Graves Transcript (1974 Seminar)
Presented by NVC Consulting | SpiralDynamics.org
Audio Reference: http://www.clarewgraves.com/neq/674preface.mp3
Let me say this to you: I take the position that formal psychology, as we know it, offers no adequate explanation of why man’s behavior has been what it has been in the past. It offers no adequate explanation of why man is behaving as he does today. And it offers no way for us to project how man will behave in the future.
So essentially, the very large task I’m attempting to do is this: I’m trying to explain why man—both individually and socially—behaved the way he did in the past, why he behaves as he does in the present, and to lay out a framework that will enable us to have some idea of how he is going to behave in the future.
In order to do this, I take exception to one of the most dearly held beliefs—the belief that there is such a condition as psychological maturity. And I take exception to the belief that if all human beings were properly reared, man could live in a utopian world of happiness, productivity, self-realization, and contentment.
I propose instead—on the basis of 20 years of research and conceptualization—that the belief in psychological maturity is not only man’s greatest delusion, but also the major reason he cannot understand the moral, ethical, managerial, educational, political, and social dilemmas which so regularly confound him.
It is my position—developed and brought out in my work—that the process of psychological growth and development has only recently begun to be properly understood by those who have studied it. I do not believe that psychological development is merely a process of implementing the “right” habits of doing, thinking, or moralizing, as behaviorists might suggest.
I also reject the notion that psychological growth follows a biological model in which man’s psychology develops from immaturity through a series of ordered stages toward some ultimate state of maturity, as if it were analogous to the biological cycle.
And I deny the humanistic psychologists’ claim that the only things preventing man from achieving his fully human, fully functioning self are poor child-rearing practices and flawed social institutions.
Instead of these conceptions, I take the position that man’s psychological development is an infinite process. There is no such thing—even in Jungian theory—as a fixed state of psychological maturity or the real possibility of a social utopia for mankind.
Rather, from the data of my studies, I say that psychological maturity is a function of man’s conditions for existence. And as long as man continues to solve the problems of his existence, he will continue to grow—liberating himself into newer and higher orders of psychological meaning.
Moreover, I argue that our definitions of “psychological maturity” and “utopia” will change with each new and emergent form of psychological existence. Likewise, how we believe we should manage human behavior must also change with each new form of psychological development.
Thus, the thesis of my work is this: Though man is one biological organism—who indeed develops biologically from a state of immaturity to a relatively mature biological state that he maintains during most of his life—he can be said to have an infinite number of psychological “beings.” Our understanding of man, therefore—his ethics, values, educational methods, managerial techniques, and so on—must evolve as his psychological character evolves.
We must reorganize our thinking and our approaches to managing human problems to include the fact that there is no absolute “normal”: no singular right way to teach reading, manage people, raise children, or determine the values and purposes by which men should live. There is no final revelation of values. Instead, human life must be viewed as a continuously changing process.
So, if you have ever despaired at trying to make sense of human life, of the problems you face, or of the people around you—then these ideas may offer you new explanations, new understanding, and new visions for the future.
If you’ve ever asked yourself what all the militancy, violence, or social unrest in the world means—whether man is tearing himself apart—then perhaps in this work you may find some new and even heretical thoughts worth examining.
If you are a social planner concerned with the current and future goals of mankind, the material I present may open new horizons in your thinking.
If, on a personal level, you’ve asked, “Why can’t I get along with my boss?” or “Why is my subordinate so impractical?”—then the insights presented here about human nature and behavior in the workplace may expand your understanding.
If you are concerned about your organization—whether it is for-profit or nonprofit—then what I say about organizational decision-making may be highly relevant to your work.
If your interests lie in the basic social sciences, and you are seeking fruitful directions for research to expand human knowledge, the theoretical framework I offer may be worth your study.
If you are in applied science, education, or similar fields seeking new approaches to your problems, you may discover new avenues to explore here.
If you are part of the older generation trying to comprehend the young—or one of the young trying to communicate your hopes and concerns—then this book may provide clarity and support in addressing generational conflicts.
And finally, if you are like me—simply a human being wondering what life is really about and what it is meant to be—then you may find what I have to say both tantalizing and thought-provoking.
To some, my ideas may seem scandalous. But the goal of my work is to develop a comprehensive model of human behavior—a framework that clarifies the confusing, contradictory, and controversial aspects of human existence. One that is both understandable to the layperson and useful to both pure and applied science.
I aim to create a unified explanatory framework that brings together the many diverse theories of human behavior, one that transcends cultural boundaries, spans the past, embraces the present, and projects into the future—so that we might make better sense of human behavior and grasp the full range of the human mind.
This new theoretical framework can serve:
- The pure and applied scientist seeking to understand all human behavior and cultural institutions.
- The applied social scientist and planner in need of practical approaches to solving human problems.
- The philosopher seeking new ethical directions for mankind.
- The educator trying to explain generational differences and bridge the generation gap.
- The policy maker seeking to understand conflicts between nations or within organizations.
- The individual who simply wonders: “What is life really about?”
Above all, my aim is to explain what human life is all about, what it is meant to be, and to offer a blueprint for the future of mankind.