Spiral dynamics as a theory offers an explanation of human values. The historical development of this theory with the original theoretician, Graves, not having written a seminal work, opens up possibilities of different understandings or interpretations. In this thesis the contributions of either Graves or Beck and Cowan (1996) to Spiral dynamics is not disputed. One of the goals in this thesis is to identify specific differences between Graves’s original descriptions and Beck and Cowan’s contributions. The focus will be on two main areas. First the difference between Graves’s original work and Beck and Cowan’s theory of Spiral dynamics. Second, the intricate relationship between Spiral dynamics and Existentialism will be explained. In the next chapter the theory of Spiral dynamics will be examined. This theory will be explained in terms of Graves’s original research, as well as the subsequent contribution by Beck and Cowan. Because of the complicated nature of the development and content of this theory, Spiral dynamics will form the exclusive content of Chapter 1. The theory of Existentialism will be dealt with on the following chapter. In order to understand Existentialism, it is necessary to highlight the context from which this theory developed. Therefore, the third chapter will briefly deal with the field of Phenomenology and how this field relates to Existentialism. The links between an understanding of the theory of Spiral dynamics and the theory of Existentialism will be discussed in Chapter 2. A discussion of the results will be presented in Chapter 3. The Lens questionnaire was used to show the application of the theory, Relevant Lens profiles will be shown in the Results chapter. The Lens psychometric instrument was developed to measure world views according to Graves’s original theory. In the development of this questionnaire, certain gaps in the understanding of the theory were identified. These shortcomings in the Spiral dynamics theory in terms of the precepts of the theory of Existentialism will also be addressed in this thesis. In Chapter 4 the previous chapters will be summarised, and a Conclusion will be presented. For the sake of practicality, the detailed descriptions of the Spiral according to Beck and Cowan are presented in Appendix 1. The detailed description of the research into the Lens is included in Appendix 2. For the sake of clarity the basic colours will be used to describe the different stages on the spiral. Graves described the stages as A-N, B-O, C-P, D-Q, E-R. F-S, G-T, H-U, but in this work the descriptions added by Beck and Cowan (1996) will be used. Therefore A-N will be referred to as Beige, B-O will be referred to as Purple, C-P will be referred to as Red, D-Q will be referred to as Blue, E-R will be referred to as Orange, F-S will be referred to as Green, G-T will be referred to as Yellow, and H-U will be referred to as Turquoise. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Psychology / unrestricted

AbstractKnutsson, Henrik (2008). Skolans Fostrande Roll, En studie kring arbetsmetoden ”Bra Val”School´s Educating Role A survey about the method Making Good Choice Examensarbete 15 högskolepoäng, SÄL 3:2, Lärarutbildningen, Malmö högskolaI min undersökning har jag försökt ta reda på hur eleverna på ett individuellt utformat program i Malmö, uppfattar arbetet med den individuella bedömningen av genomförandet av lektioner som vi kallar Bra Val. Metoden Bra Val har sitt ursprung i trappmodellen, Det är ditt val, hämtat från boken Ordning och reda i skolan, skriven av Edin och Drummond (2006). Arbetet bygger på att lärarens ledarskap skapa förutsättning för en social utveckling i skolan. Tillsammans med arbetet med veckorapporten i Bra Val skall eleven bli varse och lockas till goda val i undervisningen och lära sig stå för de konsekvenser valen innebär. Jag valde att göra en enkätstudie detta för att få ett så neutralt inflytande över svaren som möjligt. Svaren från enkäten har kompletterats med litteratur studier samt möte och samtal med författaren Mats Edin. Resultatet visar att vi har lyckats skapa positiv utvecklings spiraler hos eleverna. Den främsta slutsatsen är att eleverna upplever att de är hjälpt av arbetssättet med Bra Val i undervisningen, eleverna upplever att de aktivt tänker på att göra goda val i undervisningen och att de känner att de lyckas på lektionerna.

No description available.

Globalisation had a major impact on the way organisations operate. Access to information and innovative technology connote that organisational leaders need to make timely decisions while considering a range of rapidly changing variables. Leaders of global organisations need to make sense of complex information and anticipate the long-term outcomes of making different decisions. This requires highly developed cognitive skills. However, these are not the only factors influencing strategic decisions. Value systems also affect the choices organisational leaders make. Limited existing research has investigated the relationship between values and cognition within organisational leadership. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive complexity, cognitive processes and individual values at a senior management level in a multinational company. Cognition is explored in terms of cognitive processes and levels of work (as measured by the Cognitive Process Profile), and values are explored in terms of value systems (as measured by the Value Orientations questionnaire). The study is based on a quantitative research design, where a sample of 265 executives, senior managers and directors employed at a multinational organisation completed the assessments. The empirical study (N = 265) yielded some weak, yet statistically significant, relationships between cognition and value systems among organisational leaders in a multinational organisation. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Globalisation had a major impact on the way organisations operate. Access to information and innovative technology connote that organisational leaders need to make timely decisions while considering a range of rapidly changing variables. Leaders of global organisations need to make sense of complex information and anticipate the long-term outcomes of making different decisions. This requires highly developed cognitive skills. However, these are not the only factors influencing strategic decisions. Value systems also affect the choices organisational leaders make. Limited existing research has investigated the relationship between values and cognition within organisational leadership. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive complexity, cognitive processes and individual values at a senior management level in a multinational company. Cognition is explored in terms of cognitive processes and levels of work (as measured by the Cognitive Process Profile), and values are explored in terms of value systems (as measured by the Value Orientations questionnaire). The study is based on a quantitative research design, where a sample of 265 executives, senior managers and directors employed at a multinational organisation completed the assessments. The empirical study (N = 265) yielded some weak, yet statistically significant, relationships between cognition and value systems among organisational leaders in a multinational organisation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)