Feb 8, 2025 3 min read Model Ⓜ️

Ⓜ️ Model - Spiral Dynamics

"Spiral Dynamics is a theory of human development that maps our evolution from basic survival to love for all humanity. It's not a rigid ladder, but a fluid spiral where we can jump levels, especially in relationships, as we grow in consciousness and values."

Levels of Consciousness

Why? Purpose

People and societies evolve in response to life conditions. Clare Graves’ Spiral Dynamics explains why humans think, act, and value things differently across time and cultures. Understanding these patterns can help people navigate change, resolve conflicts, and foster growth.

What? Definition

Color Model - Spiral Dynamics is a system developed by Clare Graves to help people identify where they are living in relation to their social context.

Beige (Survival) – Basic needs and instincts
Purple (Tribal) – Rituals, Kinship, and ancestral guidance
Red (Power) – Ego, dominance, and action
Blue (Order) – Rules, structure, and purpose
Orange (Achievement) – Progress, strategy, and success
Green (Community) – Equality, relationships, and harmony
Yellow (Integral) – Systems thinking, adaptability
Turquoise (Holistic) – Global consciousness, interconnectedness

Each level builds on the previous, emerging as people face new complexities in life.

Beige – Focuses on survival and meeting basic biological needs.
Purple – Seeks safety by joining with others in a threatening world. Relies on rituals, traditions, and group identity for protection.
Red – Driven by power, action, and dominance. Embraces competition and strength, operating by the principle that "all is fair in love and war."
Blue – Seeks meaning through divine principles, ethics, and order. Many religious and traditional systems align with this stage.
Orange – Focuses on success through understanding and leveraging the world's principles. Values innovation, competition, and strategic growth in science and business.
Green – Shifts from individual achievement to holistic results, emphasizing ethics, collaboration, community, and sustainability over pure efficiency or profit.
Yellow – Integrates all previous levels, recognizing their value without judgment. Characterized by inner harmony, responsibility, and adaptability.
Turquoise – The highest level of integration, moving toward global consciousness and interconnected awareness.

How Does It Work?

People don’t simply move through the spiral in a linear way. They shift between stages based on life circumstances, personal experiences, and societal pressures. Growth happens when old ways of thinking no longer work, and new perspectives are required to thrive.

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Q: Do you have to go through each stage in sequence and order?
A: Not necessarily...

You don’t have to progress in a strict sequence. Growth often happens through exposure to higher-stage values.
Stages reflect mindsets, not fixed identities. People can shift between stages depending on context.
Help others by meeting them where they are. Encourage curiosity about the next stage rather than forcing change.
Growth happens through meaningful engagement. Explore and adopt values from higher stages in practical ways.

So in a way, the whole of spiral dynamics theory is the theory of morality.
How do you advance from the more basic instinct of trying to control your environment to the highest level of love of humanity. - Cloe

Key Questions

✅ Where do they operate from most of the time? (Their "center of gravity")
✅ Which level do they revert to under stress?
✅ What do they need to know/understand/experience to grow into the next stage?
✅ What’s the next stage of growth for you personally?

Example in Action

A company struggling with outdated policies (Blue) might adopt data-driven strategies (Orange) but later shift toward a people-first approach (Green) to improve culture and innovation. Leaders aware of Spiral Dynamics can guide transitions smoothly by recognizing the values that drive their teams.