The Spiral Dynamics Model (Spiral Dynamics Integral)

The Spiral Dynamics model integrates several disciplines including psychology, evolution, history, sociology, and more. The combination of these fields of research has revealed patterns of human thinking and behavior that have repeated throughout human evolution and continue to actively exist today.

The model explains both personal and social psychology and how it responds to the environment—how human worldviews are built and change according to their surroundings, the social structure they live in, and when and how they evolve or regress.

Examples:

• Why, in ancient Rome, gladiatorial combat to the death was culturally accepted, whereas today it is considered violent and taboo.

• Why and in which environments religion becomes the governing law, and when it becomes separated from state law.

• In which situations individuals and societies are willing to fight violently, and when human rights become the accepted ethical code.

• And more.

The model is used to analyze and solve social conflicts in political (national or international) contexts, in organizational and business consulting, for defining future goals, and for personal development. It is an excellent tool for explaining the deep motivations of political streams (conservative, liberal, right-wing, left-wing, etc.) as well as various economic approaches within business organizations.

The Spiral Dynamics Layers

The Spiral Dynamics model consists of layers of values, each represented by a different color. It begins with the first value layer that developed during pre-historic human stages (represented by the color beige) and spirals upward to the modern period. The upward movement represents gradual development through trial and error, ultimately leading, under certain conditions, to a group adopting a new value system.

Each color represents a cluster of values, behaviors, and opinions that have developed through the evolution of human thought. These layers of values shape the social opinions that define human societies.

Below is a short description of each layer, from the earliest stage in human evolution to the latest layer that is just beginning to develop today:

1. Beige - Survivalist/Instinctive
   This layer developed during the early stages of human existence, slightly above the level of animal consciousness. The focus here is on obtaining basic physical needs such as food, water, shelter, warmth, sex, and physical safety.
   In the modern world, these needs are less motivating when people have stable homes, basic safety, and enough food and water. However, the beige value resurfaces in extreme situations when survival is at stake, such as after natural disasters or during life-threatening situations.

2. Purple - Tribal/Animistic/Mystical
   This layer developed during the hunter-gatherer period, roughly 60,000 years ago. It represents the beginning of cooperation among humans, usually up to about 150 people (as per common anthropological findings). Security was linked to the ability to cooperate within a tribe and with the surrounding environment, forming intimate and harmonious social and natural relationships. Purple values are still seen today in close relationships, families, communities, and even rituals that give a sense of security, like prayers, charms, and social events.

3. Red - Egocentric/Powerful/Impulsive
   Red emerged around 10,000 years ago, during the agricultural revolution and the era of empires and dynasties. It introduced social hierarchies and is characterized by an egocentric outlook, where the individual uses strength to dominate others and nature.
   Red values involve a focus on personal power, winning, and asserting control over others. Red behavior is often impulsive, aggressive, and geared toward personal satisfaction and achievement, and it’s commonly seen in competitive environments like sports and politics.

4. Blue - Purposeful/Moral/Orderly/Religious
   Blue evolved to curb the unbridled force of red. It is about morality, social order, and ideological consistency, often through religion or national identity. Blue societies operate through clear moral codes and often see themselves as superior to others due to their sense of moral righteousness. The emphasis is on law, order, and a sense of purpose that ensures stability and security, even for the weaker segments of society.

5. Orange - Achiever/Scientific/Economic
   In response to the restrictive conformity of blue, orange developed, emphasizing freedom of thought, science, and individual achievement. It represents a shift towards empirical science, free market capitalism, and personal success.
   Orange is focused on independence, material success, technology, and progress, which became significant during the Industrial Revolution.

6. Green - Sensitive/Equalitarian/Community-Oriented
   Green emerged as a counter to the shortcomings of blue and orange, particularly their failure to deliver equality or ecological sustainability. Green is characterized by a critique of authority, a desire for equality, and a push for social rights.
   It embraces human rights, gender equality, ecological concerns, and aims for a moral and politically correct society. It values emotional health, alternative healing practices, community life, and cultural criticism but often faces internal contradictions when ideals conflict with practical realities.

7. Yellow - Flexible/Systemic/Integral
   Yellow is still a relatively new layer. Unlike previous layers that are characterized by specific value systems, yellow sees all previous layers and can adopt a flexible response depending on the situation. It strives for solutions that enhance the overall system, integrating multiple perspectives rather than sticking rigidly to one.
   Yellow is patient with the pace of human development and is capable of using the healthy aspects of each previous layer to address current issues.

8. Turquoise - Holistic/Global
   Turquoise is an even newer and rarer layer, focused on the unity of humanity and holistic consciousness. It goes beyond the conflicts and divisions of previous layers, seeing the world as a single interconnected system.
   It draws on ancient ideas like Zen Buddhism and mysticism and aims to unify human consciousness, potentially even with technology (such as through ideas like the singularity).