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In this episode, Joel and Antonia talk about the Graves Model of development created by Clare Graves.

In this podcast you’ll find:

  • Developed by Clare Graves, the Graves Model focuses on Self-Actualization.
  • After studying Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Clare asked himself, what does Self Actualization mean and happens when we self-actualize?
  • He asked a group of people for over 50 years – ‘how would you define a healthy person? He noticed that their responses show a pattern. People were going on different stages of growth and development. He saw a model emerging that both worked on a micro and macro level.
  1. Beige – Survival Level. Everything is about me and my personal survival. Examples – birth to 4 years old, people who are homeless and have little sensitivity to other people, feral children.
  2. Purple Tribal Level. More about our survival as a tribe. Micro – this is where a toddler starts to identify survival as a family/group. Macro – Focused on a group. It’s important not to be kicked out of the tribe. Spiritual development can be observed (how gods impact us as humans, magical thinking).
  3. Red – Warlord. 15,000 – 20,000 years ago. When one or two people stand out from the rest of the group, they begin to get a lot of attention and are regarded as leaders, they move up to level 3. Goes back about getting ‘me’ again. This is where the rebellious years come. Example – Teens get into fights for no reason. They assume that they know everything and everybody else is halfwit. People learn how to stand-up for themselves. They don’t really believe that they have any right.
  4. Blue – Civilization. Started about 5,000 – 8,000 years ago. We learn to identify something bigger than us. When territory boundaries are created. Law and rule are made. If we all live under certain rules, we live in a better society. Civilizations create armies and better force. Because everything is in order, we’re seeing relationships between tribes that create institutions and civilizations. Example – World War II.
  5. Orange – Achievement. Leaders begin to emerge. Developed 150 – 200 years ago. Leaders see resources as limitless, something they can manipulate and master. This is where you find a lot of capitalism. Example – anybody who’s going through any massive achievement. We learn that there’s no reason to limit our selves. Many people keep themselves from going to this level casting limitations on themselves. Science and technology is very important for individuals who are in this level.
  6. Green – Ecology. 20-50 years ago. Starts to take in a much bigger territory.These are individuals who have met their goals. Example – Bill Gates. They have a more ecological perspective.They start to think in terms of community and how they can give back to the world. They’re more concerned about the impact on a holistic manner. They learn how to give back. The idea of tolerance is introduced. Individuals in this level find it very challenging to accomplish their mission because they’re busy listening to everyone’s perspectives.
  7. Yellow – Thought Leader – A person who has realized that not every voices needs to give the exact same honour. They are able to communicate with individuals in different levels in order to get what they want in a faster and more productive way.
  • Every transition from one level to the next (on a macro level) has been bloody.
  • 2 reasons why we go to the next level:
  1. When the problems we’re facing can’t be solved by our current level so we’re forced to go to the next level.
  2. When they have fully explored their current level and are not sure what to do.
  • The more we go up the level, the more we see things get done on the planet, the less warfare we see in a global level.
  • We as individuals have a lot to gain by going up these levels. Even though it causes trauma during transition, our consciousness open up and we see a bigger picture.
  • Growth does lead to happiness. People are happier when they are growing.
  • If you are interested in the Graves model and understanding where you fit and the implications of it in your life, please feel free to check-out our Your Personality: Owner’s Manual Program.

Exercises we recommend in this podcast about the Graves Model:

Take a piece of paper and draw a vertical line going up and down. Draw 7 horizontal lines (to create 8 horizontal sections) going up. Number each box beginning at the bottom (first little box on the left hand corner) on ascending order (1-8) and use the space adjacent to each number to jot down a few notes and learning points discussed on this podcast.

In this episode Joel and Antonia talk about the Graves Model of development created by Clare Graves. #gravesmodel #spiraldynamics

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31 comments

  • Raimund
    • Raimund
    • December 31, 2015 at 6:26 am

    If you are paying taxes in the US supporting Washington’s foreign policies you are actually at social warload level 3. There is a societal regression in the US and also in the Western World in general which increasingly reverts to Warlord politics in order to secure cheap resources and the continual printing of money to keep up the appearance of wealth.
    I don’t see that those who consider themselves to be at the higher levels in society are actually doing much about this. But when you have refugees in the millions showing up at your door who flee from the weapons you sold to their governments, the issue cannot just be ignored.
    So the question is, what are the level 6 and above doing about it?

  • Christian Ramos
    • Christian Ramos
    • April 2, 2015 at 2:12 am

    Great podcast guys very informative love the way graves is like a roadmap to chart where you are in your progress always helps to know where you are and where your going great stuff

  • Sarah
    • Sarah
    • March 27, 2015 at 6:06 am

    I just want to say that this is the first place I’ve ever heard of this model and it is SO INTRIGUING TO ME! My dad is a (well-rounded) physician and I hear “Graves Level 3 or 4” echoed in so many of his verbalized frustrations when dealing with his patients in rural and/or certain southern communities.
    I’ve told so many people the paraphrased hack of this model, you wouldn’t believe. After reading the comments above, I am going to Google Spiral Dynamics and read the information. I was disappointed I couldn’t find more information initially!
    Thank you also for your article on it. However, I was sorely missing some of your descriptions from the podcast in your article! (I think the main part was the “storing food” level versus “selecting quality/nutritious food” – my mom is very into nutrition but basically alone in her region. I live in Hawaii and have fresh fruit / health food stores / non-GMO / organic food on every corner!)
    Last comment: could you suggest a book that goes more in detail with this model? Thank you!

  • Joel Mark Witt
    • Joel Mark Witt
    • February 16, 2015 at 4:22 pm

    Hi Jayne.

    Thanks for the question. I haven’t personally explored this in detail… but I’m sure there are patterns around how types express grief.

    This is what I love about the Personality Hacker community. You are doing research around this and I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

    I hope you will share with us your findings and feel free to “crowdsource” some ideas over on the Facebook community page (http://facebook.com/personalityhacker).

  • Annie
    • Annie
    • February 9, 2015 at 11:35 am

    Thank you so much for the tip, Antonia! I definitely want to learn more and will check it out.

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