
'Integrated SocioPsychology' is the term I have coined for developing a highly-
This page and the next provide a basic overview of the integrated approach and how
the key models link together. More specific detail on the individual models is available
on their linked pages.
Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology are fractured fields
of study, with several different (and often competing!) schools of thought and even
areas of exploration. The history of the behavioural sciences is littered with disputes
both between those competing schools (which are accepted academically) and also between
academia and 'fringe' or 'alternative' approaches such as Neuro-
The
structure of an integrated approach
Integration is made possible by building the structure
of SocioPsychology around the frame of the Don Beck-
Spiral Dynamics, when used to explain the relationships between the different neurological levels, provides a powerful tool for understanding how our motivations shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us and drive our behaviour in it. It gives us a 'scaffolding' onto which virtually every aspect of human motivation can be mapped to some degree or other.
As such, the Spiral Dynamics-
This structure is represented by the graphic below....

Built on the Neurological Levels hierarchy, it shows how vMEMES (N to U in the original
coding of the Graves Model, on which Spiral Dynamics is based) underpin Identity
and shape Values & Beliefs in relation to the perceived Life Conditions (A to H)
in the particular Environment. vMEMES will also acquire pertinent Skills & Knowledge
(Capability) to carry out the Behaviour appropriate to the Life Conditions in the
Environment. It also brings in the effects of hormones and neurology (Upper Right)
and the Environment is effectively split into Culture (Lower Left) and Structure
(Lower Right). (Although the intention above is to focus on the Upper Left, the Spiral
Dynamics-
‘
At what I call the Nominal Level -
‘


As Dr Albert Bandura pointed out, however, Behaviour can change the Life Conditions
in the Environment, with the changed Environment then consequently bringing about
changes in the person -
This also applies at a cultural or organisational level -
Motivation and Temperament
The Graves Model and its Spiral Dynamics build provide the most accurate and comprehensive
model of how motivational systems develop in people -
In truth, it is an area generally under-
As depicted in the graphic below, a person with a Phlegmatic personality is more
likely to be comfortable with PURPLE driving their thinking than another vMEME, similarly
a Choleric personality lends itself to RED thinking while Melancholic facilitates
BLUE thinking. There does appear to be an association between a Sanguine type and
ORANGE driving the thinking; but the association seems much weaker than with the
other vMEME-
‘

The Intraversion-
The intensity with which someone experiences a preference for one side or the other
also seems to be influenced by Eysenck's third Dimension, Psychoticism, which he
considered to be powered by the male sex hormone, testosterone. If the warm-
While Marston's Dominant (Choleric/RED), Submission (Phlegmatic/ PURPLE), Compliance
(Melancholic/BLUE) and even Influence (Sanguine/ORANGE) behavioural types have held
up pretty well through some 80 years of assessment, there does seem some element
of predetermindation that a certain personality type will more likely be dominated
by a certain vMEME. There is plenty of annecdotal evidence of clearly-
For all this, temperament and motivation do not always sit that well together. Consider the teenage student whose RED craves esteem and respect but whose Psychoticist impulsiveness leads to breaking of the classroom rules and, therefore, punishment.
The Selfplex
The
selfplex is Dr Susan Blackmore's term for the cognitive awareness of self we call
'I'. It is our sense of who we are -
The selfplex can be considered to sit on top of the basic set of natural temperamental dispositions Eysenck mapped.(Depending on one's philosophy or religion, there may or may not be a 'spiritual self' at the core of this construct!)
From the work of Dr Ralph Allison and others on Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD)
and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), it is clear that the strength and well-
Effectively the selfplex moderates the interaction of our vMEMES with the memes of the outside world as those memes are perceived through our existing schemas (values, beliefs, attitudes, memories, etc). This is depicted in the NLP Communication Model.
The NLP Communication Model also shows the importance of meta-
While some of our meta-
All of these processes are influenced by the dominant vMEMES in our psyche, and, at least until we reach 2nd Tier thinking, the temperamental Dimensions of Neuroticism and Psychoticism.
A
Call to Practitioners and Researchers
This page has outlined in very basic terms the
core of Integrated SocioPsychology. As yet, the integrated approach is very much
in its infancy. To develop, it needs the contributions of practitioners -
One purpose of these pages is to call for such contributions and research. I am interested
not only in hearing from those who also favour the integrated approach but also in
soliciting 'guest features' -
Click here to learn about my Integrated SocioPsychology ‘open’ workshop programmes.
Integrated SocioPsychology Resources
'Towards an Integral Vision: Using NLP and Ken Wilber's AQAL Model to Enhance Communication'
-
‘Knowing Me, Knowing You: an Integrated SocioPsychology Guide to Personal Fulfilment
& Better Relationships' -
Integral Strategies
Matthew Kalman's site dedicated to the works of the likes of
Ken Wilber and Don Beck