1.2 Worldviews

What are worldviews?

So far, I’ve just begun to list some behaviors that people at different stages display. A worldview is the unique mixture of several elements each of us carry around in our heads, hearts and bodies, that when combined, create our distinctive view of the world. It includes our perceptions of the world and the interpretations of those perceptions. For some of us this is an analytic or scientific commentary; for others it has fuzzier outlines and is more impressionistic. For some it is concrete and can be measured or counted; for others it is subjectively absorbed, but feels just as real.

The worldview includes our philosophical or religious beliefs that influence how we interact with others. It includes our understanding of power, feedback, time, love, integrity, truth, values, friendship, work, age, and education that form the filters that screen out or let in information about the world. We often use stories to combine all of these details in ways that make meaning. We hold tenaciously onto our stories that make up our version of reality.

When we get into development theories, we will better understand the reality that--if we are flexible enough--our worldviews must periodically change for at least 3 reasons: we change as we age, the social environment changes as cultures go through complex change, and the physical environment changes. 

I know things change. Why is that important in relation to Integral Theory?

Change requires adaptation to the new conditions. Development theories map out the sequences of change that people, other life forms and the environment make in the adaptation process. Growth, adaptation, development, and evolution are 4 of the terms I will most often use to describe this process.

What lit me up when I read about development, was that I suddenly had a means to answer “how could people think this way?” I’m not saying everything is crystal clear now, because humans, groups, and cultures are complex, but I now have a foundation for making much more sense than before. 

Ok wait a minute. When we were talking earlier in 1.1, you asked “is the world going crazy?” and “how could they think that way?” I’m not sure that got answered. 

We will be working toward answers, but we need a common understanding of Integral or what I say will be gibberish. I strongly believe that Integral gives us the depth of insight that most of our politicians, pundits, and authors swing at…and miss.

This is not an easy idea to adjust to; it is not sound-bite material! But once you’ve downloaded the basic operating system of Integral, I think you will find it is a much more complete and overarching way to think about pretty much anything. (updated 4-13-23)