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.

Don E. Beck
Beck in 2010
Born1937
NationalityAmerican
Education
Known forSpiral Dynamics Integral
Scientific career
FieldsSpiral Dynamics, Systems Thinking
Institutions
InfluencesClare W. Graves, Muzafer Sherif

Education and academia

Beck received a B.A from Abilene Christian College in 1958 and his M.A in Theology and Communication from the same institution a year later in 1959.[1] He was awarded his Ph.D. in Communication and Social Psychology with a focus on large scale systems dynamics and change in 1966 by the University of Oklahoma. His dissertation was on the psychological forces that produced the American Civil War.[2]

Beck has held academic positions at various institutions including the University of North Texas (UNT) from 1961-1981, Adjunct Professor at Conoco Corporate University from 1998-1999, and Adizes Graduate School from 2000 to the present day.[3]

In 1974, while working as a professor at UNT, Beck encountered an article[4] by Graves in The Futurist. He contacted Graves, and at the latter's invitation and flew to New York to meet him in 1975. After two days of dialogues, Beck decided to record Graves' knowledge, as the latter's health was deteriorating.[5] Beck and Graves were later joined by UNT faculty member Christopher Cowan. Both Beck and Cowan left UNT in 1981 to work with Graves full-time, which they continued to do until Graves's death in 1986.[5][6]

Initiatives

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

  • The National Values Center in Denton, Texas[7] 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.[8] 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,[9] focused on the value systems alignment for a two state solution.

Spiral Dynamics

Development of the theory

Beck and Cowan further developed Graves's emergent cyclical theory and presented a structured evolutionary model of adaptive intelligence called Spiral Dynamics. They first published their construct in Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership, and Change (Exploring the New Science of Memetics) (1996).[10] They introduced a simple color-coding for the eight value systems identified by Graves (and a predicted ninth) which is better known than Graves's letter pair identifiers.[11]

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).

Graves' original theory compared a number of psychological and behavioral constructs such as Max Weber, Abraham Maslow, and Jane Loevinger.[12] Beck and Cowan's Spiral Dynamics theory was also influenced by:

Spiral Dynamics (SD) and Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi)

Cowan filed to register "Spiral Dynamics" as a service mark in 1998, while Beck wanted to keep the name open for academic use.[18] The two parted ways in 1999, with Cowan forming a consulting business with Natasha Todorovic.[19] While the original service mark was canceled in 2009, Cowan and Todorovic re-filed for both a trademark and service mark in 2010.[20] Cowan considered Spiral Dynamics to be fundamentally the same as Graves's theory, despite differing terminology.[19] Beck continued to use the Spiral Dynamics name for the next couple of years.[19]

Beck had been drawn to the work of Integral theorist Ken Wilber,[19] whose book A Theory of Everything (2000) incorporated Beck and Cowan's Spiral Dynamics as a "core element" alongside Wilber's AQAL framework.[21]

In the last weeks of 2001, Beck announced Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi). In the announcement, he credited Wilber with significantly increasing the level of interest in Spiral Dynamics, and also cited the influence of John Petersen of the Arlington Institute and Ichak Adizes.[22]

By 2005, Beck's working relationship with Wilber had also disintegrated as Beck felt that Wilber had distorted the Spiral Dynamics/Gravesian model. Wilber subsequently de-emphasized SDi, and recolored its levels to fit his spiritual emphasis.[23]

Applications

Beck made more than 36 trips to South Africa between 1981 and 1988.[24] 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 commends Beck "for his invaluable contributions toward the peaceful creation of a democratic South Africa."[25]. In 2005, Beck, Elza Maalouf, and Said E. Dawlabani created The Center for Human Emergence Middle East (CHE-ME), a non-profit think tank through which his engagement in the region was sponsored. [26] Beck and Maalouf held meetings and trainings hosted in Israel,[27] speaking to the Arab Governor of Bethlehem, Salah Al Taamari; three members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and presenting to 40 city council members, government employees, and professors from Bethlehem University. Beck presented to the United Nations, June 21, 2007, at the Values Caucus where he challenged the Security Council to adopt a new approach to global governance.[28][29][30][31][32] At the same event, Elza S. Maalouf presented a model called Palestine 21.[33][34][35]

Beck made a number of trips to the Netherlands, starting with work for the Dutch telecom company KPN in the 1990s, including consulting to the Dutch Police force (2004)[36] and leading to the establishment by Peter Merry of the second Center for Human Emergence in 2005. The first center for Human Emergence was established in Copenhagen, Denmark, in May, 2004, in close collaboration with Teddy Hebo Larsen [37] He continued to support the Dutch Center for Human Emergence, including in the setting up of the Hague Center.[38]

Beck has worked with the Denton Police Department, the Texas Department of Human Services, and the cities of Plano, Grapevine, and Colleyville.[39]. He has also consulted companies like Southwest Airlines and Whole Foods.[40] Additionally he worked with the Dallas Cowboys,[41] the Texas Rangers, the Springboks,[42] and the U.S. Olympic Committee for Men's Track and Field. He also wrote a "Sports Values" column in The Dallas Morning News for many years and served as the Sports Psychology Editor for the Inside Pitch baseball magazine.[43]

Additional books, audio, video, publications
  • Spiral Dynamics in Action: Humanity's Master Code. By Don Edward Beck et al. Wiley, 2018. ISBN 1119387183
  • 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
  • The Master Code and Integral Politics in Polarized America, by Don E. Beck, Integral Leadership Review, March 2013[44]
  • Don Beck: In Quest of the Master Code, at the Inside Edge Foundation, February, 2012, video[45]
  • Don Beck: Spiral Dynamics Integral. Sounds True, Boulder, 2006
  • Don Beck at the Transformational Leadership Symposium, November 20–21, 2009, video[46]
  • Changing the World and Work, ABC National Radio (interview transcript) with Dr. Rachel Kohn[47]
  • 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
  1. Beck, Don Edward (1959). A History of Speech Education at Abilene Christian College, 1906- 1958 (MA). Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian College. OCLC 27407980.
  2. Beck, Don Edward (1966). The Rhetoric of Conflict and Compromise : A Study in Civil War Causation (PhD). Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma. OCLC 3401047.
  3. Adizes Graduate School commemorates Beck's 70th birthday Archived October 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, January 31, 2007
  4. Graves, Clare W. (April 1974). Cornish, Edward (ed.). "Human Nature Prepares for a Momentous Leap". The Futurist. pp. 72–87. Retrieved 5 Aug 2020.
  5. Krumm, Rainer; Parstorfer, Benedikt (10 Oct 2014). Clare W. Graves, Sein Leben sein Werk (in German). Werdewelt Verlag. ISBN 978-3981531886.
  6. Cowan, Chris. "About NVC Consulting". Spiral Dynamics. Retrieved 17 Aug 2020.
  7. National Values Center, Denton, Texas, aka: Spiral Dynamics Group, website
  8. http://www.humanemergence.org/home.html
  9. Build Palestine Initiative, website
  10. Beck and Cowan (1996)
  11. Butters (2015), pp. 68-69
  12. Rice, Keith E. (22 May 2016). "Graves Comparison Map". Retrieved 3 Aug 2020.
  13. Rice, Keith E. (4 October 2015). "Assimilation-Contrast Effect". Retrieved 3 Aug 2020.
  14. Spiral Dynamics confab 2008, Beck presents the A/CE – Part II on YouTube video
  15. Beck (2018), para. 5
  16. Beck and Cowan (1996), pp. 27, 30-33
  17. Butters (2015), p. 69
  18. U.S. Service Mark 75,477,781
  19. Butters (2015), p. 71
  20. U.S. Trademark 85,125,521, U.S. Service Mark 85,125,521
  21. MacDonald, Copthorne. "Review Of: A Theory of Everything". Integralis: Journal of Integral Consciousness, Culture, and Science. 1 (0). Retrieved 12 Aug 2020.
  22. Beck, Don (2001). "Spiral Dynamics in the Integral Age". Integral World. Retrieved 2 Aug 2020.
  23. Butters (2015), pp. 69, 71-73
  24. Eldar, Akiva (12 Feb 2006). "The eight-stage spiral to peace in the Mideast". Haaretz. Retrieved 3 Aug 2020.
  25. Texas Legislature Archive Document 74R SR00901F, (proposal is #627)
  26. "Build Palestine Initiative: How to Walk the Talk" (PDF). Palestine Times. January 26, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  27. "Afoot with Don Beck in the Middle East", by Rafael Nasser, Integral Israel
  28. The Values Caucus at The United Nations, website
  29. United Nations Values Caucus presentation Archived 2013-10-12 at the Wayback Machine, web page
  30. Don Beck Addressing Gathering at the United Nations in 2007 on YouTube
  31. United Nations Presentation Met With Great Success, videos and discussion
  32. "A growing Spiral Dynamics influence in the Middle East", by Kieth E. Rice, Integrated SocioPsychology, August 22, 2009
  33. Integral Options Cafe: Don Beck and Elza Maalouf, June 21, 2007, at the United Nations
  34. Integral Leadership Review: Beck and Maalouf at the United Nations (June 21, 2007), plus ILR interview by Russ Volckmann
  35. "6th convention Fateh's and the building of a nation", by Elza Maalouf, Common Ground News Service, August 20, 2009
  36. Don, Beck (April 12, 2005). "Windmills, Tulips, and Fundamentalism" (PDF). Spiral Dynamics.
  37. http://www.humanemergence.org/copenhagen.html
  38. Don, Beck (April 5, 2010). "Dr Don Beck's Challenge to the Hague Center". Peter Merry blog.
  39. "74(R) SR 901 Enrolled version - Bill Text". www.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  40. "Don Beck and the New Face of Philanthropy", by Rafael Nasser, Integral Leadership Review
  41. "If This is America's Team, Woe Is America: The Cowboys' scandalous off-field behavior bespeaks a team that lacks a moral compass", by Peter King, Sports Illustrated, April 8, 1996
  42. Integral Leadership Review Vol. X, No. 1., January 2010, Includes "The Story Behind 'Invictus': Man Aided Team Now on Screen", by Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe, Thursday, December 24, 2009; and "CODA: Reflections on Power, Love, Don Beck and Rugby in South Africa", edited by Tim Glober
  43. Inside Pitch magazine online, website
  44. "The Master Code and Integral Politics in Polarized America", by Dr. Don E. Beck, Integral Leadership Review, March 2013
  45. Don Beck: In Quest of the Master Code on YouTube, at the Inside Edge Foundation, February 2012, video
  46. Don Beck at the Transformational Leadership Symposium on YouTube, November 20–21, 2009, video
  47. "Changing the World and Work", ABC National Radio (interview transcript) with Dr. Rachel Kohn, March 7, 2004
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