An Integral Approach to Relationality

Transcription

1 1 An Integral Approach to Relationality Mark Edwards Graduate School of Management University of Western Australia For further information regarding this presentation contact Mark Edwards at

2 Not till we are lost, in other words, not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves, and realize where we are and the infinite extent of our relations" Henry David Thoreau 2 Agape, or Compassion, the principle of embodiment, and bodily incarnation, and relationship, and relational and manifest embrace, touching each and every being with perfect and equal grace, rejecting nothing, embracing all. (K.W., The Simple Feeling of Being, p. 81)

3 An Integral Approach to Relationality 3 This presentation builds on the principles of Ken Wilber s integral philosophy to graphically represent social relationships and, in particular, the relationship between I and You (2 nd person relationality). Types of relationships considered here are: 1. Singular and plural relationships between 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd persons (perspectival relationality). 2. Ecological relationships between human individuals and social groups (micro-meso-macro relationality). 3. Mediated relationships between individuals and groups (sociogenetic relationality).

4 An Integral Approach to Relationality The The connections connections continue. continue. Notice Notice that that every every I I is is in in relationship relationship with with other other I s, I s, which which means means that that every every I I is is a member member of of numerous numerous we s. we s. These These we s we s represent represent not not just just individual individual but but group group (or (or collective) collective) consciousness, consciousness, not not just just subjective subjective but but intersubjective intersubjectiveawareness (KW, (KW, IOS IOS Basic, Basic, 2005, 2005, p. p. 18) 18) How can can we we represent relationality between holons and and perspectives? Although Although with with singular singular and and plural plural forms forms the the "three "three persons" persons" gives gives us us six six perspectives, perspectives, for for most most purposes, purposes, those those condense condense down down into into 4 fundamental fundamental perspectives: perspectives: I, I, we, we, it, it, and and its. its. (Kosmos (KosmosVol. Vol. 2, 2, Excerpt Excerpt C, C, para. para. 59) 59) How can can we we show micro-meso-macro relationships? The The micro micro is is in in relational relational exchange exchange with with the the macro macro at at all all levels levelsof of its its depth. depth. ( Twenty ( Twenty Tenets, Tenets, SES, SES, p.73) p.73) How can can we we graphically explore an an integral approach to to exchange relations? Each Each level level in in the the human human being being is is a process process of of relational relational exchange exchange with with a corresponding corresponding environment. environment. (SG, (SG, p. p. 56) 56)

5 5 Relationality is fundamentally about: Second-Person Modes of Being in the World The important point is that when I engage in hermeneutics and collaborative inquiry, I am lighting up the second-person (and firstperson plural) modes of being-in-the-world. Those modes are real, they are there, and they constitute a crucial ingredient in any integral methodological pluralism. All of those intersubjective approaches--there are literally dozens of others--are tapping into the fact that all holons have a Lower-Left quadrant, a holistic web of mutually interpenetrating prehensions across space and time that can be felt and described in a secondperson (and first-person plural) perspective. (KW, Kosmos trilogy Vol. 2, Excerpt A)

6 Relationality involves two or more As the following definition says, relationality is: i) The way in which one person or thing is connected with another. ii) A logical or natural association between two or more things. iii) The mutual dealings or connections of persons, groups, or nations in social, business, or diplomatic matters. (American Heritage Dictionary) 6 UL UR communication governance identity power love war media conflict mediation LL LR relationship intersubjectivity UL UR LL LR An integral vision-logic of relationality How can we apply the AQAL framework to graphically represent all the quadrants, levels, lines, dynamics and perspectives involved in power relations, mediating processes, personal relationships, workplace relations, communication, etc.?

7 How can we show relationality using Quadrants and the I-We-It-Its Model of Perspectives? 1 st Person Where is the 2 nd person (singular & plural) 3 rd Person Singular perspectives (Micro-level) I He/She/ It Plural perspectives (Macro-level) We They Where are the 1st person exteriors ( My/Our behaviour )? Where are the 3rd person interiors ( His/Her intentions/feelings )?

8 This is how!: The Six Basic Perspectives Where each holon has four quadrants 1 st Person 2 nd Person 3 rd Person Singular perspectives (Micro-level) I/Me You The between space of relational exchange He/She/It Plural perspectives (Macro-level) We/Us You(s) They As Wilber puts it: with singular and plural forms the "three persons" gives us six perspectives (Kosmos Vol. 2, Excerpt C, para. 59) There are not different holons in the four quadrants; the four quadrants are the four dimensions of every holon. (Kosmos Vol. 2, Excerpt C, para. 57)

9 The Individual-Collective (Micro-Macro) Dimension 9 Individual-Collective is a multilevel dimension linking micro, meso, and macro holons, i.e. singular and plural. Interior Using the Individual-Collective dimension to describe ecological relations between holons allows us to represent holons separately (see below) Multilevel Scale of Focus Individual Agency (of one holon) Communion (of one holon) Agency-Communion is a qualitative dimension of each and every holon. Exterior Both the interior-exterior dimension and the agencycommunion dimension describe the same holon Collective singular individual holon plural - collective holons monad dyad triad team org. unit organisation industry economy Micro-Level Holon Meso-Level Holons Macro-Level Holons Micro-Macro Link

10 The Integral Holon (for the 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd person perspectives of individual and collective holons) 10 Both individual AND collective holons have UL and LL quadrants Agency Both individual AND collective holons have UR and LR quadrants Consciousness is Interior Agency Behaviour is Exterior Agency Interior Culture is Interior Communion Exterior Social Structure is Exterior Communion ME Communion

11 Why is this organisation so successful? 11 THE ORGANISATION S COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS its sense of identity the organisation s mythos & archetypes its collective ideals, vision and spirit THE ORGANISATION S COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOUR (OB) its collective skill & knowledge base progressive management skills innovative leadership planning and goal setting its business culture is in touch with community needs has a culture of success and corporate responsibility it provides meaningful work THE ORGANISATION S COLLECTIVE CULTURE transparent financial systems effective organisation s structure its communications and IT systems its production systems THE ORGANISATION S COLLECTIVE SOCIAL SYSTEM

12 Why is this employee so successful? 12 THIS EMPLOYEE S INTERIOR CONSCIOUSNESS (INTENTIONAL IDENTITY) his intention to work well his dedication to the job his intrinsic motivation his experience of work THIS EMPLOYEE S EXTERIOR BEHAVIOURAL IDENTITY his behavioural efficiency his specific skills interpersonal behaviour his extrinsic incentives he finds work meaningful his personal values his cultural background THIS EMPLOYEE S INTERIOR his CULTURAL industrious IDENTITY worldview he s a good worker his workplace role his system of working he likes the male role of earner THIS EMPLOYEE S EXTERIOR SOCIAL IDENTITY

13 Relationality in Organisations ( The space between ) The Space Between #1 The Individual-Collective Dimension and Multi-Level Research in Organisational Studies The micro-levels of individual relationships The meso-world of group relations The macro-world of organisational relations 2. The Space Between #2 The Six Perspectives and Basic Methodologies 3. The Space Between #3 Relationality through mediation Mediating Factors: power, language, tools, cultural artefacts

14 The Space Between #1 The Individual-Collective Dimension and Multi-Level Research in Organisational Studies (ecological holarchy spatial relations) What is needed is a way of coupling theories and research at different levels into a meaningful whole. We need mechanisms that help us conceptualise complex relations between units at different levels of analysis in organisational settings. (House, et al, 1995, p.86) an integral view of an employee an integral view of a team an integral view of a department an integral view of the organisation 14 an integral view of an industry The space between (e.g. conversation) The space between (e.g. mediation) The space between (e.g. power, status, & authority relations) The whole AQAL framework can be applied at any point on the micro-meso-macro scale (integral multilevel theory).

15 The Space Between #2: Perspectives and Basic Methodologies for studying the interiors & exteriors of the 1 st, 2 nd & 3 rd persons 1 st Person 2 nd Person 3 rd Person Structuralism Case Study & Biography Behavoural Research Singular (Microlevel) Introspection & Autobiography Psychotherapeutic Methods Autopoiesis & Cognitive Studies Plural (Mesolevel and Macrolevel) Cultural Studies Social Structuralism Hermeneutics Collaborative & Participatory Research Ethnomethodology Systems Research & Functionalism Social Autopoiesis What of the methodologies for studying the relationships between these holons? The Space Between (Bradbury & Lichtenstein, 2000). If we can now model holons in relationship, how can we apply the whole AQAL framework to the study of those relationships and do this graphically? To do so we need an integral holonics an integral method for depicting (and studying) relationality in general and perspectival relationships in particular.

16 The Space Between #3 How do we explore the relationality Space Between of social entities using integral theory, AQAL, holon theory, etc? 16 Taking a relational orientation suggests that the real work of the human organisation occurs within the space of interaction between its members. Thus the theorist must account for the relationships among, rather than the individual properties of, organisational members Such a scholar enters an organisation as if it were an extended set of relationships. S/he thereby places more attention on the space between the space between subject and object Bradbury & Lichtenstein, 2000, p. 551 The Space Between inter-subjective inter-objective? interactive relational mediational interpersonal co-constitutional for 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd person relationships - singular & plural

17 To develop an integral model of relationality we need to understand mediation & the communication of exterior depth Mediation, the Sociogenesis of Consciousness, and the Radical Depth of the Exteriors #1 The central fact about our psychology is the fact of mediation. (Vygotsky1982, p. 166) Any higher mental function was external and social before it was internal (Vygotsky, 1981b, p. 163) 17 Society, genetically considered, is not a composition of separate individuals; on the contrary, the individuals are differentiations of a common social protoplasm. The conclusion is drawn that the individual is a "social outcome not a social unit." We are members one of another. (J. M. Baldwin, 1930) Any higher function was first external because it was social at some point before becoming an internal, truly mental function. (Vygotsky cited in Wertsch 1985, p.62) Individual consciousness as a specifically human form of the subjective reflection of objective reality may be understood only as the product of those relations and mediacies that arise in the course of the establishment and development of society (Leontiev, 1977, p.8)

18 Mediation, the Sociogenesis of Consciousness, and the Radical Depth of the Exteriors #2 18 The definite concept of the Ego has, in each one of us, a social and imitative origin. (Josiah Royce, 1894) Inner consciousness is socially organized by the importation of the social organization of the outer world. (Mead, 1912) The child will not succeed in forming an object of himself of putting the so-called subjective material of consciousness within such a self until he has recognized about him social objects. (Mead, 1912) For Cooley the mind is not first individual and then social. The mind itself in the individual arises through communication. (George Herbert Mead, 1930) Self-consciousness, as Hegel loved to point out, is, in fact, always a mutual affair. The idea 'I' is inseparable from the idea 'you. I am I, on the whole, and in every definite aspect of my selfconsciousness, in so far as I appeal to my fellow to recognize me. (Josiah Royce, 1894) My conscious idea of myself is derived, is secondary, for instance, to language, to which all my thinking is so deeply indebted, and is thus, oddly enough, a product of social intercourse. Who I am, I have first learned from others before I can observe it for myself. (Royce, 1894)

19 Mediation, the Sociogenesis of Consciousness, and the Radical Depth of the Exteriors #3 The child concept of I develops out of the concept of others. (Vygotsky, 1983, p. 324) The social dimension of consciousness is primary in time and in fact. (Vygotsky 1979, 30) In order to explain the highly complex forms of human consciousness one must go beyond the human organism. One must seek the origins of conscious activity in the external processes of social life, in the social and historical forms of human existence. Luria (1981) Royce points out that the individual reaches the self only by a process that implies still another self for its existence and thought. Mead, 1930 An adult's essence is found in the essence of the environmental conditions. (Vygotsky & Luria, 1930/1993) 19

20 Mediation, the Sociogenesis of Consciousness, and the Radical Depth of the Exteriors #4 For Vygotsky and cultural-historical theorists more generally, the social world does have primacy over the individual in a very special sense. Society is the bearer of the cultural heritage without which the development of mind is impossible. (Cole & Wertsch, 1999) James Wertsch Mind lies in a field of conduct between a specific individual and the environment, in which the individual is able, through the generalized attitude he assumes, to make use of symbolic gestures, i.e., terms, which are significant to all including himself. (Mead, 1922 A Behavioristic Account of the Significant Symbol ) Any function in the child s cultural development appears twice, or on two planes. First it appears on the social plane, and then on the psychological plane. First it appears between people as an interpsychological category, and then within the child as an intrapsychological category. This is equally true with regard to voluntary attention, logical memory, the formation of concepts and the development of volition Social relations or relations among people genetically underlie all higher mental functions [in the individual]. (Vygotsky, 1981b, p. 163) 20

21 The Integral Holon, the Basic Activity Triad and disciplines that focus on the space between Theories of Power Communications Theory Sociogenetics Developmental work research Critical Media Studies Cultural-Historical Activity Theory Mediational Semiotics 21 Peer-to-Peer Theory Artifact-in-Use theories Development Development is is as as much much about about the the mediation mediation of of exterior exterior depth depth (e.g. (e.g. Vygotsky) Vygotsky) as as it it is is about about the the unfolding unfolding of of interior interior depth depth (e.g. (e.g. Piaget) Piaget) Mediating Holon 1 st person 2 nd person The The developmental developmental (AQAL) (AQAL) profile profile of of mediating mediating holons holons is is crucial crucial to to understanding understanding individual individual and and collective collective development development

22 Reclaiming Indra s net as a integral model of Kosmic relations: Far away in the heavenly abode of the great god Indra, there is a wonderful net (Avatamsaka Sutra) Micro-macro relationships (# of threads - all things ) individual holon Collective holons #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 p1 Perspectives (# of reflections interpenetrations ) p2 p3 The six basic perspectives p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 22 Perspectives ( interpenetrating reflections) crossed with Relations (the threads of all things ) generates: Indra s Net - the multiplicity of holonic perspectives in relationship. AQAL s 4 quadrants and the six basic perspectives are a summary of the interpenetration of all things in relationship Indra s net, the Kosmic Mass, Behinnot,

23 23 The Buddha speaks the wondrous sound without obstacle It pervades all lands in the ten directions, Benefiting the living with the flavour of truth: The Courageous know this technique. Emanating inconceivable nets of light, Everywhere purifying all conscious beings, He causes them to engender profound faith. Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra)