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“Spiral Dynamics Integral is one of the first integral psychologies now available and, as presented by Don Beck, I give it my highest recommendation. It has profound implications for business, politics, education, and medicine, and it will give you the tools to begin applying these revolutionary ideas in your own field immediately. Don’t miss it!” – Ken Wilber, author-philosopher and president, Integral Institute In this two hour and forty minute interactive DVD, Dr. Don Beck speaks about the developmental system called “Spiral Dynamics”. He goes into detail about each of the “levels” or “memes” along with the Four-Quadrant framework of integral philosopher Ken Wilber. He gives real-world illustrations from his work with large organizations, corporations, governments and NGOs.”It’s not that we need to form new organizations. It’s simply that we have to awaken to new ways of thinking. I believe it makes no sense to spend a lot of time attacking the current realities. It is time to create the new models that have in them the complexity that makes the older systems obsolete. And to the extent that we can do that, and do that quickly, I think we can provide what will be necessary for a major breakthrough for the future.” -Dr. Don BeckDr. Beck lays out 6 levels or stages of evolutionary value systems called “memes”, or units of cultural transmission in the “first tier”. He then describes the 2 levels that research indicates are on the cultural and social horizon in the “second tier”. The viewer is taken through all eight memes including examples. Spiral Dynamics is a theory of human development introduced in the 1996 book Spiral Dynamics by Don Beck and Chris Cowan. The book was based on the theory of psychology formulated by professor Clare W. Graves and further expanded by Don Beck and Chris Cowan. Ken Wilber has popularized these ideas in his more recent work and the theory has developed to include Wilber’s integral theory.Spiral Dynamics argues that human nature is not fixed: humans are able, when forced by life conditions, to adapt to their environment by constructing new, more complex, conceptual models of the world that allow them to handle the new problems.One of the distinguishing characteristics of Spiral Dynamics Integral is the use of Wilber’s All Quadrants/All Levels/All Lines model that offers a user-friendly methodology for integrating Spiral Dynamics into personal, organizational, and societal operations.From the boardrooms of big business to the streets of the inner city, from the south side of Chicago to apartheid South Africa, Dr. Don Beck has taught people at all levels how to stop clashing and start communicating. His method is called Spiral Dynamics Integral, a revolutionary new way of perceiving human nature that lets us understand, predict, and resolve even the most difficult conflicts. In his effort to map the genome of the mind, Dr. Beck has created a tool he calls the Spiral, which charts the underlying reasons for virtually everything that human beings think, believe, and do. Breaking down the “complexity codes” that lie at the heart of a problem, he explains, is the first step toward coming up with a real, lasting solution.The  Heart and Soul of the Spiral Dynamics MovementWelcome to Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi), the remarkable body of work attracting a growing constellation of thousands of people around the world. Spiral Dynamics Integral, or SDi for short, concerns itself with the deep complexity codes that shape our many worlds.Conceived and led by Dr. Don Beck, a leading global authority on value systems, societal change, and stratified democracy, SDi is an advanced extension and elaboration of the biopsychosocial systems concept originated by the late Dr. Clare W. Graves of Union College, New York, and later developed as Spiral Dynamics – a model that Canada’s Maclean’s Magazine rather grandly dubbed  “The Theory that Explains Everything.”Well, almost …The model describes and makes sense of the enormous complexity of human existence, and then shows how to craft elegant, systemic problem – solutions that meet people and address situations where they are.Spiral DynamicsTM reveals the hidden complexity codes that shape human nature, create global diversities, and drive evolutionary change. These dynamic Spiral forces attract and repel individuals, form the webs and meshes that connect people within groups, communities and organizations, and forge the rise and fall of nations and cultures.Spiral Dynamics meshes the new science of memetics with Gravesian value systems to form “value memes” or “vMemes” to craft a model of transformational change. By exploring and describing the core intelligences and deep values that flow beneath what we believe and do, the model offers a profoundly incisive, dynamic perspective on complex matters such as:» HOW people think about things (as opposed to “what” they think)» WHY people make decisions in different ways» WHY people respond to different motivators» WHY and HOW values arise and spread» The nature of CHANGEThis powerful conceptual system has been field-tested in some of the most complex environments on the planet, from inner-city Chicago to racially plagued South Africa. Since the focus is on the deeper vMemetic foundations, Spiral Dynamics suggests ways to move more quickly in the direction of deep dialogue and comprehensive, integral solutions.MICRO applications of Spiral Dynamics are found around the world in a variety of developmental, counseling and coaching projects. For example, leaders in a growing number of local, national and international youth development projects are currently using Spiral Dynamics Integral concepts.MESO applications of Spiral Dynamics look through a wider lens between and among groups of people in large corporations, within local communities, and even as distinctive cultures in city-states and entire countries. As our world is now moving into the next stage of cultural pluralism and diversity programs, Spiral Dynamics offers a point of view that looks at the evolutionary dynamic of the deep underlying values systems.MACRO applications of Spiral Dynamics re-examine the whole globalization issue through an entirely new lens. The focus is on the underlying vMeme currents and contours of the diverse, competing economic, political, health care, education, religious, and community-based models.Spiral Dynamics connects everything to everything else. For example: The work shows clearly why attempts to deal with the HIV pandemic only through medical solutions fail dismally unless equal time and resources are spent on the interior, cultural Dynamics that contribute to the spread of the virus. It also demonstrates why simplistic, fragmented approaches to international and domestic terrorism, crime and drug-related problems, education, economic and social development – the list is endless – and the complexity of challenges in the Middle East and other hot spots around the globe will continue to confound us unless we integrate, align and synergize the efforts of all these stakeholders.Levels of Existence:First tier Levels (related to Maslow’s deficiency needs)Beige – Autistic thinking – Life is survival – The SurvivorPurple – Tribal/Magical thinking – Life is sacrifice – The Tribes PersonRed – Heroic thinking – Life is a battle – The Egocentric HeroBlue – Absolutistic/fundamentalist thinking – Life is a test – The Fundamentalist and TraditionalistOrange – Individualistic thinking – Life is a game and the world is a machine – The Scientist and CapitalistGreen – Humanistic thinking – Human beings are a family – The HumanistSecond tier Levels – (related to Maslow’s self-actualization needs) momentous jump in meaningYellow – Systemic thinking – Life is a system – The Independent Polymath and Multi-disciplinarianTurquoise – HolisticTranspersonal thinking – Life is a dream – The Mystic and World Philosopher Breif History of Spiral Dynamics:From Clare W. Graves – Phase One : 1978-1995 “Briefly, what I am proposing is that the psychology of the mature human being is an unfolding, emergent, oscillating, spiraling process, marked by progressive subordination of older, lower-order behavior systems to newer, higher-order systems as man’s existential problems change.” ~ CWGFrom l975 until l995 Dr. Don Beck worked exclusively within a Value Systems or Gravesian perspective, based on the original work of the late Professor Clare W. Graves. Beck first met Graves in l975 and they became close friends and professional colleagues until his death in l986. Together they designed the South African strategy that is represented in the book Beck wrote (with Graham Linscott) in l991, titled The Crucible: Forging South Africa’s Future.In the late l970s and throughout the l980s, Beck was instrumental in exposing Professor Graves to a wider world by arranging joint presentations before meetings of the World Future Society and American Society for Training and Development. He brought Graves to the campus of the University of North Texas in l978 for a series of lectures, and then promoted a series of three-day seminars for him in  Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Dallas. They engaged in consulting projects with Braniff International, American Airlines, and even the New Orleans Saints. Says Beck, “It was truly a delight to work with him and I miss him a great deal. He will always receive personal and professional credit from me in all of my activities. I’m Gravesian to the core.” Dr. Graves passed away in 1986.To Spiral Dynamics Phase Two: 1996-2001Dr. Don Beck and Christopher CowanSpiral Dynamics was an extension and elaboration of the biopsychosocial systems concept of the original Gravesian research. By the time the book Spiral Dynamics – Mastering Values, Leadership & Change was published (Blackwell, 1996), Beck felt it necessary to update and expand the original Gravesian concept to appeal to a much wider audience. He introduced the concept of  “value memes/memetics”  to both supplant and enhance the limited “value systems” language. The coauthor of the book was Beck’s former graduate student Christopher Cowan, with whom he worked closely together for 29 years. The partnership ended in 1999, and Beck went on to introduce his work globally with astonishing and dramatic success.To Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi) Phase Three: 2002 and beyondDon Beck and Ken Wilber  The comprehensive, inclusive 4Q8L values technology for the Integral Age and humankind’s future. The elegantly expanded SDi conceptual framework includes and transcends the entire body of the historic Gravesian/Spiral Dynamics work which has gone before, and distinguishes itself clearly from other versions offered in the marketplace which do not subscribe to Integral, Second Tier design approaches. This third iteration of the complex SD material goes far beyond both earlier phases in striking out new territory, in creating new strategic and systemic alliances ( MeshWORKS ), and in engaging academic and applied domains that are just now becoming part of the 21 st Century thought structures and existence problems.“While Graves supplied the original blueprint, he cautioned me on numerous occasions to continue the research, to branch out far beyond what he could imagine, and pursue ‘the never-ending quest’,” says Beck. “SDi is based on a belief in the Invisible Spiral, the Prime Directive that works in human nature to continue our quest toward greater complexity. The Graves Technology is simply one wrap around the Invisible Spiral but there are many others. I believe it is the best single wraparound available. Yet many of the empty spaces and incomplete zones can be filled in with other theories, other wraparounds. SDi continues the search for these paradigms to provide yet a fuller understanding of the working of the Spiral within our lives.”In 1999 Beck formed a deep and rich MeshWorks with author/philosopher Ken Wilber, whose work he had been following since 1978.“In The Collected Works of Ken Wilber, a massive set of books to say the least, one engages the mind of someone like Professor Graves who searched over long periods of time, and often as a lone pathfinder, to discover and reveal the mechanisms and stages that have characterized our long, evolutionary ascent from an animal-like existence. This relationship with Ken and his vast following has created a quantum leap of interest in Clare W. Graves and Spiral Dynamics and, more than any other influence, has projected this conceptual system onto the global screen. We are in debt to his efforts on our behalf and continue to look forward in SDi to an ever widening working relationship,” says Beck.One of the distinguishing characteristics of SDi is the use of Wilber’s All Quadrants/All Levels/All Lines model that offers a user-friendly methodology for integrating Spiral Dynamics into personal, organizational, and societal operations.“Spiral Dynamics Integral is one of the first integral psychologies now available and, as presented by Don Beck, I give it my highest recommendation. It has profound implications for business, politics, education, and medicine, and it will give you the tools to begin applying these revolutionary ideas in your own field immediately. Don’t miss it!” ~ Ken Wilber, author-philosopher and president, Integral InstituteSeveral similarly rich and warm MeshWORKS have since been forged, including the international Adizes Institute and Graduate School, John Petersen’s The Arlington Institute, The international Bert Hellinger Family Constellations movement, Andrew Cohen’s What Is Enlightenment? magazine, and Dr. Nancy Roof’s Spirituality and Global Affairs Associates.In fact, the word “Integral” in SDi refers precisely to the coming together of diffferent entities to empower, align, enhance, and shape the various positive concepts, packages, and approaches – when and where approriate – as they work in the background and at deeper levels to influence humankind’s vMemetic Codes. Says Beck, “This truly integral approach meshes many of the original SD concepts with other interests in such a way that it is never overtly recognized. And this may be the global arena where Spiral Dynamics is the most timely and relevant.”LinksSDi home page: http://www.spiraldynamics.net/Spiral Dynamics wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_DynamicsSpiral Dynamics Integral Audio collection: