By Gail Hochachka

Integral is the farthest reach of inter-disciplinary to date. It links "divergent" disciplines (such as the natural sciences, economics, politics, culture, psychology, and spirituality), including both the exterior (objective) aspects of life with the interior invisible (subjective and inter-subjective) aspects of individuals and cultures. In doing so, the integral approach provides a more comprehensive framework for analyzing problems and for crafting elegant solutions that more appropriately reflect the complexity of life. This makes the integral approach useful for understanding, and working with, the current eco-social issues prevalent in communities throughout the world.

What follows is an overview of three key tenets of integral theory:

1. the integral approach reveals the interior side of life
2. the integral approach sees developmental stages
3. the integral approach recognizes and respects the individual
and collective domains

the integral approach reveals the interior side of life

The integral approach weaves together the internal and external components of reality. Alongside an understanding of the nature and complexity of interconnected systems, there is also recognition of interior dynamics (psychological, cultural and spiritual) in the system. An integral approach, therefore, retains the existing practices that focus on the "exterior" components of life, such as biological systems, economic initiatives, social organizing, governance and sustainability, and also works with the interior components, such as worldviews, value-systems and epistemologies. These interior parts of society inform our opinions and decision-making, essentially guiding the ways we make meaning of our surroundings and interactions.

As interiority is invisible it often gets left out of our more "externally focused" society. Interiority tends to get left to psychologists, counselors, philosophers, spiritual guides and religious leaders while the rest of society can get on with tackling the 'real' issues with more scientifically-proven and practical methods. An integral approach values both the subjective experiences and the pragmatic methodologies. This integration is powerful and necessary in today's world.

With an understanding of interiority, it becomes easier to identify the underlying values, needs, worldviews and motivations that arise when engaged in the work of eco-social change. This enables a more effective working dynamic between and among non-profits, businesses, government and communities, as well as more psychologically sophisticated internal management of staff, employees and project coordinators.

the integral approach sees developmental stages

Working with environmental or social issues is working with the on-going process of change. Deep, fundamental shifts in our ways of thinking foster visible changes in society, such as new institutions, management plans, laws and economic systems. This deeper aspect to change acknowledges the emergence of new worldviews and value systems. These emerging worldviews and values unfold in nested, developmental stages, moving towards more and more complexity modes, through childhood, adolescence and adulthood. This is based on extensive and empirical research in developmental psychology (see resources) and has been explained by many wisdom traditions from East and the West. But we can simply look into our own experiences to explore this: if you think back to your own process of change, you can trace the inner shifts that have occurred throughout your life.

Two key commonalities of these explorations of change are: 1) that the process of growth involves emerging stages of development that transcend and include lower stages, and 2) the growth process leads to more and more complexity. Integral theory explains how fostering health in this "unfolding of complexity" is what is important, rather than trying to speed up the process of change. (In fact, the latter can only happen once there is health in the existing developmental stage). For instance, nurturing a healthy expression of existing value systems is more important that trying to change those value-systems. What is needed is a "bridge" between the existing way of thinking and the emerging one, and this can be fostered by simultaneously supporting and challenging people in the tasks at hand.

Thus, to truly engage in "awareness raising", which is a part of eco-social change work, one must be able to meet other people where they are, both in terms of their value-systems and their ways of making meaning. Communication with a developmental view is more connected and effective precisely because it can understand the value systems and meaning making of the audience or cliental. This approach has immense implications in social marketing and campaign messaging, as well as in fostering meaningful dialogue between sectors.

the integral approach recognizes and respects the individual and collective domains

Integral theory sees individuals and the group as two concurrent vehicles of growth. Neither focusing on purely individual ends nor purely on collective action will solve today's global issues. Rather, solutions to eco-social concerns reside in the combination of "I" and "we". Finding long-lasting solutions will involve self-development, personal growth and individual innovation, and it will also include collective process, a common vision and collaborative action.

By seeing individuals and the collective as distinct but inter-relating wholes, it becomes easier to identify the root causes and possible solutions for problems that arise within organizations, groups and communities. Examples include communication break-down, management dysfunction and clashes between differing worldviews.

Integral theory can be applied in various ways, across various disciplines. An understanding of interiority and developmental unfolding in individuals and the group provides for better organizational design, more appropriate strategic planning and superior problem solving. For more, continue with integral applications.

The four quadrants offer different perspectives of a situation, project, development or any given topic. The model recognizes both the exterior and interior side of life as well as individual and collective domains. Klick on the picture for details.

More about the Integral Theory and Practice ....

Evolution spiral of consciousness. For more detailed information about the different stages click on the picture.

Interview with Don Beck about Spiral Dynamics in "What is enlightenment"