Spiral Dynamics: A New Understanding of Human Nature and Human Conflict

 A World in a Dramatic State of Change

The winds of change are whirling ever faster on our shrinking planet. If we could grasp why so many people around the world are caught up in deadly conflicts with each other, ones which cost so much suffering to so many, would we want to know that? I spent a week in intensive study in Boulder, Colorado recently, sponsored by Spiral Dynamics Integral with the primary exponent of the Spiral Dynamics theory, Don Beck.

The Missing Piece for Peacemakers?
On of the main challenges for peacemakers is that we tend to apply one size fits all solutions. If you bad people (terrorists or bad governments, take your pick) would just stop your violent ways, the rest of us could live in peace. . . It’s never that simple! The world is much more complex than that and so are human beings. While there is much to be grateful for in the gifts many peacemakers have brought to the table I have long had a sense that a critical piece was missing. Spiral Dynamics may be this missing piece.

Cultures, and Humans, Evolve in Stages
Based on the work of the late professor Clare Graves (d. 1986), his work has been popularized and extended by Don Beck since his death. Graves’ hypothesis was that human cultures developed and evolved over time in distinct stages. These stages were a response to conditions in surrounding environments.  

vMemes= Embedded Value Systems    

Graves hypothesized that humans developed v-memes, akin to human DNA, structures so deep they govern thinking, behaviors, beliefs, and systems. They are deeply embedded value systems in human groups. As such they:
1. Manifest core intelligences that impact human behaviors.
2. Impact all life choices.
3. Have healthy and unhealthy aspects.
4. Determine how people think, not the content of what they think.
5. Can intensify or recede as life conditions change.

First Applications of v-Memes to Societal Conflict in South Africa
Graves was Don Beck’s mentor. In the early 80’s Beck made his first trip to South Africa and began consulting to that country as it struggled to emerge from apartheid. He made sixty trips there and used Spiral Dynamics interventions to prevent overt violence.

Color-Coding and the Spiral make Theory more Accessible
Beck added the metaphor of the spiral to Graves’ original structure. Humans are evolving in complexity and as they evolve and move through the stages of this system, they transcend and include each previous stage of the structure. Beck’s also added color coding to the v-memes as follows:

1. Beige: Survivalistic, based on loose bands. Theme: “Do what you must to stay alive.”
2. Purple: Magical, based on tribal structures. Theme: “Keep the spirits happy and the tribe safe.”
3. Red: Impulisive, egocentric, based on empire. Theme: Be what you are and do what you want, regardless.
4. Blue: Purposeful, based on rules and order and pyramidal structures. Theme: “Life has meaning and direction with predetermined outcomes.”
5. Orange: Strive/drive, achievist, strategic thinking. Theme: “Act in your own self-interest, play the game to win.”
6. Green: Egalitarian, humanitarian. Theme: “Seek caring dimensions of community.”

Possible Applications of Spiral Dynamics to Building Peace?

                                                                                                       
Human beings all over the globe are at all these stages of development right now. There is nothing wrong with any group being where they are! Yet, the majority of conflicts and violence are between people at different memes. This schema is an incredible advance in helping us to selectively choose appropriate interventions for where people are on the spiral of development.
Consider how people at different places on the spiral might regard the word peace itself:
Beige=We stay alive
Purple=We are safe
Red=I rule (or our empire rules)
Blue=We have order
Orange=I thrive
Green=We are equal.

Clearly we have a lot to think about! We shall be writing about Spiral Dynamics again on Peace By Design. Meanwhile, you may learn more about Spiral Dynamics by visiting them on the web at:
www.spiraldynamics.net and www.humanemergence.org

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