking into account that such judgments will depend on the position of the "judger" on the Spiral, it is not surprising that splits in church and politics arise, entire cultures arise and disappear, and that what for one is a struggle for freedom, for another - terrorism. What is food for one is poison for another.

While each new meme builds on the foundations of the previous ones and adds new complexity factors, it doesn't happen in a predetermined or mechanical way. Different segments of humanity, living in different psychological spheres, will move simultaneously towards their own future. This can always be explained after the fact, but not always predictable. Although links between external living conditions and the memes that lie within us direct our future, the factors of individual freedom of choice make the dynamics alive beyond pure rational thought.

Despite this, since our knowledge and experience are additive, in general, the movement along the Spiral goes in the direction of greater complexity. This includes four characteristics:

Extension psychological space – towards more multifaceted personalities, diverse organizational forms, and a much more complex habitat on the planet
Expansion of the conceptual space– towards more ambitious views on things, expansion of zones of influence and coverage of large time periods.
Consistent increase in the number of alternatives– towards more ways of doing the same thing.
Consistent increase in the number of degrees of freedom of behavior– towards more opportunities in terms of how to be, how to express your emotions, and build relationships with others

This is somewhat reminiscent of the Intel line of microprocessors from the once famous 8086, to 286, 386, 486, Pentium and beyond.

Principle 6: Memes Coexist Inside Our Onion Profiles

If we were to cut through the transparent Spiral from top to bottom, we would see the asymmetric, onion-like profile of the memes. This figure would display the strength of each of the shaded layers in each of the specific areas of life. Because memes are patterns of thought that are present in us, but not types of us, and since we can think of many things - religion, family, work, sports, politics - it follows that we can contain several various ways thinking that can relate differently to different topics.

Meme Pack – Systems in People

For example, these two profiles illustrate the relative strength and priorities of eight deep memes in two different individuals. One is centered around the Red Zone and the other is more in the Green Zone. Notice how the "Red" person thinks about religion through the Blue meme, and how close Purple comes to the surface in the realm of home and family. On the other hand, the "Green" character activates Red through sports and keeps Orange strong in business.

If you could look at the big "onion" of all humanity, you would see that millions of people are at different levels of the Spiral at the same time. While the general population falls somewhere in between, we are constantly feeling the blessings and curses of newly awakened memes. Television helps us with this, even unconsciously, for example, whenever we watch the evening news. Here at the same time, in one place, all human problems are “collected”. In order to understand this interweaving of events, extraordinary mental work is required. Many of today's young people suffer from the fact that they see the enormity of the problems of life, but do not have the key to their solution, which, of course, lies in the Spiral.

Principle 7: Memes in the Spiral are grouped into layers of six

At the moment, it looks like memes live happily in groups of six. The six Level One systems of the human odyssey began at the animal level and cover our basic needs. Think of them as the first stage of a rocket that separates when it runs out of fuel. Next level similar to the second stage, which refines and corrects the trajectory roughly set by the first. And this refinement of the trajectory has no end, because the Spiral of human desires has only a beginning. The only exception is the exit to another dimension, beyond the limits of individual or extended egocentrism.

We are currently in the middle of moving from the First Level of the six memes to the Second Level of Spiral Evolution. As Graves wrote: “After animal fears of survival (Beige), fear of spirits (Purple) and other predatory people (Red), fear of breaking the routine (Blue), fear of one’s own greed (Orange) and fear of public disapproval (Green), unexpectedly human consciousness is free. Now, having released all his energy for cognition, a person focuses on himself and his world (Yellow, Turquoise, etc.)

In addition to a significant relief from all these types of fear, others important differences between Levels One and Two include a marked expansion of conceptual space, the elimination of coercion, the ability to learn a great deal from many sources, and a tendency to do more with less energy or resources.

However, this growth process is not necessarily pleasant. Each step in the Spiral solves one set of problems and creates a new one. Many people today feel exhausted after going through three or four of these painful transitions in their lives. Some were first influenced by the Blue Law and were faithful followers of a noble cause. But then the pragmatism of the Orange Ambition shifted their focus to individual materialistic goals and financial games. “Let others make sacrifices for the future, not me,” they began to say. Then, as these worlds of material success began to unravel, they began to view their aging self and others through the Green Glass. "Surely, that's not all in life, is it?" they ask. “Yes, a person is not even worth what you said!” replies the smart but irritated and increasingly Red "Generation" X across the globe.

At the same time that the egocentric dragons of the Red meme and the demons of the Purple continue to haunt us and drain our energy from one end of the Spiral, the people at the other are also scratching their heads in search of a way of being that would include self-respect and compassion for others in this complex world. How much we have to figure out in our hearts and minds when we think about moving from Level One to Level Two.

Yellow, the first of the levels of "being" (rather than needs), begins this Second Level of memes by reiterating the main six themes of our story - survival again, but now in the context of an information-rich, highly mobile "global village". The Eighth (Teal) system is a repeat of the second, but an order of magnitude more complex - Mega Communities, Mega Trends and Mega Shocks - embodying everything that happened on Level One. If this curious aspect of the "sex" theory turns out to be true, then the ninth (Coral) would be a version of the third Red level. This could have dire consequences for geopolitics, the market, and us as individuals. And yet the story continues...

To conclude, here is another interesting table related to Spiral Dynamics:

Graves Management Model

meme	The Ideal Supervisor	Ways of learning	Communication strategies
Beige	Provider	Adaptation	Taste / Touch / Smell / Sight / Hearing Simple appeal to the senses
Violet	caring leader	Working out conditioned reflex(according to Pavlov)	ritualistic. veneration strong personalities, an appeal to the concepts of family, sharing, security and magic
Red	Energetic Strong Big Boss	The principle of aversion to pain in butchers	Direct, sharp manner of speaking; Strong, “What is my benefit here and now”, Essence. Cheap, "simple" gloss
Blue	Outside Forces, The Only One the right way, Consistent, Authoritarian	Spreading the truth with fear of failure	Respect for the "system", appeal to tradition, self-sacrifice, service life, patriotism and stability in the future
Orange	Success-Oriented, Successful, Entrepreneur	experimental method trial and error	Successful, high role models, Images of success, achievements, personal growth; "Refined" shine
Green	People Oriented, Enlightened, Friend	Observation Empiricism	Warm, addressed to people, rallying speeches. Supportive and "helping" images with employees and customers/customers
Yellow	Seeing the Big Picture, Serious Partner	All systems	Functional information for anyone who needs to know. Hi-tech, Free access

Principles of Spiral Dynamics

Principle 1: People have the ability to create new memes

According to them, in order for the awakening of new functions of the brain / consciousness is due to three factors:

Inherited factors driving the addition and even replacement of old systems with new ones
Dynamic forces generated under the influence of the environment and upbringing, "launching" the corresponding systems
The ability of the human brain / consciousness to operate simultaneously within several subsystems, some of which are active, while others are relatively passive

Principle 2: Memes are awakened as a result of changes in the conditions of life, as a result of which memes will arise, develop, or die out.

Memes are the product of the interaction of the internal structure of our consciousness with living conditions that we are facing. The emergence of mimes is not something like stations at which the train inevitably stops sooner or later. They are not something programmed by human biology. On the contrary, the dynamics of the Spiral is activated by the interaction between the internal state of consciousness and the external world. If certain external conditions become regular or repetitive, then this gives rise to the emergence of appropriate stereotypes of behavior / thinking. Otherwise, they disappear.

There are four important aspects of these living conditions: Time, Place, Tasks and Context.

historical Time: Position on the general line of development of mankind, the stage of development of a particular culture, the age phases of an individual's life.

Key Concepts: Epochs, generations, periods, cycles, dates, time frames, personal history, phases, feelings of the past/present/future

At any point in Chronological Time, and in virtually any community, you can find people living in the same year, but whose thinking is rooted in completely different eras. At any given moment in your life, you are living with a unique package of memes that has evolved according to this Time and the culture that surrounds it. For many people in Western culture, the 1940s were very different from the 1950s, 1960s, 1990s, or 2000s. However, for some countries of the Third World, Time has remained virtually unchanged for many generations.

When the flow of Time does change external conditions, stress awakens our internal resources so much that we can add new (or reorganize old) memes in response. This successive layering of adaptive human thought patterns is like the annual circles of a tree. Each ring reflects environmental conditions throughout the year. The change of "seasons" in a person's life leaves rings in the system of mimes, manifested in culture and psychosocial development. Who you are today, who you were yesterday and who you will be tomorrow, is in large part shaped by the conditions you face at different stages of your life. We are not prisoners of our Time, but certainly subject to its influence.

Geographic Place: The physical conditions, natural and artificial ecology in which an individual or group lives.

Geographic environmental factors include everything from a variety of natural influences (geomagnetic fields, topography, skies, weather, seasons, etc.) to artificial environments such as rooms, workplaces, buildings, cities, and living spaces. This echoes Chinese Feng Shui, which describes the process of harmonizing people with their environment. So ancient wisdom resonates with modern "discoveries".

Key Concepts: Survival tasks such as food and water; accessibility and wealth/poverty of social niches; perceived levels of threat or safety; cultural norms and requirements; communications and languages; prevailing temperaments; heroes and anti-heroes; technology; social memory of the past; unresolved historical issues; images and legacy of the past; diseases and epidemics; social upheavals.

Such tasks of being trigger mechanisms in the human brain/consciousness that 1) allow for more accurate perception of environmental conditions and 2) release physical and psychological resources to properly cope with them. Each basic Spiral mime is designed to solve its own unique set of tasks. When several memes appear at the same time in the same place, the level of conflict and confusion increases accordingly. Many of today's "hot spots" are fueled not only by friction between different memes, but also by the problem of competition for limited resources.

Social Context (Environment): The position of an individual, group, and culture in a hierarchy of power, status, and influence.

Let's sum up the description living conditions(Time, Place, Tasks, Context):

...if the living conditions are very...	...then "normal" people will be...
Beige - natural	Act like animals
Purple - mystical and incomprehensible	Please the spirits and unite together for safety
Reds are tough and dangerous like the jungle	Fight for survival without thinking about others
Blue - guided by a higher power	Obey the highest authority and keep faith in the Truth
Orange - full of practical possibilities	Pragmatically strive to gain an advantage and succeed
Green - emphasize the common in all people	Join the community to grow together
Yellow - complex, fraught with decay to chaos	Learning to remain free, but also to live by the principles
Turquoise - similar to a single organism	Search for order in the apparent chaos on Earth

A brief overview of mimes

The evolution of memes occurs along several trajectories:

From less complicated To more complex
natural, technological and social environment

From jungle survival To"surfing" on the Internet and beyond
through the awakening of new ways thinking and consciousness

From small piece of land To the global village and cyberspace
through inter-territorial and information migration

First level - "Memes of needs"

Beige mime - Survival- 1st Awakening

Main theme: Do whatever it takes to stay alive

Uses instincts and habits just to survive
Individual I poorly manifested
Priorities: Food, Water, Shelter, Sex and Safety
Forms survival groups to prolong life

Where is observed: primitive people, newborns, infirm old people, seriously ill people, homeless people, starving masses.

Violet mime - Mystic- 2nd Awakening

Main theme: Pacify the spirits and keep the tribal "nest" cozy and safe

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

Obeys the desires of spirits and mystical signs
Shows loyalty to the "main", elders, ancestors and clan
Protects sacred objects, places, events and memories
Observes rituals related to life stages, seasons and tribal customs

Where is observed: Belief in guardian angels and curses, blood oaths, old feuds, trance singing and dancing, love spells, family rituals, mystical ethnic beliefs and prejudices. Strong in Third World countries, (criminal) gangs, sports teams and corporate "tribes".

Red mime - Pulse- 3rd Awakening

Main theme: Be who you are and do what you want, no matter what

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

The world is a jungle full of dangers and predators
Breaks free from any domination or coercion to do whatever you want
Rising above all, expecting attention, demanding respect and commanding all
Enjoying "to the fullest" right now - without guilt or remorse
Conquers - by force or deceit - and dominates other aggressive characters

Where is observed: Selfish little kids, rebellious teenagers, feudal kingdoms, epic heroes, rock stars, riot police, Picasso, Attila.

Blue mime - meaningfulness- 4th Awakening

Main theme: Life has meaning, orientation and purpose with predetermined outcomes

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

A person sacrifices himself for the sake of a transcendent Mission, Truth or righteous Path
Law prescribes rules of conduct based on eternal, absolute principles
Righteous living brings stability in the present and guarantees future rewards
Impulsivity is curbed by guilt; everyone has their place
Laws, regulations and discipline form moral qualities and strength of character

Where is observed: Billy Graham, puritanical America, Confucian China, Hassidic Judaism, code of chivalry and honor, charity and good works, Salvation Army, Islamic fundamentalism, patriotism, "advanced" socialism

Orange mime - Success- 5th Awakening

Main theme: Act in your own interests, and the main thing is to win

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

Change and progress are an essential attribute of the nature of things
Progress through learning the secrets of nature and finding the best solutions
Manipulate the Earth's resources to create and spread abundance in life
Optimistic, risk-taking and self-sufficient people deserve their success
The basis of the prosperity of society is strategy, technology and competition

Where is observed: Age of Enlightenment, "success" philosophy, middle class, cosmetics industry, Chamber of Commerce, colonialism, popular culture, Cold War, new Russians

Green mime - Community- 6th Awakening

Main theme: Seek peace at heart and develop bonds in community with others

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

The spirit in man must be free from greed, dogma and separatism
Emotions, sensitivity and care take precedence over cold rationality
Distribute land resources and opportunities equally among all
Reach solutions through processes of conciliation and consensus
Refresh spirituality, bring harmony and enrich the human environment

Where is observed: Music by John Lennon, Rogerian psychology, World Council of Churches, Green Peace, Swedish socialism, animal rights.

The second level - "Memes of Being"

Yellow mime - Integration- 7th Awakening

Main theme: Live a full and responsible life in accordance with who you are and who you are learning to become

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

Life is a kaleidoscope of natural hierarchies, systems and forms
The greatness of being has a greater value than the objects of material property
Flexibility, spontaneity and functionality are top priority
Knowledge and competence should take precedence over title, power, status
Differences can be integrated into interdependent, natural flows

Where is observed: Carl Sagan's astronomy, Peter Senge's learning organizations, Deming's Total Quality, chaos theory, eco-industrial parks, F.A. wolf

Turquoise mime - Integrity- 8th Awakening

Main theme: Feel the integrity of being - mind and spirit

Characteristic beliefs and actions:

The world is a single, dynamic organism with a collective mind
"I" - has a uniqueness, and at the same time is part of a larger, "compassionate" whole
Everything is connected to everything else in a single ecosystem
Energy and information completely permeate the Earth's atmosphere
Expects holistic intuitive thinking and collaborative action

Where is observed: McLuhan's "global village", Gandhi's ideas, Ken Wilber's philosophy, Vernadsky's concepts, Teilhard de Chardin's noosphere

Principle 3: Memes zigzag between the themes of Self-Expression and Self-Sacrifice.

The Spiral Dynamic is a pendulum movement between focusing on the "I" and caring for the "we". Thus, one family of mimes is indicated by warm colors (Beige, Red, Orange, Yellow). These are self-expression memes focused on the "I". Another group is indicated by cool colors (Purple, Blue, Green, Turquoise), and these are the "we" oriented Self-Sacrifice memes.

Individuals and societies tend to be drawn from one pole of this "magnet" to the other. Whenever this human "pendulum" approaches its maximum deviation from the equilibrium position, it gives rise to new conditions of life with tasks that mimes of the other pole are capable of solving. If too much "I" orientation becomes a problem, then some form of "we" orientation will be required to restore the balance. If there is an excess of "we", then there is a need to release some degree of "I".

As the pendulum begins to swing down, our consciousness activates mechanisms capable of processing the messages associated with the coming family of memes. The shift towards a Community/Collective "search for inner peace" requires a radar-like tool that picks up, amplifies, and responds appropriately to these outer messages to ensure agreement. The shift towards the Individual/Elite "moving against and gaining control" requires an internal "gyroscope", a compass needed to explore new territories, navigate unknown waters, and break with the security created by tradition.

The individual/elite family of mimes are focused on the outside world (outside themselves) and how to gain power over it, learn how to use it, change it. Control is localized in the 'atomic' individual who seeks to bend things in his direction. The self-expressive systems it forms are more loosely organized, less connected, more prone to change, more willing to take risks, and markedly increase the degree of freedom in our behavior. They seek to break the shackles in order to expand horizons, but they also unforge the links that hold together parts of unified structures. As the sense of individuality and independence grows, demands for personal rights and freedoms, rewards and prerogatives, and power for "everyone" arise. The motto of this family is: "I am the captain of my destiny ... the master of my soul."

At the other extreme lives a radar-like family of Community/Collective memes. In this zone of self-sacrifice, something more powerful than any individual is given control—kindred, a unifying Higher Power, a community of mutual interest, or the life system of the Earth. However, just as the Self-Expressive Group focuses on changing the outside world, the deepest concerns of the self-sacrificing person lie deep within - an effort to understand who I am, where I come from and why, and find peace of mind in this. Because of this emphasis, the style of thinking in this group of mimes tends to be more conservative and focused on maintaining the status quo, seeking order. Community/Collective energy creates consolidation, acceptance of the outside world as it is and the sacrifice of immediate self-interest for the higher interest of the respective group. Although there is some expansion of the conceptual space when moving into these areas of the Spiral, more energy is spent on building reliable structures, searching for stability and bringing a single coherence to life - "Duty, Honor, Country ..."

Warm-colored memes divide those around them into hierarchies. Beige - who runs faster or jumps higher. Red is power. Orange - status. Yellow - knowledge and competence. Cold memes gather people into groups with a flat structure, equalize others and redistribute resources. For Violet, these are relatives. For Blue, this is a community of believers. For Green, it is a community of people with common interests and sensitivities. Such dynamics gives cyclicity to the Spiral development.

Principle 4: Memes arise on the Spiral like waves

The awakening of new memes in a spiral movement occurs after enough energy has accumulated to move to the next system - usually up the spiral, but sometimes down. Although such a shift may look random and chaotic, nevertheless, unnoticed movements have taken place under the surface throughout the entire previous time.

New mime systems are rolling in like waves on a beach. Each has its own crest, seeking to master new living conditions in this world. At the same time, each is superimposed on the previous, outgoing system. Sometimes the result of such interference generally slows down the movement along the Spiral and even reverses it. Sometimes the waves of memes enter into resonance and reinforce each other, accelerating the evolution of thinking.

Each wave carries with it the seeds of its birth and death, the remnants of previous, fading systems, and the first glimpses of future ways of being. The active life of a mime consists of three phases:

Entry: When the mime begins to awaken, there is a preparatory period and energy is accumulated. This includes the initial formation and refinement of the system, as well as the period of "Eureka!" - discoveries and research. This, one might say, is an increasing segment of a sinusoid.
Peak: Then comes the dynamic stress interval and apparent stability around the maximum. The conditions of life and mime are synchronized, coordinated and balance each other. Of course, in reality, everything is not so simplistic, but it is convenient to take it as a model.
Exit: This interval of apparent stability is followed by a period of disintegration, times of confusion when the system becomes unbalanced and inefficient as new problems arise beyond its capacity. Now we are on a slippery slope, and if we have the internal potential and resources, we are preparing for the next wave.

Life cycle of a meme

Principle 5: The movement of the Spiral occurs in parallel with the change in the level of difficulty

Spiral development proceeds from a lower level of difficulty to a higher one; from lifestyle essential for solving one set of problems to lifestyle essential for solving more complex problems of the next level living conditions. Survivors are those who "fit" into these conditions, whatever it requires, and not necessarily the "most worthy" - whether in physical, intellectual or emotional terms.

We do not mean to say that every individual or group in a social system will be in the same phase of development. Indeed, many will persist in behavior that is inappropriate, malicious, dysfunctional, and diminishes society's chances of surviving in the new living conditions. Just because someone has power, there is absolutely no guarantee that thinking can keep up with the level of complexity of the tasks that arise. Often the opposite is true, and as one comedian said: "We met the enemy, and we were the enemy." Very often, a number of significant variables in living conditions lies beyond the capabilities of a true set of mime leaders. Revolutions often fail to deliver what their leaders promise because the act of rebellion destroys the critical minds and resources needed to meet people's expectations. Until new memes are introduced or activated, only stagnation and, more likely, degradation can be expected.

How appropriate this or that mime is a matter of point of view. Considering that such judgments will depend on the position of the "judger" on the Spiral, it is not surprising that splits in church and politics arise, entire cultures arise and disappear, and that what for one is a struggle for freedom, for another - terrorism. What is food for one is poison for another.

Although each new mime builds on the foundations of the previous ones and adds new factors of complexity, it does not happen in a predetermined or mechanical way. Different segments of humanity, living in different psychological spheres, will move simultaneously towards their own future. This can always be explained after the fact, but not always predictable. Although links between external living conditions and the memes that lie within us direct our future, the factors of freedom of choice of the individual make the dynamics alive beyond purely rational thought.

Despite this, since our knowledge and experience are additive, in general, the movement along the Spiral goes in the direction of greater complexity. This includes four characteristics:

Expansion of psychological space- towards more multifaceted personalities, diverse organizational forms, and a much more complex environment on the planet
Expansion of the conceptual space- towards more ambitious views on things, expansion of zones of influence and coverage of large time periods.
Consistent increase in the number of alternatives- towards more ways of doing the same thing.
Consistent increase in the number of degrees of freedom of behavior- towards more opportunities in terms of how to be, how to express your emotions, and build relationships with others

This is somewhat reminiscent of the Intel line of microprocessors from the once famous 8086, to 286, 386, 486, Pentium and beyond.

Principle 6: Memes coexist within our onion profiles

If we were to cut through the transparent Spiral from top to bottom, we would see the asymmetric, onion-like profile of the Mimes. This figure would display the strength of each of the shaded layers in each of the specific areas of life. Because memes are patterns of thought present in us, but not types of us, and since we can think about many things - religion, family, work, sports, politics - it follows that we can accommodate several different ways of thinking that can relate to different topics in different ways.

Set of mimes - Systems in People

For example, these two profiles illustrate the relative strength and priorities of the eight deep mimes in two different individuals. One is centered around the Red Zone and the other is more in the Green. Notice how the "Red" person thinks about religion through the Blue mime, and how close Violet comes to the surface in the area of home and family. On the other hand, the "Green" character activates Red through sports and keeps Orange strong in business.

If you could look at the big "onion" of all humanity, you would see that millions of people are at different levels of the Spiral at the same time. While the population as a whole falls somewhere in between, we are constantly feeling the blessings and curses of newly awakened mimes. Television helps us with this, even unconsciously, for example, whenever we watch the evening news. Here at the same time, in one place, all human problems are “collected”. In order to understand this interweaving of events, extraordinary mental work is required. Many of today's young people suffer from the fact that they see the enormity of the problems of life, but do not have the key to solve them, which, of course, lies in the Spiral.

Principle 7: Memes in the Spiral are grouped in layers of six

At the moment, the memes seem to live happily in groups of six. The six Level One systems of the human odyssey began at the animal level and cover our basic needs. Think of them as the first stage of a rocket that separates when it runs out of fuel. The next level is similar to the second stage, which refines and corrects the trajectory roughly set by the first. And this refinement of the trajectory has no end, because the Spiral of human desires has only a beginning. The only exception is the exit to another dimension, beyond the limits of individual or extended egocentrism.

We are currently in the middle of the transition from the First Level of the six memes to the Second Level of Spiral Evolution. As Graves wrote: “After animal fears of survival (Beige), fear of spirits (Purple) and other predatory people (Red), fear of breaking the routine (Blue), fear of one’s own greed (Orange) and fear of public disapproval (Green), unexpectedly human consciousness is free. Now, having released all his energy for cognition, a person focuses on himself and his world (Yellow, Turquoise, etc.)

In addition to the significant release of all these types of fear, other important differences between Levels One and Two include a marked expansion of conceptual space, the elimination of coercion, the ability to learn a great deal from many sources, and a tendency to do more with less energy or resources.

At the same time that the egocentric dragons of the Red Mime and the demons of the Purple continue to haunt us and drain our energy from one end of the Spiral, the people at the other are also scratching their heads in search of a way of being that would include self-respect and compassion for others in this complex world. How much we have to sort out in our hearts and minds when we think about moving from Level One to Level Two.

Yellow, the first of the levels of "being" (rather than needs), begins this Second Level of mimes by reiterating the main six themes of our story - survival again, but now in the context of an information-rich, highly mobile "global village". The Eighth (Teal) system is a repeat of the second, but an order of magnitude more complex - Mega Communities, Mega Trends and Mega Shocks - embodying everything that happened on Level One. If this curious aspect of the "sex" theory turns out to be true, then the ninth (Coral) would be a version of the third Red level. This could have dire consequences for geopolitics, the market, and us as individuals. And yet the story continues...

In conclusion, we present two more interesting useful tables associated with Spiral Dynamics

Graves Management Model

Mime	The Ideal Supervisor	Ways of learning	Communication strategies
Beige	Provider	Adaptation	Taste / Touch / Smell / Sight / Hearing Simple appeal to the senses
Violet	caring leader	Development of a conditioned reflex (according to Pavlov)	ritualistic. Honoring strong personalities, appealing to the concepts of family, sharing, security and magic
Red	Energetic Strong Big Boss	The principle of aversion to pain in butchers	Direct, sharp manner of speaking; Strong, “What is my benefit here and now”, Essence. Cheap, "simple" gloss
Blue	Outside Forces, The Only Right Way, Consistent, Authoritarian	Spreading the truth with fear of failure	Respect for the "system", appeal to tradition, self-sacrifice, service life, patriotism and stability in the future
Orange	Success-Oriented, Successful, Entrepreneur	Experimental trial and error	Successful, high role models, Images of success, achievements, personal growth; "Refined" shine
Green	People Oriented, Enlightened, Friend	Observation Empiricism	Warm, addressed to people, rallying speeches. Supportive and "helping" images with employees and customers/customers
Yellow	Seeing the Big Picture, Serious Partner	All systems	Functional information for anyone who needs to know. Hi-tech, Free access

Spiral Graves Dynamics

According to D.Beck and K.Kovan

Developing the concept of A. Maslow's hierarchy of human needs, in the second half of the last century, the outstanding psychologist K. Graves, having processed a huge amount of experimental and statistical data, formulated an amazing model of the human value system. His work was developed by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan, who built on their basis a whole new direction in sociopsychology, which they called "mimetics" or Spiral Dynamics.

At present, Spiral Dynamics captures the keen interest of not only scientists, but also politicians, businessmen, educators, etc., who find it a convenient tool for analyzing and solving many practical problems related to management and education. In Russia, this topic is practically unknown. Therefore, we will be happy to present here the main concepts of Spiral Dynamics, citing a translation into Russian of some chapters from the book by D.E. Beck and K.K. Kovan “Spiral Dynamics - Mastering Values, Leadership, and Change

Main characteristics of mimes

The mime manifests itself in the form of a worldview, a system of values, a level of psychological existence, a structure of beliefs, organizing principles, a way of thinking and a way of life.

Memes have the following qualities:

1. Memes exhibit deep thought patterns that shape systems and influence human behavior: The meme contains the basic package of thoughts, motives, and instructions that govern how we make decisions and prioritize our lives. Each of us has our own input and output channels, ways of organizing, levels of intensity, rules of conduct, and a set of assumptions about how the world works.

Portal for the student. Self-training

Main ideas of the theory of spiral dynamics

Spiral model

Six conditions for change

Principles of Spiral Dynamics Principle 1: People have the ability to create new memes

Principle 2: Memes are awakened as a result of changes in the conditions of life, as a result of which memes will arise, develop, or die out.

Main characteristics of memes

Principles of Spiral Dynamics

Principle 1: People have the ability to create new memes

Principle 2: Memes are awakened as a result of changes in living conditions, as a result of which memes will arise, develop, or die out

Brief overview of memes

The first level is “memes of needs”

The second level is "memes of being"

Principle 3: Memes zigzag between the themes of Self-Expression and Self-Sacrifice

Principle 4: Memes Arise Like Waves on the Spiral

The life cycle of a meme

Principle 5: The movement of the Spiral occurs in parallel with the change in the level of difficulty

Principle 6: Memes Coexist Inside Our Onion Profiles

Meme Pack – Systems in People

Principle 7: Memes in the Spiral are grouped into layers of six

Graves Management Model

Principles of Spiral Dynamics

Principle 1: People have the ability to create new memes

Principle 2: Memes are awakened as a result of changes in the conditions of life, as a result of which memes will arise, develop, or die out.

A brief overview of mimes

First level - "Memes of needs"

Principle 3: Memes zigzag between the themes of Self-Expression and Self-Sacrifice.

Principle 4: Memes arise on the Spiral like waves

Life cycle of a meme

Principle 5: The movement of the Spiral occurs in parallel with the change in the level of difficulty

Principle 6: Memes coexist within our onion profiles

Set of mimes - Systems in People

Principle 7: Memes in the Spiral are grouped in layers of six

Graves Management Model

Spiral Graves Dynamics

Main characteristics of mimes

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