Why do some people have such skewed political worldviews?
Why are some societies still racist in the 21st century?
Why are some individuals so egotistic and self-centered?
Ebrahim Haque Bhatti has a pretty simple answer: "It is because everyone has a different level of psychological development."
He uses Spiral Dynamics, a model of evolutionary development based on the emergent cyclical theory of Clare W. Graves, to frame how our consciousness and awareness evolve in stages with time. The model has gotten a lot of attention by those concerned with the psychological health and potential of individuals and organizations. I like Bhatti's emphasis on societies.
It really helps to understand that evolution is not merely biological. Our values, morality, beliefs, and psychology also evolve with time. It really helps to understand that as we mature our understanding and thinking about reality enlarges. With each stage we get more open-minded about taking others’ perspectives. And it really helps to understand that the accident of birth plays a huge role in our understanding of the world. If you are born in a community where people are already at a higher stage, they will help you move up the spiral. Contrarily, if you are born into a lower stage community you will face enormous resistance to move forward.
His big take away? We are all learning, and are all trying our best. Let's do what we can to stop judging ourselves and each other. Let's help each other to see why and how to grow instead.
Article: 10 Things You Must Know About Spiral Dynamics
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