Stages of Social Growth and Development

"Life is nothing but brutal basic survival of the meanest S.O.B. and I have been handed the short and dirty end of the stick since birth."

Such is the statement that may be made by someone at this level of social development.

They will always be solo individuals. They may come from a suppressed or persecuted ethnic or minority group.

They may live in or have grown up in neighborhoods where the odds of not being mugged, arrested or killed depend on who they pissed off yesterday.

They can also be found amongst those who suffer from a psychosis or other mental illness which causes them to feel unjustly persecuted by others.

All these situations can breed an individual that has no constraints.

The only options left to them appear to be to do what ever it takes to survive even if it is at the cost of others.

Moral, social and ethical considerations are put aside and replaced by the basic survival instinct.

With the exception of rare instances, on this level there is no cohesive structure or loyalty to anything or anyone.

Even family holds no sway unless they can be used for the advancement of perceived personal gain or agenda.

Any alliances are only temporary and are invalidated when their usefulness no longer benefits the survival of the individual.

Without exception these individuals eventually are incarcerated in mental institutions or killed while resisting apprehension.

*Cohesive Survival Stage
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The same statement as in the last type holds true with a significant qualifier as the major difference.

"Life is nothing but brutal basic survival of the meanest S.O.B. and I have been handed the short and dirty end of the stick since birth. BUT... I am going to get what life owes me!"

The breeding ground for this type of social attitude and the general direction of growth are the same again...

Individuals who come from a suppressed or perceived minority or ethnic group.

Those who live in neighborhoods where the odds of not being mugged, arrested or killed depend on who they pissed off yesterday.

Those who come from a society that is shattered by any major social disaster such as war.

Those who suffer from a psychosis or other mental illness which causes them to feel persecuted unjustly by others.

Such situations can breed individuals who band together under an ideal or leadership for the power it provides the individual in pursuit of their personal agenda.

There is loyalty in these alliances but it is usually enforced by the group and the method of control is invariably through fear.

Authorities outside of the group are either ignored as irrelevant or tolerated but circumvented as needed.

Pervasive is a point of view that life owes them and that they have the right granted by might, to take what is rightly theirs from anyone they choose.

Prime examples of this survival tactic in action can be seen in any gang or prison.

*Survival with Social and Ethical Restraints
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Maybe its not quite that bad... maybe my life just sucks!

Companies downsized people and leave them in the cold after
years of loyal service with not even so much as a thank you or decent severance package. The bills keep coming. Hours of waiting on "HOLD" trying to reach a "Real live person".

If only this or that had happened or not happened. If only the right school had been attended or a different choice made if only, if only, if only.... ad nauseam.

The background of this type of personal growth level is usually that of the most common person in any society and limited in most cases by conditioning.

No unusual stressors during growth to cause a deviation for
either good or bad and therefore a lack of direction away from the norm.

This is the picture of the common man. Grudgingly accepting of fate and with no inclination to do much beyond whine about it.

Everything including their freedom can be taken from them with little more than a statement that "it is required" or that "it is for their own good".

It is not that they are stupid but rather that they are conditioned from birth to be accepting of what they get rather than strive for what they can achieve.

Programmed to follow the major rules of society, morality and with a weak structure of ethics. This person will "cheat" on the smaller rules if they think they can get away with it but rarely cross the lines to break a major law or taboo.

Life may suck for them but it is unlikely that they will do anything to change it. Look at any bureaucratic demand made of people and then look at the people who follow the demand like sheep to a slaughter.

*The Rule of Self Accomplishment
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Once more self interest comes to the fore.

At this stage of personal development the image of self within the society and the position this places the person in is paramount to the individual.

Those who strive for a place of power or prestige over others for their personal gain but with the approval of society in general can be found here.

The range of professions is limited to those who can achieve public spotlight and acclaim for their real or perceived accomplishments that place them in a position where they can look down upon those who have not done so.

Actors, politicians, entertainers and sports personalities are just some of the people who can be found here.

Unlike the Basic Animalistic Survivor, life for these people is good rewards are plentiful and popular recognition is common.

Unlike the previous level of development these people are doers and not meekly acceptant upon circumstances life hands them.

They are willing to work and change the environment around them in order to accomplish their goals.

They are also prone to narcissistic tenancies, self assured of their own superiority over the common man due to the position that they have achieved.

Laws and rules are usually followed because they are accepted as necessary to the life of the society that provides them with recognition thereby creating an order to the universe they live in.

*The Advent of Homo Superior
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Here is the beginning of the concept of "The greater good" or "All for one and one for all"

The environment is created rather than being reacted to. Life is good and the community is strongly interactive in its support of the individual.

At this level the society exists to serve the individual by encouraging the uniqueness of each person who in turn contributes to the existence of the whole.

This being a higher level of development and a created artifice, it is therefor difficult to maintain in the face of the general society.

On the other hand it is the perfect medium to unleash the creative muse and has the ability in those who participate, to open the wellspring of inventiveness.

Haight Ashbury and the hippie movement of the 60's epitomize the concept.

Today it is the basis for self improvment camps and the core concept behind every motivational program out there.

*Homo Invictus
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The final and penultimate level of personal growth and development.

Here a person subjugates their own will for the greater good of all.

There is no personal advancement without the benefit to all parties concerned now or in the future.

A person does what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because the law deems it so or because of society's morals but because personal ethics demand a said action.

There is no sacrifice in actions because doing what is in the best interest of all is not perceived as sacrifice. Benefits from actions come only because that is the benefit all will receive from a said action.

This level of personal growth and development is invariably the stated goal of every organized religious dogma. Few people can be pointed out as examples of this ideal.

The Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso), Mother Teresa and a few philanthropists can be pointed to as living examples. All highly successful to the extreme, with or without material rewards. All are leaders in every sense of the word.

Due to the fact that there is no personal gain, these people can not be defeated or broken. There is no win or lose for them, just a matter of the inevitable way that things are.

*Post Word
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Each of the 6 stages is its own breeding ground for more of the same. It is uncommon but not impossible for an adult to go from 1 stage to the next.

The will to accept the possibility that change is possible and the effort to implement a change are required.

Martin Luther King Jr. came from an oppressed minority and climbed the ladder of growth. Nelson Mandela did no less in the face of adversity.

Yet those of privilege are not barred either as Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated to all.

However as a rule the exercise of a growth level engenders an attitude that is then passed on to the next generation and propagated relatively unchanged for the most part.

It should also be noted that the higher a level the more complete the understanding of the levels that came before it.

Leaders come from the top levels and must be able to communicate effectively with those who come occupy the levels before them. In order to do that an understanding whether learned or innate is a requirement.

It should also be noted that each level incorporates in itself the levels before it even if they are not exercised.

Udo A Hoffmann