Grow Up

Integral philosopher, Ken Wilber, studied an array of human development models, discovered key areas of overlap, and created a map that identifies seven Stages of Development in the evolution of consciousness. The stages unfold in each of us and in the world at large. They’re not just theory. The stages explain why people clash, why cultures evolve, and why compassion deepens when we see the bigger map.

Here’s a snapshot of the main stages. Keep in mind that our modern world is primarily organized across the Traditional, Modern, Postmodern and Integral stages:

• Archaic — Survive or Die. Instinct and raw survival. It’s the fight-or-flight moment when you hear a bump in the night or rush a child to the hospital. In history, it was the era of early humans.
• Magic — Powerful or Powerless. A world alive with spirits, rituals, and omens. Think lucky socks, sacred rites, or communing with nature. In children, it’s the “I can fly!” stage. In history, hunter-gatherers and shamans.
• Mythic — Dominate or Be Dominated. Order through larger-than-life leaders, stories, and dogma. In us, it’s tribal loyalty or idolizing celebrities. In history, agrarian cultures, kingdoms, and strict codes of right and wrong.
• Traditional — Good or Bad. Ethnocentric loyalty to family, faith, and nation. Comfort in order and ritual, sometimes rigidly Us vs. Them. In history, the rise of religious institutions, law, and justice systems.
• Modern — Win or Lose. Achievement, science, and measurable success. Degrees, titles, ambition, and competition rule. Historically, the Enlightenment and Age of Reason.
• Postmodern — Oppressed or Oppressor. Equality, social justice, and care for all. Hierarchies are questioned; multiple perspectives coexist. Historically, the civil rights era, feminism, environmentalism, and social movements of the 1960s onward.
• Integral — All perspectives have truth. A radical new capacity: to see how each stage is both partially true and limited. Integral embraces paradox, holds multiple views, and respects the dignity of every stage.

Knowing your own stage and understanding others’ removes your blinders and allows you to relish the rich dynamics of culture. It helps to appreciate the beauty of others’ perspectives and gives you the tools to engage in dynamic relationships with people from all walks of life.

Grow Up is probably the toughest of the Essentials to understand—not because it’s abstract, but because the Stages of Development are “hidden maps.” The stages reflect our emotional and moral development. They’re like glasses you don’t even realize you’re wearing, quietly coloring everything you see. 

Once you learn these maps, however, you begin to notice these stages of development everywhere—in your own choices, in cultural clashes, even in world events.

Ken Wilber discovered that the stages of human development mirror the stages of global history: the rules that shape one individual’s growth also drive the evolution of cultures and nations. That’s why understanding them can be life-changing: you gain the ability to take on new perspectives, move beyond judgment, and widen your compassion.

Here’s how it works: Take a few minutes to step back and see the big picture of your life. Ask yourself:

• What stage or worldview feels most familiar to me right now?

• Which perspectives shaped my family, my community, or my culture?

• Can I recognize the stages alive in my workplace, my relationships, or even in the news?

Reflect on which stage most influences your choices today. You may notice pieces of yourself in several stages, but one will likely feel like home. That’s your gravitational center.

Knowing this gives you two powerful tools: compassion for yourself (you’re still growing, like all of us) and compassion for others (they are too). The more clearly you see the stages, the easier it becomes to step out of judgment and meet people where they are.

• Diane Musho-Hamilton — Zen teacher, Mediation and Integral conflict resolution | Read: Waking Up and Growing Up: Spiritual Cross-training for an Evolving World.
• Ken Wilber — Growing Up: A Guided Tour on Integral Life
• Steve McIntosh — Developmental Politics: How America Can Grow Into a Better Version of Itself
• John Mackey & Steve McIntosh — Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business
• The Institute of Cultural Evolution