Dynamic Spiral

‍Spiral Dynamics(Spiral Dynamics) is the title of a book published by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan in 1996. In it, the authors present a psychological model explaining the behavior of individuals within organizations. It is based on the research of two American psychologists, Maslow and Graves.

The model identifies different stages of development through values. This hierarchy of value systems comprises eight levels, which individuals express in their psychological lives.

The fundamental principle of the dynamic spiral

The emergence of these systems in societies is based on a fundamental principle of the dynamic spiral concept: that of the evolutionary dynamism of human cultures and mentalities.

The living conditions of an era influence ways of thinking - whether for a particular social structure or an individual. And these ways of thinking in turn influence their environment, until these new living conditions transform cultures once again.

Thus, the psychological mechanisms of individuals and societies are constantly evolving, just as an individual or a society can evolve.

The 8 value systems

The value systems in the Dynamic Spiral are color-coded, assigning them certain characteristics.

• Beige: Archaic-Instinctive. The level of basic survival. It is characterized by an infinitely fragmented structure, with no real communities.
• Violet: Magical-Animist. Animistic thinking; magical spirits, gods, curses and spells determine events. This is the era of ethnic tribes. The goal of this system is security.
• Red: The basis of feudal empires - power and glory. An era marked by an absolute cult of power and domination.
• Blue: This system is colder and more neutral. It represents conventional society, which establishes what is right and what is wrong. It's the system of pyramid structures, stability, authority and totalitarianism.
• Orange : At this level, individualism prevails. It is marked by the quest for personal success, exalting ambition and independence. This is the era of materialism and capitalism.
• Green: marks an evolution towards a more egalitarian system, where the notion of equity takes on a new dimension. People with a green worldview are those who have achieved their goals. They're starting to think in terms that are once again centered on "us".
• Yellow and Turquoise: These are the two most advanced models. This is systems thinking, realizing that everything is interconnected. People work together in a system where they make their own decisions. It is at these highest levels that the world is perceived as an interactive, interconnected system.

The importance of inverse values

Finally, the construction of the dynamic spiral model reveals another essential principle. Each of these systems alternately emphasizes opposite values: self-assertion and independence on the one hand, or, on the contrary, community, absorbing individualities within larger groups.