Examples of Dr.
Graves' Descriptions
and Terminology
with
Spiral Dynamics®
Colors,
Labels, Transitions
[ Dr. Graves'
original language is in Arial font;
SD
terminology is in Times Roman ]
|
Comparing Dr.
Graves Labels and Spiral Dynamics®
Designations |
| Original
pairs * |
Letter
pairs * |
Level
Numbers
Six-on-six / (earlier) |
Some
of Dr. Graves' terms |
SD
Colors**
for vMemes |
SD Names |
| A-N |
A-N |
1st
Subsistence |
Automatic,
Reflexological |
BEIGE |
SurvivalSense |
| B-O |
B-O |
2nd
Subsistence |
Tribalistic,
Animistic |
PURPLE |
KinSpirits |
| C-P |
C-P |
3rd
Subsistence |
Egocentric |
RED |
PowerGods |
| D-Q |
D-Q |
4th
Subsistence |
Deferential,
Absolutistic |
BLUE |
TruthForce |
| E-R |
E-R |
5th
Subsistence |
Multiplistic,
Materialistic |
ORANGE |
StriveDrive |
| F-S |
F-S |
6th
Subsistence |
Sociocentric,
Relativistic |
GREEN |
HumanBond |
| G-T |
A'-N' |
1st
Being (7th Level) |
Cognitivistic,
Existential |
YELLOW |
FlexFlow |
| H-U |
B'-O' |
2nd
Being (8th Level) |
Experientialistic |
TURQUOISE |
GlobalView |
| I-V |
C'-P' |
3rd
Being (9th Level) |
etc. |
CORAL |
etc. |
| etc. |
',
'', etc. |
etc. |
TEAL |
OVERVIEW
of Graves/SD Language
The First Subsistence
Level: The AN or Autistic Existential State
Automatic Maintaining
physiological stability
"Express
self as if just another animal according to the dictates of one's
imperative physiological needs and the environmental
possibilities"
SurvivalSense:
Instinctive
AN
BEIGE
(World1)..............Survival/meeting biological
needs/instinctive drives & urges
AN/bo
BEIGE /
PURPLE
Awakening
of a sense of dependent self in a mysterious and frightening world where
being with others means safety
an/BO
The Second
Subsistence Level: The BO or Animistic Existential State
Tribalistic Achievement
of relative safety
"Sacrifice
one's desires to the ways of one's elders"
KinSpirits:
Clannish
BO
PURPLE
(World2)............Safety/tribal needs/adherence to
ritual/obeying chief(s)/harmony
BO/cp
PURPLE /
RED
Awakening of an egocentric self determined to break the shackles of the
family or tribe and become a powerful individual
bo/CP
The Third Subsistence
Level: The CP or Egocentric Existential State
Egocentric Living with
self-awareness
"Express
self to hell with others lest one suffer the torment of unbearable
shame"
PowerGods:
Egocentric
CP
RED
(World3)...............….Power/action/excitement/proving
individual prowess/shame
CP/dq
RED /
BLUE
Awakening of a purposeful self with guilt in search of meaning in a
purposeful existence and reasons why we live and die
cp/DQ
The Fourth
Subsistence Level: The DQ or Absolutistic Existential State
Deferentialistic Achieving
everlasting peace of mind
"Sacrifice
self now to receive reward later"
TruthForce:
Purposeful
DQ
BLUE
(World4)........…......Purpose/obedience to
authority/stability/rules/meaning/guilt/duty
DQ/er
BLUE /
ORANGE
Awakening of a pragmatic, independence-seeking self who challenges
higher authority and scientifically tests possibilities
dq/ER
The Fifth Subsistence
Level: The ER or Multiplistic Existential State
Materialistic Conquering the physical
universe so as to overcome want
"Express
self for what self desires, but in a fashion calculated not to bring
down the wrath of others."
StriveDrive:
Strategic
ER
ORANGE
(World5)...........Competition/success/making things
better/autonomy/control/growth
ER/fs
ORANGE
/ GREEN
Awakening
of a sociocentric self who strives for belonging and acceptance to
discover spirit, inner harmony, peace
er/FS
The Sixth Subsistence
Level: The FS or Relativistic Existential State
Personalistic Living with the
human element
"Sacrifice
now in order for get acceptance now and so all get now"
HumanBond:
Relativistic
FS
GREEN
(World6)...........….Affiliation/sustainability/collaboration/teamwork/fulfillment/sharing
FS/a'n'
GREEN /
YELLOW
Awakening of an inquiring, interdependent self who no longer needs
approval yet can collaborate when appropriate
fs/A'N'
The First Being
Level: The A'N' or Systemic Existential State
Cognitivistic Restoring
viability to a disordered world
"Express
self for what self desires but never a the expense of others, and in
a manner that all life, not just my life, will profit."
FlexFlow:
Systemic
A'N'
YELLOW
(World7)..........Being/functionality/discovery/integralism/responsibilities
of living
A'N'/b'o'
YELLOW /
TURQUOISE
Awakening of experiential self who seeks ways of being that use
knowledge to restore natural harmony and balance
a'n'/B'O'
The Second Being
Level: The B'O' Existential State
Experientialistic Accepting
existential dichotomies
GlobalView:
Holistic
B'O'
TURQUOISE
(World8 )...Experience of holism/global
community/integration of life energies
B'O'/c'p'
*
For those unfamiliar with Dr. Clare W. Graves' original descriptions,
the letter pairs represent the Levels of Psychological Existence along
the emergent double-helix as Life Conditions (times, place, problems,
circumstances represented by the first letter in most writings) interact
with the neurobiological Coping Systems (the second letter) activated in
the mind/brain. There are two transitional stages between each pair,
Entering and Exiting. Changes of mind can can lead to actions that
change the world. Shifts in the world can alter the workings of the
mind. The model is open-ended, a work-in-progress which invites further
development and research as new Levels of Existence emerge.
* * For those who are
curious, the colors were chosen back in the 1970's by Chris Cowan as a
design element for 35mm title slides. They were for aesthetic proposes
and to make B&W titles more attractive, not theoretical labels. Dr. Graves never used
colors; they are not his and those who present them as such demonstrate
a lack of background. In addition, there is no intentional correlation with the chakras or any other model,
and the colors have only slight metaphorical significance as a memory
aid and explained
in the book, Spiral
Dynamics, and elsewhere on this site.
Sources for this page
include Dr. Graves' 1981 and 1982 Summary Statements, as well as other
published and unpublished materials. See the clarewgraves.com
website for more references, as well as links to other applications of
Dr. Graves' work.
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2001 NVC Consulting
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