Becoming ONE, People and Planet

BY SUZAN CAROLL

Becoming ONE
People and Planet
A Manual for Personal
and Planetary Transformation

MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR
MULTIDIMENSIONAL
MEMORIES
Dear Readers,
As a result of our process, many
multidimensional memories and stories may be
flooding our consciousness. Are these really
stories from beings on different planets, galaxies
and dimensions, or are they just our
imagination? Most important, is there a
difference between memory and imagination?
If we really are creating our own reality, then a
reality which is limited to third-dimensional
Earth is merely our choice of creation.
What if we, the creators of our reality, were
able to imagine a reality in which we were NOT
limited to the third dimension? What if WE, the
creators, were able to go into the memory of our
fully integrated Multidimensional SELF, to
recover long forgotten memories of other
realities that are beyond the confines of this
particular dimension, time and space?
Could we trust our "imagination" enough to let
go of the restraints of limiting our consciousness
to only one reality, one expression of our total
SELF? When our consciousness is restricted to
the third dimension, we cannot heal Gaia, of
whom we are a member, for it was that limited
consciousness that created the situation that
OUR planet, and ALL her creatures, is now
experiencing.
The industrial world is the result of humanity's
deepest journey into our left-brain's analytical,
sequential abilities. These abilities have taught
us absolute separation into the individual
consciousness of our "modern" world.
Meanwhile, our expanded perceptions of
telepathy, precognition, telekinesis,
clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience,
which result from the whole brain thinking of
merging our right and left hemispheres, have
been filtered out of our individual thirddimensional
consciousness.
Furthermore, with our accentuation on only
half our brain's innate capacity, we have fallen
into black and white thinking. The absolutes of
black and white thinking are based on the very
polarity that created the third-dimensional
world, as well as our quest to find the total
individuation from other humans, nature, our
planet and even our true multidimensional
SELF. We have experienced an adventure in
separation of abilities.
However, much like an entertainer who may
wish to focus only dancing until that skill feels
perfected, then only singing until that skill feels
perfected, we have disallowed ourselves the use
our full abilities. Much worse, we have hidden
our expanded abilities under our "shame of
being different." However, the dress rehearsal
for our life's performance is over, and the final
act has begun.
In order to face the ensuing challenges that
loom directly ahead, we must throw off the
illusion of shame to fully embrace our SELF and
pull together ALL that our Soul/SELF has ever
experienced on any dimension, planet or
galaxy. We must allow our imagination to
embrace and project the illumination of our
journey into the ONE.
We have learned to expand our consciousness to
cosmic consciousness by opening our Third Eye
and moving through its multidimensional
portal. Can we trust the adventures we have
had on these journeys? The multidimensional
light of the ONE basks our crown chakra and
radiates out into our physical reality via our
opened Third Eye. Simultaneously, Gaia
constantly shares her emanations up from the
core of her planetary heart, through the
highway created by our rising kundalini and
into our personal heart.
Through allowing the rise of kundalini to assist
in the integration of our Soul/SELF into each of
our chakras, we have also opened our High
Heart and merged it with our heart chakra to
complete the awakening of our planetary
consciousness. With our planetary
consciousness, we have initiated our innate
ability to be at ONE with all creatures and
matter that contribute to our group experience
of being ONE with our planet.
As the unconditional love of our expanded
heart chakra combines with our opened Third
Eye, the immense creativity of our throat
chakra bursts forth into our reality—the reality
that we are NOW creating. Our blossoming
creativity chafes at the many rules of
limitation that feel like tethers which bind our
hands, feet, heart and mind. If we are to BE
our SELF, we must break free of our limiting
cocoon like the beautiful butterfly that we are.
WE are commencing our process of
transformation from small, limited caterpillars
that only know the leaf upon which they crawl
to regal monarch butterflies that can travel
great distances on wings as fragile as lace. It is
now time to break through the confines of our
self-made cocoon. We made our cocoons in an
effort to "fit in" to a reality based on
forgetfulness of our true SELF. But, NOW, we
have remembered and none too soon.
The pivotal moment is commencing for the
planet that we have turned into a thing with
the individuality that we have so cherished.
Those of us who have awakened to our full SELF
are ready to take our place in this drama of
planetary transformation so that we can fulfill
our Divine Ideal (our Soul Purpose). Because
we have integrated our Soul/SELF into our
earth vessel, we can hear the voice of Soul
constantly encouraging and guiding us. All we
need do is surrender to our Soul, for it is
through living in surrender that we can totally
free our self from the illusions of mundane life.
What if, one-by-one, we found the courage to
"come out" as our Multidimensional SELF?
What if we balanced our intellect with our
instincts? What if we were openly telepathic,
precognitive, telekinetic, clairvoyant,
clairaudient, and clairsentient?
What is we stopped hiding our light and allowed
our illuminated essence to proudly and honestly
emanate through our fully integrated
Multidimensional SELF? With the grounding of
our Soul/SELF into Gaia's physical earth vessel
we have become the collective consciousness of
planet Earth. NOW we are ONE with Gaia and
she is ONE with us.
We have traveled through the fourth dimension
and crossed the Rainbow Bridge into the ONE.
We have expanded our consciousness from
human, individual consciousness—to planetary
consciousness—to solar consciousness—to
galactic consciousness—to cosmic consciousness.
Within our extended consciousness, our whole
brain thinking and our expanded perceptions
lies the ability to fulfill our Divine Ideal and to
contribute to the transforming planetary
reality. Together as ONE, people and planet, we
can create a planet of peace and love! What is
our personal Divine Ideal? How will we fulfill
it? To find that answer, we must go inside our
SELF and KNOW that what we receive is the
truth.
Our only real enemy is SELF-doubt, doubt that
we are infinitely ONE with our
Multidimensional SELF. If this fear begins to
invade our consciousness, we can remember to
go enter our High Heart to feel the
unconditional love of our SELF comforting us,
and enter our Third Eye to re-activate our
newly updated control panel (mind) so that we
can remember that:
WE are within the Heart of the ONE,
We are ONE with Gaia NOW!
Thank you for being your SELF,
I'll see you in the ONE,
Suzan Caroll

VOLUME ONE TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND FOREWORD

SECTION ONE: We are not just living on the planet; we are part of the planet.
CHAPTER ONE http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Awakening to SELF
Discovering our multidimensional nature
CHAPTER TWO http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Dimensional Consciousness http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Learning about our consciousness on different dimensions
CHAPTER THREE
Unconscious and Conscious Dimensional Bodies
CHAPTER FOUR
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifSee Earth as a Living Being
Correlation of human and planetary dimensional bodies
CHAPTER FIVE
Releasing Fear
Meditations and Exercises
SECTION TWO: Not only are we a part of the planet, we are a part of our SELF.
CHAPTER SIX
What is Consciousness?
Brainwaves, perception and consciousness
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Fourth Dimension
Understanding and traveling the fourth dimension
CHAPTER EIGHT
A Message from Gaiahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Elementals and and multidimensional journeyhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
SECTION THREE: If we are going to heal the planet, we must also heal ourselves.
CHAPTER NINE
The Illusion of Separation
The River of Unity
CHAPTER TEN
Entering our Earth Vessel http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Chakras and reality as a perspective
CHAPTER ELEVEN http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Introduction to the Chakras
Chakras and consciousness
SECTION FOUR: When we look into the face of SELF, we see all that stands in the way of being SELF.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Unconscious Creation
Re-Creating the Past Until it is Healed http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The First Chakra - Grounding Our New Reality http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Integrating our Soul/SELF into our root chakra and sharing our process with Gaia's first chakra at Mt. Sinai, Middle East
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Second Chakra - Gestating Our New Reality
Integrating our Soul/SELF into our navel chakra and sharing our process http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifwith Gaia's second chakra in the Brazilian Amazon
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Third Chakra - Empowering Our New Reality
Integrating our Soul/SELF into our solar plexus chakra and sharing our prohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcess with Gaia's third chakra at Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa

SECTION FIVE: When we love all creation, we can create love.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Conscious Creation
Choosing Our Thoughts, Emotions and Intentions http://www.blogger.com/img/http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifblank.gif
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Fourth Chakra - Breathing Life into Our New Reality
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Fifth Chakra - Manifesting Our New Reality http://www.blogger.com/img/blankhhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif.gif
SECTION SIX: As we become ONE with our SELF we become ONE with the Planet.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Superconscious Creation http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Living in Surrender
CHAPTER TWENTY
The Sixth Chakra - Mastering Our New Reality
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The Seventh Chakra - Expanding Our New Reality
SECTION SEVEN: The reality we choose to perceive is the reality we choose to live.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Opening the Third Eye
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The Portal of the Third Eye

Needs, Moral Development, and the Triune Brain

If a specific moral trait can be associated with a specific neural substrate, then
the extent of moral development will be contingent upon the development of the neural
networks within the substrate in which the moral trait resides. Similarly, if extrinsic
and/or intrinsic inputs that target a specific neural substrate for processing effects the
development of the substrate, then such inputs will also effect the attainment of the
moral stage of development associated with the substrate. Since the higher levels of
moral development are associated with spiritual states of consciousness (Kohlberg,
1976), then factors that inhibit the attainment of higher states of moral development will
also inhibit the attainment of higher states of spiritual consciousness. Consequently,
the attainment of spiritual states of consciousness and the associated behaviors can be
affected by external and/or internal inputs.
With increased neural network development comes an increase in organizational
complexity within the neural structure. With an increase in organizational complexity
comes enhanced information processing (Schroder et al., 1967), as well as an increase
in complex behavior. The drives for performing specific acts of human behavior are
associated with specific neural substrates that vary in their levels of complexity. Since
individual acts of human behavior require that the act be performed only after a
comparison (processing) of the perceived wrongness or rightness of the act has been
made, and since a specific stage of moral development can be associated with a
specific neural substrate, as will be shown later, then as the level of complexity of the
neural substrate increases, so to will the level of moral complexity increase just as the
complexity of behavior increases with neural complexity. Moral complexity shall be
defined here as an increase in abstract thought/perception and the sub sequential
interaction of the Self with its environment.
Each individual act of behavior that is influenced by a specific stage of moral
development is the result of dominance by one of the four different minds that reside
within the human brain, they are: the physical, the emotional, the intellectual, and the
spiritual. Each individual Self is the synergistic quality of the four minds. The evolution
of the Self is a progressive unidirectional vector that begins the transitional process at
the oldest mind--the physical. Normal growth of the Self then proceeds through the
emotional and intellectual minds and culminates at the spiritual mind. Placing the
development of the intellectual mind before the spiritual mind is done for a couple of
reasons. Many religions subscribe to the belief that the individual must first attain a
state of intellectual perfection before spiritual perfection can be achieved (Letvik and
Senzie, 1986, Wilber, 1986, Chirban, 1986). Also, the work of Maslow (1971) and
Kohlberg (1976) contends that the intellect develops before the spiritual.
The Brain and Its Associated Behaviors
The human brain consists of 3-brains-in-1 (MacClean, 1973). The triune brain is
composed of three neural substrates that are represented by the reptilian brain, the
paleomammalian brain, and the neomammalian brain (ibid.). Each brain is connected
to the others (ibid.). Each brain functions separately from the other two and is a biocomputer
that has its own unique genetic programming, its own precise kind of problem
solving intelligence, its personal understanding of Self in the universe, its own sense of
time controlling how best to behave, its own meaning for being alive, its own memory of
how best to survive, its own special actions to express itself, and its own mode of living
Life (ibid.). All acts of human behavior are specific percentages of precisely identifiable
3
reptilian, paleomammalian, and neomammalian brain mappings that work in parallel
towards the resolution of problem states.
Parallel processing between the different neural substrates is " . . . particularly
effective for problems that involve global interaction between different parts of the
problem" (p51, Tank and Hopfield, 1987). All human behavior is goal directed in that
the individual desires to move from some initial state to a goal state. It is the continual
communication and parallel processing capabilities that exist between the different
neural substrates and their associated minds that enhance the individual's chances for
success in goal directed behavior. For example, an individual may be driven to satisfy
the physical survival needs that are associated with the reptilian brain. The setting of
the goal and the generation of a heuristic necessary for attaining the goal are
associated with the neomammalian brain, more specifically the frontal lobes. Yet, the
drive to attain the goal was generated from within the reptilian brain. Consequently, the
increased efficiency produced by the neomammalian intellect in the resolution of the
problem state increases the probability of success for the attainment of the reptilian
drives, and, therefore, the survival success of the organism.
The reptilian brain computes: aggressive behavior, fighting, fleeing, the selecting
of leaders, compulsion, territoriality, repetition, ritual, reproduction, conformity, the
establishment of social hierarchies, and the regulation of physical housekeeping duties
(MacClean, 1973). The paleomammalian brain and its dominant component, the limbic
system, are responsible for creating a plethora of emotions, most of which are
concerned with the formation and preservation of the family and society (ibid.). Such
behaviors include: greed, gluttony, selfishness, jealousy, reactionary emotions, social
attachment, tribalism, fear, love, hate, pleasure--especially sexual, and sometimes
paranoia. An individual whose life is dominated by the paleomammalian brain is usually
afflicted with various addictions, and seeks pleasure (Letvik and Senzee, 1986).
The neomammalian brain, which is primarily composed of the frontal lobes, is
responsible for many higher order cognitive skills that will be discussed later. Higher
order cognitive skills can be broken down into the modalities of intellectual and spiritual
thought--hence, the existence of the intellectual and spiritual minds. The four minds
map to specific neural substrates of the triune brain. They are: physical (reptilian),
4
emotional (paleomammalian), intellectual (neomammalian), and spiritual
(neomammalian).
Each neural substrate in which the minds reside is a composition of neural
networks that may or may-not innervate other neural substrates. Neural net innervation
allows for communication within the brain system. Communication exists between
components that reside within a specific neural substrate and/or between components
existing outside it (Nauta and Feritag, 1979). Neural pathways emanating from the
hippocampus and amygdala (both of which are contained within the paleomammalian
brain) loop (communicate) to both the neomammalian forebrain and the reptilian
reticular activating system (ibid.). The amygdala is responsible for shunting energy
forward into the neomammalian brain thus creating the "kindling effect" (Wada, 1976)
or backwards into the reptilian brain (Lingo, 1987) and plays a major role in memory
(Mishkin and Appenzeller, 1987). Since individual acts of mature behavior are
responses to environmental inputs that associate with prior memory experiences
produced by similar inputs, then it can be deduced that the amygdala acts as a driver of
individual acts of behavior.
The level of excitement or inhibition of an established neural net determines its
weight vector (McCulloch, 1965). Since neural substrates/components are composed
of neural networks, then they are also of an excitatory or inhibitory nature and possess
a cumulative weight vector. Consequently, behaviors, drives, and the levels of moral
development that are associated with a specific neural substrate can be inhibited or
excited by intrinsic and/or extrinsic inputs that target the neural nets/substrates for
processing.
The study of flip flop circuits in amplifiers illustrates both the excitatory and
inhibitory effects the three different neural substrates and their respective minds have
upon each other, and the potential consequences upon individual behavior. In flip-flop
circuits as the input increases so does the output, similarly as the input decreases so
does the output (Tank, 1987). As extrinsic inputs excite a specific neural substrate
(amplifier), then there will be an increase in behaviors under the influence of drives
associated with the substrate. Such inputs may also act as role reinforcers since
behaviors emanating from the neural substrate in response to environmental stimuli are
5
stored within the domain of prior experiences to be used for comparative purposes in
the resolution of future problem states. Consequently, behaviors associated with a
highly targeted neural substrate will be exhibited more frequently than behaviors
associated with other substrates that lack prior experience about the inputs.
For example, in a long term continuous study of 875 third graders since 1960, it
was concluded that larger doses of television violence produces children who are more
likely to act aggressively, and children who think of the world as frightening (Eron,
1993). Continual exposure to reptilian behaviors ensures that such models will be
stored as prior experiences and expressed in future individual acts of behavior. The
brain, in essence, is producing conditioned responses to inputs that target the reptilian
brain. Thus, the greater the amount of aggressive conditioning inputs, the greater the
amount of aggressive outputs that manifest themselves in the form of aggressive
behavior. The obvious conclusion is that the less that one is exposed to aggressive
behaviors, the less that he or she will emulate such behaviors.
Consequently, many prior memory experiences are the result of social
conditioning. The effect that social conditioning inputs have upon individual acts of
behavior is also evident by the maintenance of sports within our society. By maintaining
the institution of sports we encourage interpersonal "dueling" and teams ("tribes") to
compete in winning the competition ("war"). When problems/conflicts do arise in an
individual whose life has been dominated by sports, then these socially manufactured
prior experiences will be used in future conflict resolution. Consequently, the most
efficient way to resolve a problem/conflict will be perceived by the individual to involve
the use of competition and/or aggression as modeled by the sports program. In other
words, " . . . the brain can produce responses which are conditioned on the occurrence
of particular stimulus configuration . . . " (Sommerhoff, p225)
Amplifiers composed of flip flop circuits also mutually inhibit each other to the
extent that the result of a high output in one amplifier will drive down the input of the
other amplifiers (Tank, 1987). Each amplifier drives the other one to be in the opposite
state (ibid.). Likewise, if environmental inputs are processed by a specific neural
substrate, then the neural networks contained within it will be placed in an excitatory
state. The excitation of the neural substrate will, in turn, elicit the realization of the
6
associated drives and corresponding behaviors of the substrate, and increase the
relative weight of its respective mind within the Self matrix. Consequently, according to
flip flop circuit theory, an increase in the drives and behaviors associated with one mind,
will inhibit the expression of drives and behaviors associated with the other minds.
By ordering the four different minds according to their biological age: physical,
emotional, intellectual, and spiritual and working from the center out, flip flop circuit
results exhibit themselves. In comparing the emotional mind to the intellectual mind it is
easy to see that one is the antithesis of the other. The emotional mind is often equated
with the irrational; in contrast, the intellectual mind is regarded as the seat of all rational
thought. As the relative weight of irrational emotions increases, then the relative weight
of rational intellect decreases. Hence, the emotional mind and the intellectual mind are
diametrically opposed and inversely proportional, and emulate flip-flop circuit results.
The drives of the reptilian physical mind are the antithesis of the neomammalian
spiritual mind. In religious literature the spiritual is often seen to transcend the physical
(Letvak and Sven, 1986). When one compares the behavioral characteristics of the
reptilian brain (aggression, fighting, and selfishness) with the neomammalian brain trait
of spirituality (pacifism, peace, and altruism), the dichotomy appears. When the
reptilian physical mind dominates, then the higher level of neomammalian spirituality is
inhibited. The same individual can act out neither aggression and pacifism, nor fighting
and peace simultaneously. Therefore, the physical mind, and the spiritual mind are
diametrically opposed and inversely proportional.
At this point it needs to be restated that what we are concerned with is the
behavior emanating from the drives associated with the dominant neural substrate. The
quality of being human entails the interaction among the four minds. To assume that
only one mind exists and drives the individual to performing specific acts is to assume
incorrectly, since such an assumption would deny the individual brain of its synergistic
Self, which is the very quality that provides us humans with our biological uniqueness.
However, this is not to imply that a specific mind cannot dominate individual acts of
behavior. Neural substrate dominance is determined by the element within the Self
matrix with the greatest relative weight.
7
To assure survival and reproductive success the human brain will organize
functionally in order to increase the individuals’ probability of success. One way of
insuring success is for one mind to associate with another mind in an attempt to
increase efficiency in the resolution of problem states. This association defines the
efficiency vector weight of the Self. To maximize the efficiency vector weight, the mind
that dominates individual acts of behavior will work in parallel with the highest mind, in
terms of evolutionary development, which it is most compatible with. For example, the
reptilian physical mind will associate with the neomammalian intellectual mind and the
paleomammalian emotional mind will associate with the neomammalian spiritual mind.
The four components of the Self (physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual) form
the tetrahedron Ø (fig 1). Each node (Ö, Å, I, Ù) of the tetrahedron Ø has the capacity
to act alone or in combination with other nodes in the resolution of problem states (fig 2)
in an attempt to increase the survival efficiency of the organism. The center of gravity of
the Ø-tetrahedron is the Self (fig 3), which is the synergistic force that propels the
biophysical self (matter) through space over time in reaction to or in interaction with
extraneous environmental factors. The 4-d scalar matrix Ø defines the Self as a
driver/scalar in determining the direction of the omni-directional behavioral vector âõ.
Omni in that there exist an infinite number of ways in which to act and directional to the
extent that individual acts of behavior are goal directed.
Hence, Ø is the transformative synergistic quality of (Ö, Å, I, Ù) and is a higher
quality form--the Self, and is the synergistic proper. The weight of each element within
the Ø-matrix is determined by both extrinsic and intrinsic environmental factors and is
represented by x, which is the domain of the Self.
Intrinsic factors are the result of:
1. Communication between Ø-tetra nodes in the resolution of problem
states.
2. Bio-genetic programs.
3. Level of biological and psychological development.
4. Traumas that imprint upon a neurological substrate during the
physical development of the substrate that, in turn, maps to a
specific Ø-tertra node. The inhibitory effect that the effected node
8
will have upon surrounding Ø-tetra nodes shall be defined as the
bound energy of neurosis.
Extrinsic factors shall include:
1. The physical universe.
2. Social/cultural emanations that reinforce drive needs that are
associated to specific neurological substrates to which the specific
Ø-tetra nodes map.
3. Inter personal/social/cultural templates that model how specific acts
should be addressed determine how the self shall react in
present/future relations to similar acts.
Furthermore, Ø expresses itself in the material world via quantifiable behavioral
acts represented by the behavioral vector âõ. The quantitatively verifiable âõ is a
function of the qualitative Ø.
Hence, for any extrinsic or intrinsic xin input then
Ø [Ö(xin) +Å (xin) + I(xin) + Ù(xin)] = âõ .
Furthermore,
let (< 1 , < 2 , < 3 , <4 ) =
, (Ö Å, I, Ù) ' (<1 (xin), < 2 (xin), < 3 (xin), < 4 (xin)) =
(Ö(xin), Å (xin), I(xin), Ù(xin)).
Let ª represent the synergistic component that each of the domain elements (Ö,
Å, I, Ù) contributes to the overall synergistic quality of the Self (Ø) such that:
ª Ö(xn) + ª Å(xn) + ª I(xn) + ª Ù(xn) =
ª <1 (xn) + ª < 2 (xn) + ª <3 (xn) + ª < 4 (xn) =
4
ª t (xn ) = Ø.
t = 1
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Therefore, the Self-matrix (Ø) is defined as a 1 X 4 matrix where each element
represents the relative weight of each mind in the composition of the individual Self.
Therefore, each element represents the relative weight vector of each mind in driving
individual acts of behavior. Thus, Ø = (physical, emotional, intellect, spiritual) or Ø = (ö,
å, é, ù). For example, a Self-matrix of a lawyer may look like Ø = (.444, .011, .544,
.001). The Self-matrix of the lawyer, while practicing his or her profession, can be
described as an individual driven by reptilian aggression/competition and
neomammalian intellect. A newborn's survival needs may be represented by the Selfmatrix
Ø = (.997, .003, .000, .000). In other words, the newborn is pure reptilian
response.
Current social conditioning inputs that target the reptilian physical mind in males
will induce an association between the physical mind and the intellectual mind. This act
of social conditioning is crucial in explaining the dominance of males within society
where an aggressive/competitive (reptilian) intellect (neomammalian) is the norm. A
Self dominated by a reptilian brain that has a refined neomammalian intellectual brain
results in highly efficient reptilian behaviors. Male behavioral roles that emulate such
include: Lawyers, military leaders, politicians, business leaders, coaches, athletes, etc.,
and the capitalist system as a whole.
To maximize the efficiency vector weight a dominant paleomammalian emotional
mind will work in parallel and associate with the neomammalian spiritual mind. Social
conditioning inputs target the paleomammalian emotional mind in females.
Consequently, to maximize success the female paleomammalian emotional mind will
work in parallel with the neomammalian spiritual mind. This can be supported by the
preponderance of women, as much as 75% in some cases, which make-up the number
of participants that attend transpersonal and Buddhist functions (Tart, 1991).
From the above data one may infer that the female brain is more prone to
evolutionary success since the spiritual mind is more complex than the intellectual mind
due it being the last mind to evolve. Given that highly efficient reptilian behavior has
made our species the most efficient of killers in the history of the planet, and the fact
that the spiritual mind is governed by acts of peace and compassion, then the possible
contributions of each toward the possible extinction of the species should be self10
evident. This is not to imply that the emotional neomammalian spiritual brain has
attained the highest states of spiritual consciousness. On the contrary, the emotionalneomammalian
spiritual Self will map to the lower stages of Wilber's hierarchy of
spiritual consciousness (1986). The intellectual-neomammalian spiritual Self will map to
even higher stages of spiritual consciousness. Finally, a neomammalian spiritual mind
that does not associate with any of the lower minds will map to the highest of spiritual
states.
Neural substrate dominance may be the result of a process similar to synaptic
elimination and is referred to as process elimination. This is where what may have
begun as a process innervated by many neurons (or networks) is reduced to one nerve
(network) innervating it (Cowan, 1979). One factor that may determine the results of
process elimination is "functional activity" (ibid.). As inputs target specific neural
substrates, then to insure behavioral efficiency any nonessential or "nonfunctional"
networks will be eliminated and/or inhibited so that only the networks that will increase
the probability of success will remain intact and will subsequently experience an
increase in their neural network vector weight. If aggressive behaviors are continually
reinforced, then the reptilian substrate and its associated drives and corresponding
behaviors will replace, and subsequently dominate, alternative behaviors due to process
elimination in response to functional activity within the environment.
The Frontal Lobes and Human Behavior
The largest component of the neomammalian brain is the frontal lobes that are
estimated to makeup as much as 33% of the total cortex. The law of proper mass
states that the larger the tissue area, the more important the functions associated with it
(Jerison, 1973). Accordingly, the stages of moral development and the minds that can
be associated with the neomammalian brain will be the more important functions in
determining the human quality and evolutionary success.
The role of the frontal lobes is many fold. When patients who had massive
lesions to their frontal lobes were instructed to repeat the conditions of the problem,
11
they were either unable to so or would repeat only one of its elements (Luria, 1973).
They were also unable to generate a cognitive model of the problem and were easily
distracted (ibid.). The patients also did not attempt a preliminary investigation of the
condition of the problem (ibid.). As a result, they immediately began to seek solutions
impulsively and performed a series of fragmentary observations, totally unconnected
with the content of the problems and without any plan (ibid.). Luria also found that
patients were unaware of the meaninglessness of their solutions (ibid.).
Animals whose frontal lobes were removed surgically exhibited hyperactivity and
were scattered and stimulus-bound (Fuster, 1980). Patients who suffered from frontal
lobes disorders also exhibited apathy, and had difficulty in controlling their behavior
(Stuss and Benson, 1986). Such patients also displayed a loss of will and continued to
pursue a problem despite the evidence for error (Fuster, 1980). The frontal lobes also
play a role in concentration during problem solving tasks (Mizuki, 1980), and appear to
be the seat of the self and individual autonomy since they establish a point of view
relative to environmental events that allows for the distinguishing between the self and
others (Nauta, 1973).
All of the above studies were done on animals or humans who suffered trauma to
or removal of the frontal lobes. Yet, if one were to perform a qualitative examination of
our society, especially of the young, then it would appear that many individuals display
the same types of behavior in varying degrees. It is estimated that 9% of the boys in
America and 2% of the girls have been identified as hyperactive (Barkley, 1981). Up to
15% of the school aged population may suffer attention deficits (ibid.), boys are six
times as likely to be afflicted. Specific problems associated with attention deficits
emulate many of the frontal lobe lesion studies, they may include, but are not limited to:
short attention span, restlessness, poor impulse control, destructiveness, over arousal,
inability to delay gratification, aggression, belligerence, poor social problem solving
skills, excitability, low average intelligence, lack of conscience, learning disabilities,
under achievement for intelligence, and low self-esteem (ibid.). Up to 24% of our
societies youth have been identified as possessing these afflictions (ibid.), these are the
ones who are labeled as needing professional help. An individual suffering from
antisocial personality disorder may display some of the following characteristics (Magid,
12
1990): need for stimulation, proneness to boredom, lack of guilt, lack of empathy, poor
behavioral controls, impulsivity, irresponsibility, failure to accept responsibility for
actions, and juvenile delinquency. Estimates are that 0.05% to 15% of the adult
population may suffer from such afflictions (Rosenthal (1970) in Magid 1993).
Our contention is that the frontal lobes are not being utilized to their optimum
capacity due to domination of the lower neural substrates, and the retarding of the
organizational development of the neural nets contained within the frontal lobes. The
result is that the individual exhibits behaviors that can only be associated with the drives
of the lower two substrates of the triune brain. In essence, the neomammalian brain
has been reduced to a state of environmentally induced quiescence, environmental to
the extent that society provides reinforcers for specific types of behavior that inhibit
higher modalities of thought. Hence, a societal induced pre-frontal lobotomy seems to
have been occurred at the level of the psyche (psycho-lobotomy.)
One possible explanation for the discrepancy between the number of males who
suffer from attention deficits versus girls, genetic influences aside, is that male
stereotypes and their reptilian behavioral reinforcers exist pervasively within our
patriarchal society. Most forms of entertainment revolve around male acts of
competition and aggression. Consequently, since male conditioning inputs are more
ubiquitous than female conditioning inputs, then the input weight vector is greater and
thus elicits a reptilian response proportional to the input weight vector. The work of
Changeux (1983) has shown that intrinsic communication from within the neurons
environment affect the organization of any particular network (ibid.). Therefore, over
stimulation of the male reptilian brain and its physical mind retards the progressive
development of the Self due to an increase in the reptilian brain output weight vector
that, in turn, lessens the input weight vector innervating the higher neural substrates
thereby inhibiting the organizational development of the neural networks associated with
the higher neural substrates. Consequently, process elimination of the higher neural
substrates is inhibited due to a lack of functional activity.
The less organization contained within a substrate, the less complex its neural
networks. Consequently, the less complex the neural networks, the less complex
human behavior as drives, morality, and other attributes associated with the substrate
13
and its corresponding mind. The result is that inputs that target the lower level
substrates and their associated behaviors render inactive the behaviors associated with
the higher level neural substrates due to a lack of neural network organization resulting
from functional activity.
Environmentally induced quiescence is supportive of neurology Nobel Laureate
Sir John Eccles dormant brain hypothesis (1974). The Eccles hypothesis, which
proposes that the human brain is 90% dormant, was proven experimentally by studying
hydroencephalics (Lorber, 1981). The conclusion was that the human brain is "almost
solely" dormant (ibid.).
The future success of our species may be contingent upon which neural
substrates are targeted by environmental inputs and will dominate individual acts of
behavior and the releasing of the dormant brain. Currently, society reinforces and
encourages behavioral acts that revolve around the reptilian and paleomammalian
brains and their respective minds. Consequently, our society is steeped in acts of
aggression and violence, various addictions, pleasure seeking activities, and greed due
to over stimulation of the neomammalian brain, while the intellectual and spiritual minds
are rendered passive.
With a brain functioning predominantly from the lower neural substrates of the
triune brain, then all consequential behaviors will reflect the level of moral development
that can be associated with the neural substrate. Consequently, when a neural
substrate is inhibited then the levels of moral development associated with the substrate
are also inhibited.
Mapping Morality, and Needs to the Triune Brain
When we look at Kohlberg's stages of moral development, it is easy to see how
each stage maps directly to a specific component of the triune brain. Level I consists of
two different stages. In Stage 1, the "punishment-obedience orientation," the goodness
or badness of an act is perceived as one of physical consequences. Those in power
are seen as having superior power and should be obeyed. Since conformity is a
behavior associated with the reptilian brain, then this stage maps to the reptilian
14
physical mind. Stage 2, the "instrumental relativist orientation," is concerned with the
actor behaving in such a way as to benefit personally by acting in a certain fashion. The
individual is driven by greed, a drive that maps to the paleomammalian emotional mind.
Level II also consists of two different stages. Stage 3, the "good boy-nice girl
orientation," is where the individual is concerned with impressing others. Acceptance in
this instance is driven by one of two factors: the need to be loved/liked by others or the
fear of being rejected by others. Both of these emotions, love and fear, map to the
paleomammalian emotional mind. Stage 4 is the "respect for authority" phase. Here
the individual feels that to maintain and preserve the social/family order that certain
rules\laws must be obeyed. The drive to preserve society is generated within the
paleomammalian emotional mind (MacLean, 1973).
Level III is composed of three different stages of morality. The "social contract
orientation," Stage 5, is the level used to maintain the social order based on mutual
agreement rather than blind obedience. This entails a degree of abstraction, since the
individual is considering his/her acts in relation to others. Problem solving at this stage
may entail the resolution of conflicts where laws may have to be disregarded in certain
circumstances--say the saving of one's life. Therefore, this stage maps to the
neomammalian intellectual mind. Stage 6, the "universal ethical principle orientation,"
entails the highest level of abstract problem solving since moral decisions are created in
terms of self-chosen ethical principles. Or as Kant would say: "I am never to act
otherwise than so that I could also will that my maxim should become universal law."
(Kant, 1964). This stage maps to the neomammalian intellectual mind. Stage 7
consists of the "universal-spiritual" phase. Obviously, this stage can be mapped to the
neomammalian spiritual mind.
Similarly, each component of Maslow's hierarchy of needs can also be mapped
to the triune brain and a specific mind. Maslow's lower level needs consist of
physiological and safety needs, both of which can be attributed to the reptilian physical
mind. Next are belongingness and love needs that are obviously aspects found within
the paleomammalian emotional mind. Esteem needs can also be classified as an
expression of the paleomammalian brain since esteem is reducible to either a love or
hate of the Self.
15
What Maslow calls growth needs consist of the need for self-actualization, the
desire to know and understand, and aesthetic needs. Self-actualization maps to the
neomammalian intellectual mind since self-actualization is the realistic portrayal or
accurate representation of the Self, both of which are qualities of the intellect. Or as
Maslow states: "Self-actualizing people . . . seem to do what they do for the sake of
ultimate, final values, which is for the sake of principles that seem intrinsically
worthwhile." (p192, 1971). These values include truth, efficiency, justice, order,
lawfulness, etc. (ibid.) All of which are intellectual pursuits. The need to know is
obviously an aspect of the neomammalian intellectual mind. The aesthetic needs are
concerned with a love of beauty or a doctrine in which beauty is the basic principle from
which all other principles are derived. Beauty possesses a spiritual quality when
considered in various religions. Consequently, the aesthetic needs map to the
neomammalian spiritual mind.
Since the goal of development is to integrate particular functions to adapt to
specific situations received as inputs (Piaget, 1971) and since each neural substrate
and its correlated mind(s) possesses its own problem solving intelligence in reaction to
inputs, then Piaget's model of cognitive development will map the organizational
development of neural networks associated with a specific neural substrate. Since
moral development can be mapped to specific neural substrates, then as neural
networks increase in organizational complexity, so to does the level of moral
development have the potential to increase proportionally. Therefore, the maximum
rate at which moral development can occur is contingent upon the rate/level of neural
network development. For example, the child who is currently developing the neural
networks contained within the paleomammalian brain could not display a level of moral
development that is associated with the higher neomammalian brain since neural
networks contained within the latter have not yet functionally formed. When
neurological growth is slowed or retarded via extrinsic or intrinsic factors then one's
level of moral development will also be retarded.
The first stage of Piaget's model is the sensorimotor stage and deals with the
acquisition of understanding via the senses and motor activity. This stage maps the
organization of neural networks contained within the reptilian brain. Trauma incurred
16
during this phase of neural network development can adversely effect the organization
of neural networks contained within the substrate and those associated with the higher
neural substrates. For example, birth traumas or any other type of trauma incurred
during this stage of development will leave the needs of the reptilian physical mind
unresolved. Consequently, in expending energy trying to fulfill the perceived needs of
the reptilian brain the individual will not evolve fully into the higher neural substrates.
Extreme trauma during the reptilian phase of neural network development may result in
autistic or psychotic like personalities that are void of paleomammalian emotions. This
age of development is estimated to exist between the ages of birth and two years.
During the preoperational stage children center on the mastery of symbols.
Since a symbol is any stimulus that elicits meaning (Hebb, 1968), and since meaning is
something that is felt to be significant, then this level of cognitive development can be
associated with the development of neural networks within the paleomammalian brain.
This level of cognitive development is said to occur between the ages of two and seven.
Accordingly we would expect to find the average two to seven year old displaying levels
of moral development between the punishment-obedience stage and the law and order
stage. Unless, of course, drives and needs associated with the reptilian physical mind
are unfulfilled, in which case growth into the paleomammalian stages of moral
development will be retarded. This is a crucial stage of development where the child
develops his or her sense of belongingness and subsequential self-esteem. Traumas
incurred during this stage of development retard the maturation of the paleomammalian
brain. Not only does this fix one's level of moral development, but also produces a
neurotic possessed with receiving love from others in order to gain the love and
belongingness that was never experienced during this stage of development.
Obviously, if one is fixated on fulfilling the love needs of the paleomammalian emotional
mind, then he or she cannot evolve fully into the next higher neural substrate with its
associated needs and morals until the needs of the paleomammalian emotional mind
have been resolved and/or therapized.
The next stage, the concrete operational stage, is where the individual begins to
solve problems that involve concrete objects. Since problem solving is an intellectual
skill, this stage suggests the beginning stages of the organization of neural networks
17
within the neomammalian brain. This stage is most likely not associated with any of the
neomammalian stages of moral development since it is the beginning phase of
neomammalian maturation. This stage is estimated to occur between the ages of seven
and eleven.
Finally, there is the formal operational stage. This is where the individual can
form problems systematically, form hypotheses, and is able to deal with abstractions.
Obviously, this is a mapping onto the neomammalian brain and the intellectual mind.
Only after successfully completely this stage of cognitive development is it then possible
for the individual to evolve into the spiritual mind. It thus becomes imperative that
students be educated not for the sake of advancing career wise, a paleomammalian
drive, but meaningfully to "know and understand," thus organizing the neural networks
of the neomammalian intellect that act as a foundation from which the spiritual Self
evolves. This stage is estimated to occur at age eleven.
Only after a specific degree of neural network organizational complexity has
been attained within a neural substrate, will the associated level of moral development
be realized. A trauma incurred at a lower level of cognitive development does not imply
that the higher levels of cognitive development will not take place. Cognitive
development will continue despite the severity of the trauma, thus suggesting a genetic
component, but the organization of subsequent neural networks undergoing
development may be severely retarded, and/or process elimination minimized to such
an extent that the processing efficiency of the neural substrate is diminished
significantly.
Kohlberg's model suggests transcendence in that each stage of moral
development supersedes the previous stage. Once the individual attains a higher level
of moral development, the proceeding stages that led up to the present stage are
replaced. Maslow's needs are transformations in the mathematical sense, since the
individual may map from a higher need space back to a lower need space as needed.
For example, if an individual is at the higher level need of self-actualization, then this
stage may be temporarily abandoned to fulfill lower level physiological needs as in the
case of being lost in the wilderness. Once survival has been assured, then the
individual may map back to the self-actualization need space.
18
In moral development each brain works independently from the others due to the
transcendent nature of Kohlberg's moral development model. In needs, each brain
works in cooperation with the others due to the transformative nature of needs. Both
emulate characteristics of MacLean's research on the triune brain, thus there is no
contradiction with the empirical data in mapping moral development, and needs to the
various neural substrates that compose the triune brain. In all models only if the lower
stage levels have been fully satisfied may one transcend/transform into/onto the higher
levels. Each lower level subsequently becomes a driver or function for the attainment of
the next higher level.
19
Triune Brain Mind
Model
Kohlberg Maslow Piaget
neomammal Spiritual U n i v e r s a l -
spiritual Aesthetic
neomammal Intellect
Universal ethics
Desire to
understand
Formal operations
neomammal Intellect Social Contract
Self-actualization
neomammal Concrete
operations
paleomammal Emotiona
l
Law and order Esteem
paleomammal Emotiona
l
Good boy-nice
girl
Belongingness
and love
paleomammal Emotiona
l
I n s t r u m e n t
relativist
pre-operational
reptile Physical Pu n i s hme n t -
obedience Safety
reptile Physical Physiological Sensory motor
Table 1: Growth Chart.
Since the various stages of moral development map to specific neural substrates,
then when extrinsic and/or intrinsic inputs are incessantly produced which target
processing by a specific neural substrate, then the respective neural substrate and its
associated stage of moral development assume a role of dominance because of
functional activity. Individual acts of behavior are contingent upon the attained level of
moral development. Consequently, with pervasive reinforcement of reptilian and
paleomammalian behavioral responses within a society, we can only expect lower levels
of moral development and the appropriate behaviors to be exhibited. To
20
educate/reinforce the utilization of higher levels of the triune brain will elicit higher levels
of moral development and the associated behaviors. Currently, very few individuals are
considered to have satisfied the lower growth need of self-actualization (Maslow, 1971)
or reached the higher levels of moral development (Kohlberg, 1976). Therefore, very
few individuals have evolved into higher states of spiritual consciousness that are
associated with the final stages of Maslow's and Kohlberg's models.
The evolutionary advantage of attaining spiritual consciousness (or self
actualization/peak experience) is moral elevation and intellectual illumination (Bucke,
1901, Maslow, 1971). Higher states of morality render insignificant the human appetite
for, or participation in, acts of war, violence, greed, and hate. An illuminated intellect can
help in the resolution of global environmental problems generated by providing for basic
human needs. Therefore, the production of food without polluting, the creation of shelter
without striping the rain forests, and the curing of disease without incurring the wrath of
overpopulation will be resolved intellectually. In both instances, behaviors that have the
potential of causing the extermination of the species are transcended.
Conclusion
The individual brain is composed of three neural substrates. The four minds that
compose the individual Self (physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual) map to
specific neural substrates. Each stage of Kohlberg's moral development model and
Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be associated with one of the four minds, and therefore
both models can be mapped to a specific neural substrate. Piaget's cognitive
development model suggests the neural network development of specific neural
substrates. Higher levels of moral development can only be attained after all of the
needs associated with the lower neural substrates and lower minds have been fulfilled
and only after the neural substrate has developed fully.
With the evolution of the Self the individual is immersed in progressively higher
modalities of thought and behavior that are driven by real or perceived needs, and the
stage of moral development associated with the neural substrate that exhibits the highest
degree of maturation or complexity. Two factors affect the evolutionary rate of the Self--
21
the extrinsic input weight vector and the intrinsic input weight vector. The extrinsic input
weight vector is generated outside the individual brain and targets a specific neural
substrate for excitation. Within our current society it is the reptilian and paleomammalian
brains that are targeted. Continual stimulation of lower neural substrates inhibit
individual growth into the higher neural substrates and therefore, retards the growth into
the higher stages of moral development and the attainment of higher states of individual
consciousness.
The intrinsic input weight vector is determined by individual traumas that leave the
needs of the neural substrate in which the trauma occurred unfulfilled. Traumas thus
generate a loop within the neural substrate in which it is embedded. The trauma loop is
of the form while needs associated within a neural substrate exist (i.e., the need to be
loved), then do behavior that will help attain these needs. Only by targeting the trauma
and extricating it through therapy is the size of the intrinsic input weight vector reduced
enough for the individual to exit the loop, thus releasing her or him to evolve into the next
stage of growth needs and the subsequent level of moral development. Consequently,
traumas can be seen as a deterrent toward the attainment of higher states of individual
consciousness.
Proper education should be holistic to the extent of providing prior experiences
that build the intellect upon a solid emotional foundation and motivate the individual
toward attaining goals based on the need to "understand and know." Currently, the
intellect is regarded as a means of attaining various ultimate ends based on the lower
paleomammalian drive of greed--namely, money and power. Since not all students enter
the educational process with their emotional needs having been met, the result of
dysfunctional families, then it is the schools' responsibility to provide the tools by which
the individual Self can end any loops that may exist within neural substrates that retard
the growth into the neomammalian intellectual and spiritual minds and their associated
stages of moral development. Therefore, education should establish the foundation
neural pathways from which higher levels of moral development, and hence, higher
states of individual consciousness emanate. To do otherwise is to deny the individual of
his or her freedom and his or her right to an education of the Self.
22
Only when the socially produced extrinsic input weight vector that targets the
reptilian and paleomammalian brains and generates perceived needs is reduced, will the
Self also be free to evolve into the higher neomammalian minds. With the elimination of
socially produced perceived needs, then the individual will no longer be enticed to fulfill
the perceived lower level needs of greed, lustful sex, pleasure in general, aggressive
acts, and other targets of the emotions. The individual thus gains his or her freedom
since behavior is now based upon rational thought and is free from the influence of
others. The various mediums of communication that exists within our society could
begin by encouraging and reinforcing individual acts of behavior that revolve around the
neomammalian brain and it’s associated minds. What is needed is a revolution that will
envelop the species with a higher state of consciousness. But, before an individual brain
revolution can take place a revolution must take place within the institution of education
as well as within society. A brain revolution where the pursuits of higher order
intellectual and spiritual modalities of thought replace the lower level pursuits of needs
associated with the reptilian and/or paleomammalian brains.
23
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The Constructs of Wisdom In Human Development and Consciousness

Vana R. Prewitt, M.Ed.
Fielding Institute

Abstract

Since Peter Senge wrote “The Fifth Discipline” ten years ago, interest in the
theories of learning organizations and knowledge management have increased
significantly. Recently, ideas about managing higher levels of knowledge, known as
“wisdom”, have surfaced in organization development circles.
But what is wisdom? Where does it come from? Can it be measured, developed,
or managed? What would it mean to have and develop wisdom consciously within an
organization? Can wisdom be collective, as in creating a wise organization?
This paper explores these questions through the foundational research and
theories of Piaget, Kohlberg, Maslow, and Erikson, then investigates contemporary
wisdom studies. Although the work to date help us understand the nature of human
development within the workplace, much work is needed before wisdom studies can be
used responsibly for employee or leadership development.


Introduction
When asked, most people would probably assume that they know the meaning of
the word “wisdom,” or at least would recognize wise behavior if and when they saw it. If
pressed for an exact definition, they might refer to The American Heritage Dictionary
(Morris, 1976):
1. understanding of what is true, right, or lasting.
2. common sense; sagacity; good judgment
3. learning; erudition.
Wisdom is generally characterized by goodness, often related to judgment, using
acquired knowledge.
Why Wisdom Studies Matter
This article explores the constructs of wisdom and is motivated by four significant
changes in U.S. business during the last century:
1. During the height of the industrial revolution in 1920, Henri Fayol and
Frederick Taylor espoused “scientific management” methods that reduced the
sphere of individual responsibility and job duties down to the smallest
increment (Taylor, 1911). At the time, the average employee education was
less than sixth grade and 70% of the American gross national product was
agricultural and manufacturing (Historical statistics of the U.S.: colonial times
to 1970, 1970)
2. Seventy years later, the average employee has two years of college education
(Educational attainment, 1998), but is still being managed like an assembly
Constructs of Wisdom 4
line employee (Peters, 1992). Agriculture and manufacturing represent only
30% of America’s gross domestic product, (National Accounts Data, 1998)
which means the wealth of the nation is not in hardware and equipment, but in
knowledge and people.
3. Americans are living longer and in better health than in 1920, which means
more productive, unemployed years after age 65, the traditional year of
retirement (Stevens-Long & Commons, 1992).
4. At the same time, the average age of the workforce is increasing. Fewer young
people are coming into the workforce to replace those who are retiring or
leaving in disgust. The number of small and home-based businesses have
skyrocketed in the last ten years.
This raises some concern about keeping companies running as effectively and efficiently
as possible, given the many changes that have occurred in the workplace, and will occur,
during the coming years. Finding ways to capture, store, retrieve, and use the knowledge
and wisdom of those who are leaving the workforce seems a worthwhile effort. This
belief launched the search for a better understanding of what wisdom in the workplace is,
how it functions, where it comes from, who has it, and whether it can be developed or is
some inherent quality of humans that is comparable to the gift of being able to sing in
key.
Constructs of Wisdom 5
A Wisdom Hierarchy
The search for relevant literature on wisdom hits several forks in the research road (See
Figure 1). There is a rich history of wisdom literature within philosophy and theology
(Robinson, 1990), which is not included in this discussion, nor are some emerging
theories of wisdom included that hypothesize that biochemical changes may cause or
contribute to the development of wisdom (Birren & Bengston, 1998). Likewise,
discussion of Oriental concepts of wisdom that focus on intuition, psychic knowledge,
and being at peace with oneself (Takahashi, 1999), (Levitt, 1999) will be omitted from
this discussion.
Figure 1. Schematic classification of wisdom theories.
Within this paper, wisdom is seen as an emergent characteristic of the mature
adult, built upon intelligence, experience, and a reflective nature. Consistent with
Sternberg’s definition (Sternberg, 1998), wisdom is evidenced during conflict that
requires a balanced perspective of multiple points of view and fair judgment.
Constructs of Wisdom 6
Relatively little was written about wisdom as a feature of human cognitive
development until ten years ago, when Wisdom: its nature, origins, and development
(Sternberg, 1990) was published. Books on cognitive development, gerontology, and
social psychology rarely provided an indexed entry under the heading of wisdom, let
alone an entire chapter. It is not clear whether the new wisdom studies reflect the
refinement of previous research and theories, or a rehash of old research and theories
with a new name.
A Foundational Web of Wisdom
Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Lifespan Developmental Psychology (LDP) is a field of study strongly associated
with Piaget who linked mental and physical development in children. Piaget’s theories
and research results have not been considered valid for understanding adult development
because Piaget’s developmental stages end at adolescence. What might be assumed about
cognitive development when the human body does not appear to be maturing any longer?
As one LDP researcher believes, Piaget never intended his work on childhood
development to be the end of the line of inquiry; it was just a start (Sinnott, 1998). After
all, one must start somewhere and the reasonable place to begin is at the beginning.
Within an historical context, the trend in the early part of the last century was to
focus on biological influences rather than social. Frued likewise constructed his work
from the assumption that external forces, rather than internal drives, had the greater
influence over development (Commons, Richards, & Armon, 1984).
Many criticisms have been made of Piaget’s work, including the fact that as a
biologist in the study of mollusks, he would not be considered qualified today to evaluate
Constructs of Wisdom 7
the development of human beings (Bidell & Fischer, 1992). However, Piaget performed
what was considered at the time relatively unscientific research — he studied his own
children and made his conclusions based on observation. Positivists of the time
discredited Piaget’s work as unreliable.
While the focus on childhood development is only marginally related to OD,
Piaget’s belief that humans proceed through predictable stages of development is a model
that can be applied to adult development as well, including the study of wisdom. The
popular myth of the ancient wise one is truly just a myth. Older people appear to have no
more or less wisdom than adults in their middle years (Dixon & Baltes, 1986). What does
appear relevant, is that there are certain preconditions to achieving wisdom, and these
preconditions can be viewed as developmental stages to that goal of becoming a wise
person.
Kohlberg
Lawrence Kohlberg adopted Piaget’s stages of development for his own work on
moral development. (Miller, 1989), which demonstrates how that model could be applied
to study other dimensions of adult development. Additionally, Kohlberg took a radical
step towards trying to develop moral judgment in humans. We might assume that a
person is born with moral tendencies, or that morality is established so early in a child’s
development that making adjustments later in life would be fruitless. Nonetheless,
Kohlberg’s attempts to develop moral thought demonstrated that individuals exposed to
moral dilemmas for instructional purposes were able to improve their moral thinking
(Kuhmerker, Gielen, & Hays, 1991). These studies provide direct applications to the
possible development of wisdom (Labouvie-Vief, 1992),(Staudinger & Baltes, 1994).
Constructs of Wisdom 8
Like current wisdom studies, Kohlberg’s model for moral development required
judgment in the face of social conflict that could produce benefits for people as a whole.
Erikson
Erik Erikson contributed significantly to our understanding of how adults develop
socially, and used of the word wisdom within his discussion and model of psychosocial
development. Instead of Piaget’s focus on cognitive skills, Erikson posed a model of
development that is closely aligned with the work of human motivation as described by
Maslow, or emotional well-being as might be described by Frued.
Erikson defines wisdom as “detached concern with life itself, in the face of death
itself” (Erickson et al., 1986, p. 37) and integrity as the quality of being personally
integrated of soul and mind. The most useful perspective in Erikson’s thinking on
wisdom is identifying a prerequisite of having come to terms with death. Some of the
current wisdom research indicates that a prerequisite to attaining wisdom is arriving at
this spiritual plane. In other words, the person who has not sincerely reflected upon his or
her life in preparation for death is not able to take up the mantle of a wise person
(Assmann, 1994). Thus, in line with Jung’s work on personality, Erikson’s focus for
wisdom is personality-based.
Maslow
Within Maslow’s descriptions of self-actualization, he says that he agonized over
what to call this level of achievement. He had a working title of “good human being” for
many years before he started his research. He referred to the self-actualized person as one
who was capable of authentic selfhood (i.e.: integrated?) and who hears the impulse
voices (i.e: emotional intelligence?) (Goleman, 1995) from within that tell us what we
Constructs of Wisdom 9
really want and don’t want from life. Without specifying it, Maslow was describing the
mature reflective person who listens to the inner voice and is conscious of words and
actions before executing them – views that are consistent with modern definitions of
wisdom.
He also said that the self-actualized person is mature, has transcended deficiency
needs, and is in a metamotivated (or unmotivated) state of being, rather than striving to
be. The rationale for claiming an unmotivated state is that only a need to achieve higher
states of being will motivate a person since the current state of being is no longer capable
of providing motivation. Another way of looking at this is to say the self-actualized
person is a person at peace with oneself and existence, someone who has come to terms
with who, what, and where s/he is in life.
New Research Paradigms
Wisdom is not a concept that is easily defined. As we say in the world of
organization development, “it is like trying to nail jello to a wall.” As stated in the
introduction to this paper, most people think they know it when they see it, and can
probably provide a few descriptors of wisdom, but that is about as far as our
understanding of it goes. Wisdom did not fit nicely into reductionist thinking nor
positivist models. It has not been taken seriously in the lifespan psychology field until
recently, having been seen as “not scientific.” This particular battle continues, as will be
explained in the next section.
Wisdom Theorists
The individuals most closely associated with current wisdom studies are Baltes,
Staudinger, and Sternberg. While others have published periodically on the subject, only
Constructs of Wisdom 10
these three have continued to research and write on wisdom extensively. Most of the
early works came from the field of gerontology, where cognitive wisdom research
remains firmly entrenched.
Postformal Thought
Piaget discussed cognitive development through adolescence, dubbing everything
from age 11 and beyond as the formal operations stage, where an individual thinks about
thinking and is able to conceptualize at least one abstraction. This does not, however,
convey the skills of an older adult who is able to conceptualize multiple abstractions,
synthesize and create new knowledge from those abstractions, and apply them in new
ways. To discover adult developmental theories, I had to turn to newer theorists who
represent a neo-Piagetian body of literature – that which builds on Piaget’s theories while
acknowledging his theory’s deficits.
The area of study known as post-formal thinking includes contributions by many
who have also published to the growing cognitive development wisdom literature
(Alexander & Langer, 1990), (King & Kitchener, 1994). Studies of aging adults have
included various tests of cognition, many of which indicate a decline as one ages. As
researchers explored these results further, they concluded that at least two types of
cognitive processes were at work during adulthood, one that is traditionally measured by
academic tests and standardized intelligence tests and another which is not measured
well, if at all. The second type of adult intelligence is represented by practical and applied
skills, abilities, and performance processes that approach situations on the whole, rather
in the reductionist states represented in IQ tests. These two types of cognition are referred
to as fluid and crystallized intelligence (Horn, 1994).
Constructs of Wisdom 11
Fluid and crystallized intelligence are determined by a measure of eight broad
categories of performance: (1) short-term memory (2) comprehension-knowledge (3)
quantitative ability (4) visual processing (5) auditory processing (6) associative storageretrieval
(7) novel reasoning and (8) processing speed. This particular thread of wisdom
research helps us understand that age and wisdom are independent, not interdependent
variables.
The emerging theme is that adults past their middle years acquire more
crystallized intelligence such as long-term memory, and experience declines of fluid
intelligence, such as short-term memory. As one developmental psychologist told me, “it
isn’t that older people are less intelligent than young people. [Cognitive psychologists]
are measuring the wrong things!”(Sinnott, 2000). As the politically and economically
powerful “baby boomers” become seniors, we can expect to see a greater emphasis on
understanding what cognitive abilities seniors have and how their collective wisdom
might best be used to further social welfare.
Towson University professor, Jan Sinnott, Ph.D, has written a book about
postformal development that makes sense to me. I feel it sums up what we know about
cognitive development after adolescence in a thorough and compelling manner. Reading
her book, The Development of Logic in Adulthood (Sinnott, 1998) gave me such a jolt of
enthusiasm that I had to talk to her and meet her. The threads of adult development
related to wisdom that I have pulled from one theorist or another are quite compactly
presented in her book, while not specifically addressing wisdom. Among the most
important elements include:
􀂾 A critique of traditional approaches for understanding adult development
Constructs of Wisdom 12
􀂾 Seeing adult development within the context of complex adaptive systems
􀂾 Results of behavioral research and a methodology for replicating Sinnott’s
work
􀂾 Specific applications for the model and research methodology she has
outlined, including applications to education, business, creativity, and
spirituality.
I found that I had to read the book more than once, and underlined it heavily. I feel
certain it will be a reference book I use frequently during my Fielding studies.
With specific reference to wisdom research, Sinnott shies away from embracing
the work of either Baltes or Sternberg, the two leading researchers in the field. Like me,
she finds neither model “very satisfying” (Sinnott, 2000). In her book, however, she does
allude to the connection between her model of postformal development and studies of
wisdom.
Postformal thought permits an awareness of the other logics or the other types of
‘wisdoms’ and provides a way to cognitively regulate them on a personal level. [p
327]
The synthesis involved in postformally living in balance involves being open to the
spirit of possibility, as the existentialists are, open to creating the chosen . [p.
327]
Wisdom, too, by any definition, implies living in balance [p. 328]
Of particular interest to my primary purpose in studying wisdom, is Sinnott’s
integration of organizational learning and development to her theory of postformal
development. She indicates that the culture of an organization can have postformal
qualities, and that those characteristics can be assessed as well as developed.
Constructs of Wisdom 13
The organization can also have a postformal culture. If it does, it is able to
envision the several ways it might “be” or operate as a unit. This makes ongoing
reform easier and more likely to occur whether the current CEO is calling for a
“learning organization” or not. Organizations that enjoy a postformal culture are
more likely to be able to reinvent themselves as the need arises and emerge with a
sustainable transformation [p 236].
This thought brings me full circle to my original quest in this process of inquiry. What is
wisdom? How do we know it when we see it? Can it be assessed and/or developed?
Sinnott responds in the affirmative to the last question. Major theorists in wisdom studies
are still arguing about the first two questions. A brief summary of their positions follow.
Understanding Wisdom
Most of the research to date on wisdom has been to define the word. What, after
all, is wisdom? Personally, I am more interested in the operational refinement of that
question:
􀂾 How do you know it when you see it?
􀂾 Can it be assessed validly and reliably?
􀂾 Can it be developed?
􀂾 Do we know what preconditions must be present for wisdom to develop?
As I researched the questions, I found these are concerns shared by others in the field
(Csikszentmihalyi & Rathunde, 1990), (Sinnott, 2000), (Staudinger, 1998), (Labouvie-
Vief, 1990).
Definitions. Table 1 provides a summary overview of the major theorists’
definitions of wisdom. I have not included the more philosophical descriptions, of which
there are many, because they do not seem very useful for furthering an operationalized
model. My own definition is perhaps a hybrid of Sternberg’s and Baltes. I would say that
wisdom, especially within the workplace, is thoughtful judgment or decisions made
Constructs of Wisdom 14
when no heuristics exist for a conflict with social consequences. The key element for
me is that the judgment being made is other-focused, and not self-centered. The same
definition, applied to self-centered issues, would be termed practical intelligence,
(Sternberg & Wagner, 1986) otherwise known as common sense.
Constructs of Wisdom 15
Table 1 Explicit definitions of wisdom
Author Definition Citation
Assman Validated action, behavior, or attitude…an
honorific predicate reserved for a specific
form of knowledge
(Assmann, 1994)
Baltes & Staudinger Expert level knowledge and judgement [sic]
in the fundamental pragmatics of life
(Staudinger, 1999)
Birren & Fisher Integration of affective, conative, and
cognitive aspects of human abilities in
response to life’s tasks and problems.
(Birren & Fisher,
1990)
Erikson, Erikson &
Kivnick
Wisdom is detached concern with life itself
in the face of experience, in spite of the
decline of bodily and mental functions.
(Erickson et al.,
1986)
Meacham A balance between knowing and doubting (Meacham, 1990)
Sternberg Application of tacit knowledge as mediated
by values toward the goal of achieving a
common good; procedural knowledge under
difficult and complex circumstances
(Sternberg, 1998)
Among other nonoperational definitions that exist for wisdom is Labouvie-Vief’s, which
is really more of a model than a definition, since it describes how wisdom operates rather
than what it is. It integrates mythos and logos, or the metaphysical and cognitive ways of
knowing that were separated in the 19th century (Labouvie-Vief, 1990). My failure to
cite other wisdom scholars in this particular context is not to slight their work, but to
focus on definitions that are operational or have the potential for being so.
Descriptions. In many instances, theorists and researchers have been content to
describe wisdom from their own perspective or from the perspectives of their subjects.
Operational definitions may not emerge from their work, but characterizations observable
behavior are noted, as described in Table 2.
Constructs of Wisdom 16
Table 2 Behaviors That Demonstrate Wisdom
Author Behaviors Citation
Assman The wise person abstains from the desire to
change the world according to one’s desires. The
impulse is no longer to change the world but to
stabilize it and preserve the ecological balance [p
195]
(Assmann, 1994)
Baltes &
Staudinger;
Staudinger,
Lopez, &
Baltes
Interpersonal competence, self knowledge,
giving advice, concern for others, values
differences, manages uncertainty.
Reflexivity, social intelligence, impulse control
(emotional intelligence)
(Baltes & Staudinger,
2000), (Staudinger,
Lopez, & Baltes,
1997)
Birren &
Fisher
Balance between intense emotions and
detachment, action and inaction, knowledge and
doubt
(Birren & Fisher,
1990)
Kitcherner
& Brenner
Awareness of the unknown and implications for
real-world problem solving and judgment
(Kitchener & Brenner,
1990)
Meacham Using knowledge with an understanding of its
fallibility, with caution, and concern for social
consequences.
(Meacham, 1990)
Orwoll &
Perlmutter
Understanding, introspective, knowledgeable,
observant, experienced, intuitive, empathic,
intelligent
(Orwoll & Perlmutter,
1990)
While not varied or extensive, some wisdom researchers and theorists have
identified specific conditions that promote the development of wisdom. Two important
themes emerge from reading the works of other theorists, and those are (1) a need to
make a judgment when you have no way of knowing if the decision is a good one or not,
and (2) having come to terms with one’s own mortality. The second issue truly harkens
back to Erikson, and to a process of personal integration of mind and soul.
Constructs of Wisdom 17
Table 3 Conditions That Give Rise to Wisdom
Author Conditions Citation
Assman Requirement for judgment when there are no
rules available.
Having reflected on life’s accomplishments,
coming to terms with death.
(Assmann, 1994)
Birren &
Fisher
Shifting the balance from acting to reflecting,
often, but not necessarily, associated with the
aging process
(Birren & Fisher,
1990)
Sternberg Role modeling and dialectical thinking (Sternberg, 1998)
Measuring Wisdom
At the heart of my initial quest for information was to uncover any efforts being
made to assess, measure, and systematically develop wisdom, especially in workplace
settings. In part, Sinnott (Sinnott, 1998) has addressed the beginnings of this work in her
book, even though her model is not specifically directed towards developing wisdom.
Sternberg has given considerable thought to the integrated and systemic processes
that influence the presence and/or development of wisdom (Sternberg, 1998). In
particular, he identifies multiple competencies that facilitate wisdom, such as social and
emotional intelligence, and ability to access tacit knowledge. A review of competencies
identified by several researchers is presented in Table 4
Constructs of Wisdom 18
Table 4 Competencies For Developing Wisdom
Author Competencies Citation
Arlin Openness to change. Knowing what one
doesn’t know.
(Arlin, 1990)
Chandler &
Holliday
Overall competence, good judgment,
communication skills, see the big picture,
exceptional understanding
(Chandler & Holliday,
1990)
Labouvie-Vief Integration of emotional/personality and
logical thought
(Labouvie-Vief, 1990)
Meacham Sagacity: considers advice, willing to learn
from others, thoughtfulness, good listener,
willing to admit mistakes, considers all sides
of an issue before deciding
(Meacham, 1990)
Orwoll &
Perlmutter
Advanced self-development and selftranscendence
(Orwoll & Perlmutter,
1990)
Sternberg Understanding the cognition, motivation, and
affect of involved poeple. Balancing varied
interests. Reflective judgment. Practical
intelligence. Knowing one’s limits and what
one doesn’t know
(Sternberg, 1998)
What appears to have the most value to my inquiry is a summarization of the
behavioral competencies that would be desired among employees and within an
organization’s culture. The areas of greatest overlap appear to be:
􀂾 Emotional intelligence, (Goleman, 1995) maturity, impulse control.
􀂾 Reflective and thoughtful judgment.
􀂾 Concern for the social fabric of an organization.
􀂾 Empathy, compassion, caring.
􀂾 Humble.
􀂾 Significant life experience upon which to draw.
􀂾 Social intelligence: valuing diversity, listening to others, open to new ideas,
asking for help and willing to admit mistakes/ignorance.
Constructs of Wisdom 19
This list is one that I could use as a guide within an organization and build intentionally
towards a wise organizational culture. As a model, it integrates well with my concerns
for learning organizations (Senge, 1990)
Constructs of Wisdom 20
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