The information provided here is adapted from the research notes of Dr Clare W Graves (1914-1986), who concluded that humanity has begun a ‘momentous leap’ of consciousness that radically improves our problem solving capacity. Given the challenges our world faces right now, this is exceptionally good news.

From the early 1950’s Graves undertook a nine year longitudinal study of psychological and behavioural development in 1,065 adult participants. His findings provided a map of the human developmental landscape and the associated change dynamics. Dr Graves concluded that human development is an unfolding, emergent, spiralling progression towards more complex and capable ways of thinking and behaving. This process, according to Graves, is the result of our adaptive interaction with our life conditions. As our life conditions become more complex, our consciousness adapts to operate in more complex and capable ways.

The patterns of change he documented apply at all scales, from individuals to families, communities to nations and to the evolution of our species.

The following pages will take you on a journey through this change process:

1. The Change Cycle – what we experience as change unfolds
2. Layers of Development – a road map for personal growth and human evolution
3. Sound – changing frequencies that model increasing complexity
4. Altered States of Consciousness – how they help us change
5. Human Evolution: Who are we becoming? (2011) A journal article by Steve McDonald