Of Graves/Spiral Dynamics with other key developmental models

Notes:

Abraham Maslow first published the 5-level Hierarchy of Needs in ‘A Theory of Human Motivation’ (1943). Such was the impact of his initial 5-level Hierarchy - and the debate it provoked - that the levels Maslow added as his understanding developed were/are often overlooked. By the time of the posthumously-published ‘The Further Reaches of Human Nature’ (1971), his Hierarchy had effectively expanded to 8-Levels.

Maslow took a philosophical approach to his psychological observations which he mainly based on case studies. In particular he studied historical figures he

considered to be prime examples of Self-Actualisation - such as Abraham Lincoln. Unlike Graves, Loevinger and Harvey Hunt & Schroeder, he did little scientific      research and statistical analysis. As the full 8-level Hierarchy was only realised after his death, there is little information about the  Transcendence level.

There is some speculation that Cognitive could be mapped to be elements of YELLOW while Aesthetic could be mapped to both YELLOW and TURQUOISE. It is also     worth noting that some of Maslow’s writings on self-esteem imply goal-oriented strategic thinking – which would mean an element of ORANGE. Maslow’s Safety and Belonging levels of need are absorbed into PURPLE’s safety-in-belonging motif.

Gerald Heard set out his developmental views in ‘The Five Ages of Man: The Psychology of Human History’  (1963). His Ecological, or Leptoid Man, incorporates elements of integrated and advanced spiritual thinking which could be argued as being 2nd Tier.

Although Jane Loevinger’s model – detailed in ‘Ego Development’  (1976) – is the one which most completely matches Graves, some of her work indicates that Impulsive may grow into Self-Protective then Conformist which grows into Conscientious Conformist. It should also be noted that Symbiotic could be argued as matching the transitional state of beige/PURPLE, rather than nodal PURPLE. Two Loevinger stages not shown match with vMEME transition stages: Malignant Conformist seems to equate to red/BLUE; and Individualistic would equate to ORANGE/green.

‘Conceptual Systems & Personality Organisation’ (1961) by O J Harvey, David E Hunt & H M Schroeder set out the 4 developmental types in their hierarchy. Hunt (1966) separated out to some degree from Harvey and Schroeder when he came across empirical evidence of a level of thinking less complex than Type 1 – which he termed Sub-Type 1 and which he and Graves eventually mapped to C-P (RED).

Lawrence Kohlberg (1963) identified 6 stages of moral development in children. iStage 1, Punishment & Obedience, seems to contain behavioural responses that contain elements of both PURPLE and RED. Nominally BLUE, Stage 3, Good/Bad, really is more like the Entering BLUE transition stage. Kohlberg (1976) later introduced a stage 4.5 (or ‘4+’ or ‘4B’) to account for relativistic variations he was getting in responses at Stage 4. For example, respondents were saying they would adhere to absolutist law in principle but might break it under certain pressing circumstances. Stage 4.5 appears to represent elements of ORANGE pragmatism undermining BLUE absolutism.

Reading across Kohlberg’s works, Stage 5 sometimes appears to incorporate 4.5. In other writings, it appears more GREEN. Stage 6 appears to share elements of both GREEN and YELLOW.

By the time of the posthumously-published ‘The Measurement of Moral Judgement’ - written with Anne Colby (1987) - Kohlberg was doubting he had enough statistically-significant evidence to justify his proposition of Stage 6, Principled Conscience. However, only the year before, in ‘The Philosophy of Moral Development’ , he had been speculating that a seventh stage might exist which linked spirituality with moral reasoning.

Max Weber postulated his 4 types of action in ‘The Theory of Social & Economic Organisation’ (Oxford University Press, 1922). It is important to note Weber was describing observable behaviour as distinct from an underlying cause of behaviour.

Traditional Action appears to include elements of BEIGE survival-level behaviour.

William Moulton Marston defined his behavioural types in ‘Emotions of Normal People’  (Taylor & Francis Inc, 1928).  Marston had no hierarchical order to his behavioural types which were a mixture of temperamental traits (as per Dimensions of Temperament) and motivational factors (vMEMES).

Maslow’s concept of needs can be seen as what drives the vMEMES of Spiral Dynamics while Kohlberg’s stages of morality and Weber’s actions are different outputs of vMEME activity. Loevinger’s ego states can be seen as the mindsets which form when the vMEME or vMEME transition stage is matched to the Life Conditions in the Environment.

This Comparison Map is based to a significant degree on the work of Bill Lee, the 'Graves Archivist'. To view Bill's expanded and more detailed pages comparing the Gravesian levels with the work of other developmental psychologists, visit the Graves web site: www.clarewgraves.com