Don Edward Beck

Don Edward Beck is a teacher, geopolitical advisor, and theorist focusing on applications of large scale psychology, including social psychology, evolutionary psychology, organizational psychology and their effect on human sociocultural systems. He is the co-author of the "Spiral Dynamics" theory, an evolutionary human development model. He spent many years adapting the work of his mentor and colleague, developmental psychologist Clare W. Graves, Professor Emeritus in Psychology at Union College in New York.

Theory development

Don Beck and Christopher Cowan in particular have ensured that Graves' work will not go unforgotten. They diligently documented his work, thus recording his knowledge. In 1974, Beck read “Futurist” and was impressed. He was a professor at Northern Texas University and flew to New York to meet Graves. After two days of dialogues, it was clear to Beck that he wanted to spend at least 10 years recording Graves' knowledge, as the latter's health was deteriorating.^[1] Beck first met Graves in 1975 and worked with him closely until his death in 1986. Graves had published his theory^[2] of human development in 1974, a "bio-psycho-social systems" framework of value systems as applied to human sociocultural evolution which posits that the psychology of the mature human being transitions from a current level of cultural existence based on current life conditions to a more complex level in response to (or to cope with) changes in existential reality. Graves's model demonstrates the dual nature of human social emergence with state changes between communal/collective value systems (sacrifice self) and individualistic (express self) value systems.

According to the 1974 Futurist biography of Graves, he began decades of experimentation and research in 1952. In the The Futurist article, Graves classified a total of eight levels of increasingly complex human value systems consisting of a hierarchically ordered, always-open-to-change set of identifiable world views, preferences, and purposes.^[3] Through these value systems, groups and cultures structure their societies and individuals integrate within them. Each distinct set of values is developed as a response to solving the problems of the previous system. Changes between states may occur incrementally (first order change) or in a sudden breakthrough (second order change).

The original 1974 publication, "Human Nature Prepares for a Momentous Leap" (The Futurist, pp. 72–87) defined the overall theory and the value systems within it. Each system may express a healthy or unhealthy manifestation of its values, as defined by Graves:

The First Tier systems were grouped by nature of their narrow perspective as "subsistence levels" (para. 4), each aligns with a specific world view that rejects the prior systems and seeks to preserve its own status quo. The differences between communal/collective and individualistic value systems, and the inability of First Tier systems to recognize the strengths or pathologies of other world views, helps to explain social conflict in the world today (para. 7).

According to Graves, the move to Second Tier thinking requires a "leap" in perspective. At Second Tier - the first 'being level', society recognizes a responsibility for facilitating the health of each value system on First Tier. The goal is not expediting emergence but the result is, when healthy, each First Tier system will naturally progress toward Second Tier.

From Graves' work, Beck and his colleague, Cristopher Cowan, developed the theory further and presented a structured evolutionary model of adaptive intelligence called Spiral Dynamics. Beck and Cowan first published their construct in Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership, and Change (Exploring the New Science of Memetics) (1996).^[4] Spiral Dynamics theory spawned much discussion and (sometimes tangential) integration of concepts by other theorists, such as Ken Wilber.^[5][6]

Influences

Graves' original theory compared a number of psychological and behavioral constructs such as Max Weber, Abraham Maslow, and Jane Loevinger.^[7] Beck and Cowan's Spiral Dynamics theory was also influenced by three additional innovations:

• Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins proposed a model of cultural information transfer in which ideas (memes), such as patterns of behavior, habits and beliefs, proliferate in a way similar to biological genes, through humans as they connect with one another socially. Memetics explains the systemic spread of values in society as social DNA in Graves' specific evolutionary sequence.
• Muzafer Sherif, his wife Carolyn Sherif, and Carl Hovland's Assimilation Contrast Effect model^[8] is grounded in social judgment theory. This model diagrams the level of ego involvement in information processing.^[9]
• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a leading researcher on positive psychology, was awarded the Clifton Strengths Prize ($250,000) in 2009 at the Gallup World Conference.^[10] He is author of The Evolving Self and best known for his notion of the "flow", the state of deep focus that occurs when people tackle challenging tasks or those which interest them greatly.

Geopolitical applications

South Africa: Don E. Beck made more than 63 trips to South Africa between 1981 and 1988. He worked with F. W. de Klerk, Nelson Mandela and John C. Hall,^[11] Chairman of South Africa's National Peace Committee, who references Beck’s ongoing (15 years) work in a 1993 interview.^[12] This work is detailed in the book The Crucible: Forging South Africa's Future.^[13]

On May 3, 1995, both houses of the Texas State Legislature (Beck’s home state) adopted a resolution (S.R. No. 901) presented by the President of the Texas Senate which cites Beck’s lifelong interest in diplomacy. The legislative resolution commends Beck^[14]

" for his invaluable contributions toward the peaceful creation of a democratic South Africa."

Beck was invited to return to South Africa in November 2012, as a key presenter for the University of Stellenbosch Business School Executive Development Event "Africa Leads" on sustainability and leadership: Responsible Leadership for Africa and the World.^[15] According to the University program announcement:

" Beck's spiral dynamics approach was the basis for the creation of the Peace Committees and subsequent CODESA process in the run up to the first post- apartheid elections in 1994."

This event was sponsored in partnership with the Globally Responsive Leadership Initiative,^[16] a United Nations based world-wide partnership of companies, business schools and learning organizations "working together to develop a next generation of globally responsible leaders".

Israel and Palestine: As reported in Haaretz (2006)^[17] and in the Palestine Times (2007),^[18] Don E. Beck had already been invited to many countries to present Spiral Dynamics by this time. Meetings and trainings hosted in Israel^[19] led to an opportunity to speak to the Arab Governor of Bethlehem, Salah Al Taamari; three members of the Palestinian Legislative Council; and to present to 40 city council members, government employees, and professors from Bethlehem University. In 2008 more than 700 Palestinians came to train in Spiral Dynamics theory with Beck and his colleague, Elza S. Maalouf. The new Palestinian vision for the future included self-sufficiency and commerce, and there was no mention of a need for conflict with Israel, according to Maalouf.

Organizational Consulting: Don E. Beck has consulted to government agencies and companies like Southwest Airlines and Whole Foods;^[20] and presented lectures, keynotes, workshops, and trainings around the world to diverse groups and organizations in Europe, the Middle East, Scandinavia, North America, South Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Each spring he hosts a Confab in Dallas, Texas.

Beck presented to the United Nations, June 21, 2007, at the Values Caucus (to a full audience, standing room only) where he challenged the Security Council to adopt a new approach to global governance.^{[21][22][23][24][25]} At the same event, Elza S. Maalouf presented a model called Palestine 21.^[26][27][28]

Beck was also associated with organizations in the world of sports: He worked with the Dallas Cowboys, as reported in both Sports Illustrated^[29] and in The Dallas Morning News^[30][31] where he wrote a "Sports Values" column for many years. In interviews and in his published books Beck has also described his work with the New Orleans Saints,^[32][33] his work as the Sports Psychology Editor for the Inside Pitch baseball magazine,^[34] his consulting work with the Texas Rangers and with the U.S. Olympic Committee for Men's Track and Field. He also describes his work as team psychologist for The South African Springboks, winners of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and describes his role in the story behind Invictus.^[35]

Beck has consulted with a number of city agencies and governments. According to the Texas Senate recognition, he worked with the Denton Police Department, the Texas Department of Human Services, and the cities of Plano, Grapevine, and Colleyville to design creative solutions for pressing social and economic problems.^[36]

Leadership

Beck has co-founded and founded a number of active initiatives:

• The National Values Center in Denton, Texas^[37] is the home of Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi), an online resource where publications and worldwide trainings are presented.
• The Center for Human Emergence is a think tank that emphasizes the scientific understanding of cultures and their evolutionary context.^[38] The Center is represented as a worldwide constellation of Value System Experts (VSEs) and Integral Design Architects (IDAs) who are helping facilitate the conscious emergence of the human species.
• As senior adviser to The Center for Human Emergence Middle East, Beck and the Center's CEO Elza Maalouf founded the Build Palestine Initiative,^[39] focused on the value systems alignment for a two state solution.

Education and academic work

Education:

• Ph.D. (1966), The University of Oklahoma with concentrations in Communication and Social Psychology. Focus: large scale systems dynamics and change. PhD dissertation on the psychological forces that produced the American Civil War.
• M.A. (1959), Abilene Christian University, Theology and Communication
• B.A. (1958), Abilene Christian University

Faculty Appointments:

• Adizes Graduate School (2000 – present)^[40]
• Adjunct Professor, Conoco Corporate University 1998-1999
• Faculty, Communication and Business, University of North Texas (1961-1981) with short appointments with Counselor Education in the School of Education.

Recent Academic Work (2012-2013):

Two noteworthy academic audiences in 2012 included 400 leaders from Mexican Business Schools at Monterrey Tech, and a global academic conference at Cape Town University in South Africa.^[41]

Research Instruments:

Don E. Beck has authored research instruments, including:

• The Values Test (1986-2002, National Values Center)
• The Change State Indicator^[42][43]
• The Culture Scan^[44]
• Online PeopleSCAN.^[45]

Additional books, audio, video, publications

Books

• Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership, and Change, by Don Beck and Christopher Cowan, 1996, 2005, Wiley/Blackwell, ISBN 1-4051-3356-2
• The Crucible: Forging South Africa's Future, by Don Beck and Graham Linscott, 1991, New Paradigm Press, ISBN 0-620-16241-4

Recent Writings:

• 2014 foreword to the book Emerge! The Rise of Functional Democracy and the Future of the Middle East
• 2013 foreword to the book MEMEnomics; The Next-Generation Economic System, September 2013.^[46]
• The Master Code and Integral Politics in Polarized America, by Don E. Beck, Integral Leadership Review, March 2013^[47]
• The Master Code: Spiral Dynamics Integral: Lincoln and Polarization, by Don E. Beck, Integral Leadership Review, January 2013^[48]
• The Master Code: Spiral Dynamics Integral: The Integral Dance: How a Master Code Pollinates and Preserves the Culture of Bumblebees, by Don E. Beck, Integral Leadership Review, June 2012^[49]

Audio, video

• Don Beck: In Quest of the Master Code, at the Inside Edge Foundation, February, 2012, video^[50]
• Don Beck: Spiral Dynamics Integral. Sounds True, Boulder, 2006
• Don Beck: The Theory That Explains Everything, interview by Nicholas Beecroft, February 21, 2012, video, with written introduction by Beck 2-22-12^[51]
• Don Beck at the Transformational Leadership Symposium, November 20–21, 2009, video^[52]
• A Better World, with Mitchell Jay Rabin, featuring Don Beck, April 29, 2009, video^[53]
• Changing the World and Work, ABC National Radio (interview transcript) with Dr. Rachel Kohn^[54]

CD, DVD

• Spiral Dynamics Integral: Learn to Master the Memetic Codes of Human Behavior, by Don Beck (CD), 2006, ISBN 978-1604073171
• Conversations with Great Thinkers and Practitioners of Our Times: Dr. Don Beck: Spiral Dynamics: A Challenge To Leadership, produced by Clearfire Media (DVD), 2006, ASIN: B000GGS0VE
• Leap into the Future: Leadership for the 21st Century, with Andrew Cohen and Don Beck, produced by EnlightenNext (DVD), 2004, ASIN: B000O7SX12

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Don Beck (management consultant).

• Don Beck's Spiral Dynamics Integral site
• Center for Human Emergence