The Dynamics of Now – Part One: We Are Medieval

Long-time readers know I have an interest in the psychological development theory of Spiral Dynamics. I find it useful in understanding the stages (both potential and realized) of personal development and how the theory applies this to entire societies as well (see here and here for examples). Using the prism of Spiral Dynamics, this post will contend that the majority of people who live on the planet today are at a “medieval” stage of psychological development. 

Most people so far in the 21^st century do not possess a “contemporary” psychological toolbox and are, psychologically speaking, the same as people many centuries before. They are living with a psychological disability toward the events of our times.

This has nothing to do with their ability to use technology or to effectively play the game of consumerism. It also has nothing to do with their intelligence. High IQ people were around long before the Middle Ages. Most people are, rather, psychologically disabled when confronted by what I call constant becoming (also see above links). 

In other words, living and even being successful in contemporary society has little to do with the psychological tools one possesses. It does, however, have everything to do with how threatened or disaffected these people feel with regard to our times. I will map these characteristics onto the psychological theory of Spiral Dynamics, which I find useful in analyzing the state of the world today.

First, I want to clarify what I mean by a “psychological toolbox.” The concept is endorsed by many in the mental health and personal development fields. Therapists often use this metaphor to explain coping mechanisms and self-care strategies to their clients. It can be a powerful tool for clients to visualize the different techniques they have available to manage difficult emotions and situations.

The toolbox metaphor is also used in various self-help resources, such as books and websites. These resources often suggest different tools you can add to your psychological toolbox, such as relaxation techniques, journaling exercises, or communication skills. Educational materials, including psychology textbooks aimed at students, sometimes use the toolbox metaphor to explain different psychological concepts and coping mechanisms.

For instance, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a resource called "Building Your Coping Toolbox" that utilizes this metaphor. Additionally, a book titled "A Psychology Toolbox: Creative Class Activities That Support Students' Growth and Development" uses this concept to explain various activities that can be used to improve students' mental well-being.

So the concept of a psychological toolbox is by no means my invention. It is a real-world, helpful and widely used metaphor in the field of mental health. It empowers individuals to take charge of their well-being and provides a framework for understanding the different strategies they can use to manage life's challenges. That is exactly my usage here.

A well-equipped psychological toolbox isn't limited to one type of tool. It can incorporate strategies for managing your thoughts (cognitive tools), regulating your emotions (emotional tools), and building strong relationships (social tools). A vital part of your toolbox are behavioral tools like time management or habits of health. Having a clear understanding of your values can also be a powerful tool, guiding your decisions and fostering purpose.

Examples of cognitive tools include learning to challenge negative thoughts. Journaling can also be a powerful tool, allowing you to gain perspective and identify patterns in your thinking. Regularly taking time for gratitude exercises can shift your focus towards positivity and counter negativity. Available emotional tools include deep breathing exercises to relax and calm your body and mind, mindfulness meditation, and introspectively recognizing what situations or thoughts typically trigger negative emotions allows you to develop coping mechanisms beforehand. Social tools help build and maintain healthy relationships through techniques like active listening, learning to better communicate your needs and pleasures to others, and developing empathy for others, building trust and compassion in your relationships.

Of course, these are just a few examples. The tools you can develop are numerous and can come from different sources. Everybody has psychological tools, some new (like emotional intelligence), some old (like curiosity). The point is you already have a toolbox and it is filled with tools that match your specific stage of psychological development according to Spiral Dynamics. But your toolbox will contain nothing from stages of development beyond where you find yourself at the present, which is sort of the point of this post. You obviously cannot use anything as a tool outside your awareness. There are some universal tools like resilience or self-discipline that apply regardless of your psychological stage, but surprisingly few of us use either of these. Hence, we tend to classify the few who do use them as “heroic” in some way when, in fact, these are quite ordinary and available to us all.

With that clarified, we should attempt to broadly define the characteristics of medieval psychology. In the medieval period, thinking was pre-rational and faith-based rather than based on scientific reasoning and empirical evidence. There was more focus on belief, tradition, and mystical experiences. This aligns with the Purple, Red and Blue vMemes in Spiral Dynamics which value safety, security, power, tradition and a tribal order (see above links for details on the color-coded vMemes of this psychological development model).

Generally, people lacked the conception of individualism that later emerged in the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras (though common selfishness has been around forever). Identity was more tied to family, social rank, occupation, religion, etc. This involves the Purple, Red, and Blue vMemes as well, which define self through group bonds and traditional order.

Medieval society was acutely structured and hierarchical, with little social mobility. People were born into a fixed position. There was minimal diversity or pluralism of thought in the medieval period. Religious, political, and intellectual life was dominated by centralized authorities. These characteristics relate to Purple and Blue conformist tendencies.

With limited scientific understanding, medieval thinking relied heavily on superstitions, mystical explanations, and myths. This aligns with the pre-rational magical thinking of Purple and much of Blue. Meanwhile, traditions and rituals were seen as fixed, timeless entities that should not be changed. This resistance to change mirrors Blue characteristics with its embrace of established norms.

For these reasons, a medieval psychological perspective as seen through Spiral Dynamics emphasizes pre-rational faith, hierarchical social standing, and rigid adherence to tradition - reflective of the Purple, Red, and Blue levels of personal and societal development. Progression to rational, independent thinking (Orange) did not begin to occur on a cultural scale until the Renaissance and Enlightenment, though, of course, there were a few people in the Orange category all along, think da Vinci, for example.

While the medieval period refers to a particular historical era, many of its psychological and societal underpinnings continue to persist and influence contemporary society. For example, faith-based and tribal thinking still exerts a strong influence over many individuals and communities today. Conspiracy theories, superstitions, and distrust of science, the elevation of belief over empirical evidence expose massive pre-rational (thus pre-Orange) tendencies throughout the global population.

Most Americans who will vote in 2024 will do so out of emotional belief instead of reasoned fact. And most “facts” won't be actually factual, yet they will be labeled as such merely to satisfy everyone's internalized validity needs, not out of objective reality. People mistake what they believe to be true as rational fact all the time and probably since rationality first emerged in our species. We will witness a form of mass confirmation bias of a religious, political, nationalistic, or ideological nature (just as we did post-election 2020). Total adherence to group-think remains strong especially within the pathetic world of social media. Even though social mobility has increased in contemporary times, rigid social, economic, and political hierarchies continue to persist globally. Nepotism, class systems, autocracies all point to medieval hierarchical tendencies still rampant today.

Contemporary pluralism (much of Orange and all of Green) contends with strong in-group versus out-group mentalities, as well as high political and cultural polarization in society, revealing a medieval-like lack of social diversity. Whether in the form of Internet/social media disinformation or political theater, myths and rituals retain cultural significance revealing the medieval psyche's ongoing influence.

So in many ways, the medieval mindset still shapes contemporary individuals and societies, even amidst rational enlightenment. It reveals the continuing tension between faith and reason, rigid order and pluralism. Individuals and societies have developed in many ways, but medieval characteristics persist in latent and explicit ways. Understanding this continuity provides insight into the human condition.

Ken Wilber’s take on Spiral Dynamics offers a unique (I would argue enhanced) perspective on the development of values and worldviews, and how they shape our political landscape. In Trump and the Post-Truth World (2017), Wilber delves into the implications of the “post-truth” era, and how it reflects the state of American consciousness. It’s certainly thought-provoking. For what follows, Wilber stresses that all individuals have all the stages of consciousness (Purple, Red, Blue, Orange, Green) available to them and each “higher” stage of development remains inclusive of those prior to them. Yet, we will see that, for various reasons, most of us never develop to our psychological potential. Few ever have.

Wilber argues that the Amber vMeme (his re-framing of Blue), traditionalist, conformist stage of consciousness is prevalent in contemporary society, and Trump's brand of populism resonates strongly with people at this level. The Amber perspective values stability, security, and compliance, and feels threatened by the rapid changes of the past few decades. Donald Trump's emphasis on nationalism, tradition, and "making America great again" clearly appeals to this segment of the population.

Wilber believes Red and Amber make up a majority of American society (about 55%). The Red level is characterized by an self-absorbed, power-driven mentality (Trump and MAGA are Red), while the Amber level prioritizes group conformity and tradition. Together, they create a potent mix of self-absorption, psycho-fixation and tribalism that can be susceptible to the kind of populist, divisive rhetoric that Trump freely employs.

According to Wilber, with such a significant portion of the population operating from the Red and Amber stages of consciousness, the emergence of a leader like Trump and a movement like MAGA is almost an inevitability. These stages of consciousness are drawn to strong, charismatic leaders who promise a return to traditional values and offer simple solutions to complex problems (see the Einstellung Effect). Trump's message tapped into these deep-seated desires, leading to his electoral success (though he is clueless about the psychological reason behind his success. It isn't about him and he is incapable of seeing anything beyond himself – a solidly Red credential. His brain is wired more toward the Greco-Roman [pre-medieval] world than contemporary society).

Spiral Dynamics can indeed be seen as just a lens or framework for understanding the evolution of consciousness. Wilber contends that awareness of these psychological stages can facilitate dialogue and empathy between different groups. If we can recognize that everyone is operating from their own level of consciousness, perhaps we can approach discussions with more understanding and less judgment. Of course, awareness alone won't lead to transformation — that requires internal work and a willingness to evolve. The fact is virtually no Red people and only a few Amber people would ever make an attempt to "move" beyond their present stage of consciousness.

According to Wilber's interpretation of Spiral Dynamics, people at the Red and Amber stages are generally not inclined to question or challenge their existing beliefs and worldviews. The Red stage is driven by self-interest and immediate gratification, while the Amber stage values stability and precedent. It is the later psychological stages of Orange (rational) and Green (relativistic) that most prioritize personal growth and question the status quo.

So, we Americans find ourselves, in an election year, with the majority of our population at stages of personal psychological development that are essentially unchanged for 500 years. It is not my intent to resolve this inevitable situation. This is the Tao. As we will see, the on-going transformation to Green will accelerate among Generations Z and, especially, Alpha. These generations are already more Green than any previous generations in human history. Red and Amber will not change internally. They will remain traumatized and regressive and, likely, become violent in the face of contemporary times.

Trump's infamous “bloodbath” and “execution” proclamations and copious rhetoric of hate is the supreme wish of Red and probably of a large minority of Amber, too. But these stages will fade out through time, just as once-dominant Purple lost significance thousands of years ago. They will also fade because, at the individual scale of psychological development, Red and Amber are precursors to Orange and Green. In fact, it is the growing marginalization and irrelevance of people who do not evolve beyond the Red and Amber stages of consciousness that creates the tension that Trump is capitalizing on. Their worldviews are, indeed, threatened. Therefore, they are far more motivated to preserve their way of life by attacking the values of some Orange and most Green psychologies.

The shift towards a more inclusive, compassionate, and collaborative worldview (Green) is an organic, generational process. Only since the 1960's has Green emerged as a legitimate force in the world. It’s certainly true that younger generations, like Gen Z and Gen Alpha, tend to be more open-minded and progressive in their values. It seems likely that this is the expression of the Tao, or the natural, directional flow of things.

The Tao will express itself regardless of our personal beliefs and conscious preferences. There is nothing we humans can do about any of this except simply be who we are. We are part of a larger current, a flowing river. This is the way of things. With each new generation, more inidviduals are slowly growing into a psychologically Green world (and beyond to the “second tier” of Spiral Dynamics – Yellow and Turquoise). Generation Alpha's grandchildren will not have as many Amber members and Green will likely outnumber Orange among them. There will be almost no Red at all. It will be a complete flip-flop of the way things are in Wilber's book about the 2016 election.

Another way to look at this is to go back to the Middle Ages. In 1524, the world was clearly dominated by Purple, Red and Amber vMemes. During this pre-Enlightenment stage Orange was only beginning to make itself felt as a force in individual growth and societal development. Meanwhile, Green hardly existed at all, composing about as much of society then as Purple does today, insignificant outliers. Clearly, a shift has occurred over the past five centuries and it is gaining what we could call “generational momentum.”

Although we have a lingering human tendency to seek agency and control, the Tao's unfolding of human consciousness is a natural, trans-agent, inescapable process. Our world is indeed moving (slowly) toward a Green-dominant future. It’s fascinating to imagine a society where the Amber and Red stages are in the minority, and Green values of collaboration, inclusion, fluidity, and ecological awareness dominate, paving the way for still more global and inclusive stages of consciousness which lie beyond the scope of this post.

For today, the Red and Amber stages constitute a medieval psychology, behavioral tools that have been around for hundreds of years. As such, they are operating with a psychological disability toward Green. Viewing the Red and Amber stages as a kind of disability with regard to Orange and Green highlights the deep-seated nature of these worldviews and the challenges they pose to human development. They are pathologically rooted in a mindset that, while useful in the past, is less suited to the complexities of our world, that seek to reboot the past.

Though not mentioned by Wilber, it is critical to note the potential trauma experienced by those operating primarily from Red, Amber, and even some Orange consciousness in the face of rapid societal and technological change. One crucial dynamic to consider in the transition towards a Green-dominated consciousness is the tension and trauma experienced by those firmly rooted in earlier stages of development. This is the essence of the so-called “culture wars” today.

The Red and Amber vMemes, with their emphasis on power dynamics, authority, and adherence to a perpetual sense of tradition, are profoundly unsettled by today's accelerating pace of technological and psychological change. Even many at the Orange stage, while embracing individualism and rationality, feel a sense of instability and displacement as long-held cultural norms get disrupted.

This psychological upheaval manifests in various ways – a fierce protectiveness of familiar identities, resistance to new ideas perceived as threats, and a yearning to regress to allegedly simpler times. There is a clear propensity toward aggression, disruption and violence among Red. Demagogues like Trump, while lacking a nuanced understanding of these undercurrents, have deftly tapped into this vein of insecurity. His authoritarian rhetoric resonates with those traumatized by the relentless march of contemporary times, offering sedating visions of preserving and restoring past glories while addressing the forces of change with old tools (fear, anger) that attempt to reboot the past.

In contrast, Green is more open to change as an opportunity for growth, continually redefining itself through a kaleidoscope of new perspectives. This existential divide creates profound tensions in societal transformation. Those anchored to Red, Amber, and the more conventional Orange positions are ready to lash out at the unfamiliar, perceiving it as an attack on their very essence. Again, violence is a very real possibility here if the threat seems to become otherwise unstoppable (which it is, though regression might temporarily slow the pace).

This clash of worldviews is literally fraying the social fabric. I don't mean to imply that people operating from Red and Amber stages are somehow less intelligent or in need of "re-education." These stages are a product of generations of evolution and are deeply ingrained in large segments of the population. Nevertheless, as new generations come into being, they bring with them new perspectives and values that gradually shift the overall balance of cultural psychology.

For now, the lifeworld of most Americans is essentially medieval, even as technology and consumerism evolve into the future. We will not return to 1524 or even to 1954, no matter how much some people, courts, or organizations may want that. Regressive psychology might slow the unfolding of things, but it will be temporary, impermanent. As new generations come “online” this medieval psychology will become less relevant – but likely more volatile.

If this medieval country elects Trump president again (which appears very likely today), we will see a lot of political damage (Project 2025) and perhaps his devoutly conservative administration will embolden the violent tendencies of Red. If he loses then he has already promised a “bloodbath.” I feel, either way, there will be blood. Most Americans (and the rest of the world) are simply not psychologically enabled to address the demands of the contemporary world. They are traumatized and angry by the accelerating pace of change and the strangeness that it brings.  

Constant becoming threatens most of the Earth's population.  They will not do the internal work necessary to grow psychologically.  Instead, they will lash out even if they win a temporary reprieve.  Violence is latent in every stage of human consciousness but those who are more psychologically attuned to physical aggression (Red/Amber) are more likely to react violently toward the world as it becomes evermore Green.

(to be continued)

Late Note (7/18/24):  The New Republic published an excellent article today entitled "Why Some Americans Really Do Want an Authoritarian in Charge."  It fundamnetally supports what I am saying here.  The author stresses the "primitive" nature of many Americans.  I had Claude summarize it for me....

This article explores the unexpected appeal of authoritarianism to a significant portion of the American public, particularly in relation to Donald Trump's popularity. Regarding the "primitive" nature of those drawn to authoritarianism and their numbers, the article presents several striking statistics. According to a Pew Research Center study, 32% of Americans believe a military regime or authoritarian leader would be a good way to govern the country. A PRRI study found that 38% of Americans think the country needs a leader who will "break some rules" to "set things right." Additionally, a poll by Steve Schale revealed that 56% of voters agreed that America needs stronger presidents who will use their power to make change and get things done.

The article describes the desire for authoritarianism as rooted in a "primitive" psychological need for security and conformity. Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries, a psychoanalyst and professor, states, "Human beings are actually very primitive. They are looking for a father figure to take care of them." This desire is attributed to several factors, including a need for security in times of perceived threat or change, a longing for conformity and nostalgia for a "simpler" time, protection of in-group interests, and anxiety caused by global issues such as wars, climate change, pandemics, and economic insecurity.

The piece references Erich Fromm's work, which suggests that the freedom provided by democracy can paradoxically make individuals feel alienated and anxious, making them vulnerable to authoritarian figures who offer meaning and order. Interestingly, the article notes that even people who have experienced authoritarian regimes may still express nostalgia for the order and predictability they provided.

Kets de Vries suggests that supporters of authoritarian figures like Trump are "willing to be blind to all the defects" of these leaders. This selective perception contributes to the enduring appeal of authoritarian-leaning politicians.

The article presents a complex picture of authoritarian appeal, suggesting that it taps into fundamental human psychological needs and vulnerabilities. The significant numbers of people expressing support for authoritarian-leaning ideas indicate that this is not a fringe sentiment but a substantial undercurrent in American political thought. 

(All emphasis is mine, not Claude.  These "primitive" people are all of Red and much of Amber in terms of Spiral Dynamics.  Troubling, yet fascinating stuff to corroborates much of what I wrote in this post.)