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Stages of psychosocial consciousness and culture
From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee
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| Chum For Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters |
Stages of psychosocial consciousness and culture
The 19th century German philosopher, Georg Hegel,
noted that conflict enables transformation to higher states of organization.
This idea was reinforced by research in the 20th; particularly in
Developmental Psychology. These states have developed sequentially through
human history as increasingly organized world views—for both individuals and
cultures.
As we develop through childhood we experience this
transformation and change as our thoughts and feelings become more complex.
Developmental psychology demonstrates that this kind of staged development
continues through adulthood. Leading researchers have supported this concept of
developmental stages: Jean Piaget, Lawrence Kohlberg, Jane Loevinger, Abraham
Maslow, and Robert Kegan.
Hierarchical structures seem judgmental to many and
too-easily reflect a prejudicial bias toward people like themselves. Kegan
concluded, and carefully defended the objectivity of a staged developmental model,
which is generally now considered indisputable.
The work of American psychologist Clare W. Graves extended
the concept of cross-cultural staged psychological development. He described
these stages as part of a
