{"id":13087,"date":"2020-04-21T10:43:31","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T08:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paradigm21.ch\/resources\/articles\/spiral-dynamics-in-the-time-of-the-coronavirus\/"},"modified":"2026-11-06T00:03:16","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T23:03:16","slug":"spiral-dynamics-in-the-time-of-the-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paradigm21.ch\/en\/resources\/articles\/spiral-dynamics-in-the-time-of-the-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Spiral Dynamics in the Time of Coronavirus (4\/4)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spiral Dynamics is a useful tool for shedding light on the changes underway and for understanding the stages of individual, collective, and organizational transformation in an increasingly complex world. This four-part series aims to explore this lens.<\/strong><\/p>

The first article, titled Introduction to the Evolutionary Model of Spiral Dynamics<\/strong><\/a>, lays the foundation for the levels of existence and value layers of Spiral Dynamics. The second article explores The Levels of Existence in Spiral Dynamics<\/strong><\/a> in detail, and the third article illustrates Evolution Illustrated with Spiral Dynamics<\/strong><\/a> (burnout and the evolution of our post-industrial society). Finally, in this article, we highlight how the levels of existence<\/em> of Spiral Dynamics can be reactivated, illustrating this with examples from the recent Coronavirus health crisis.<\/p>

Reactivating Earlier Levels of Existence<\/h2>

The principles of evolution in Spiral Dynamics tell us that when we reach a new level of existence<\/em>, it does not replace the previous level; the impact of the latter fades without ever disappearing. This means that a previous level can be reactivated in an instant if the life conditions<\/em> demand it. For example, in a crisis situation where our survival is at stake, we automatically reactivate our survival level (Beige). Be careful not to see this as a phenomenon of regression; it is an extraordinary capacity for adaptation. Depending on the context and the situation we face, we are able to navigate through the levels of existence<\/em> that these deep layers of values represent.<\/p>

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The most current example to illustrate this point is the Coronavirus pandemic, which offers us a journey through all levels of Spiral Dynamics. Let us instead develop a capacity to observe the benefits of each level while remaining critical of the unhealthy excesses of each:<\/p>

  • Survival (Beige)<\/strong> is automatic and instinctive in nature; our reptilian brain and midbrain more or less take control of our actions. We are the product of natural genetic selection over thousands of generations based primarily on our ability to survive. This ability to take action in an emergency is in our genes and is an absolutely healthy reflex.<\/li><\/ul>

    When a dangerous virus spreads across the planet, we observe the limits of the Beige level, where unhealthy behaviors can translate into a rush for pasta or toilet paper in stores, even if it means fighting with our fellow humans for a few extra rolls. This behavior can be explained thanks to Spiral Dynamics, which allows us to understand that it is an automatic regression to the survival system<\/em> when we perceive an existential danger. There is no longer any room for rational reasoning that would emanate from the most recent area of the brain in our evolution (the neocortex); this capacity is totally bypassed by the survival instinct. Unlike migrant populations who may find themselves in a survival mode for many months or even years, it is reasonable to imagine that this state is only temporary and that once the stock of ingredients perceived as essential to survival is secured, the dominance of the reptilian brain will give way to something else.<\/p>

    Almost paradoxically, staying activated in “survival” mode over a prolonged period probably impairs the chances of survival. The people who survived Auschwitz were those who kept hope that all this would end and who still saw meaning in their lives. Those who saw only immediate survival did not hold out. This example illustrates that the ability to extract oneself from Beige functioning (despite the survival context) and reconnect with the meaning of one’s life allowed them to find strengths that others did not.<\/p>