Determinants of Social Standing
Dualities in the Tree Pattern
It is evident that at any Stage in strengthening financial security, pressures will appear to be coming from later Stages. This is because there is a dynamic context that operates continuously regardless of your current state.
The context for financial security is your standing in society. Whatever your stage of development, this is something that needs to be kept in mind.
To model this dynamic context, the essence of each Mode must now be considered in terms of its operation in practice. Such use of the essence immediately activates the usual dynamic duality:
- can the essence be driven by purely personal wishes and self-interest?
or
- can it be driven solely by social pressures and circumstances?
or
- are these two forces somehow fused, synthesized and spontaneously balanced?
Subscript P will be used to indicate sole personal control.
Subscript S will be used to indicate purely social-environmental control.
Subscript B indicates a balance or fusion of these controlling forces.
Each Spiral mode will now be considered in turn and converted into Levels with Centres in a THEE Tree pattern.
Become Secure
Q4-CL7: Reality-centred
In the Tree, this level becomes a single balanced Centre which we will label:
L7B: Face Socio-economic Crises
Why?
The injunction to "be realistic" typically applies when a person is over-optimistic and shutting their eyes to a looming crisis. What counts as a crisis and h ow to avert or handle disruption are matter for personal judgement, while the realities to be faced are generated by external forces: possibly your state of health, political shifts, new developments in your specialty, or climate change. In any case, the two influences cannot be separated.
Q4-CL6: Perspective-centred
In the Tree, this level contains two polarized but connected Centres, which we will label:
L6S: Attend to Alternative Perspectives—which is the dominant Centre
L6P: Engage in Analyses & Learning
Why?
New ideas constantly emerge in relevant areas like it or not. These ideas often imply changes for you and your competitors, so you will need to examine them and conduct analyses. A full analysis requires taking a variety of perspectives and while this is easy for perspectives you are conversant with, others will require you to learn. So new ideas and perspectives dominate, directing and drive personal learning and analyses.
Linkage
Attending to alternative perspectives (L6S) prepares you for special analyses and new learning (L6P). Conversely any learning or analyses you conduct will also prepare you for the possibility of diverse perspectives.
L6S ↔ L6P is provisionally labeled Preparation
Q4-CL5: Kinship-centred
In the Tree, this level contains two polarized but connected Centres, which we will label:
L5S: Demonstrate Core Group Solidarity—which is the dominant Centre
L5P: Develop Trusting Relationships
Why?
Forming enduring personal relationships is the foundation of feeling secure. Trust-based relations ensure you can draw on emotional and practical support when you need it most. You must contribute by using empathy, communicating honestly and responding to wishes, but trust and loyalty are a two-way street. The mutuality and solidarity that is required is a property of your small core group and this is what dominates.
Linkage
Demonstrations of solidarity (L5S) in your core group confirms the existence of trusting relationships (L5P) within that group. Conversely the development of trusting relationships confirms and provides confidence that your small group will show solidarity in the face of challenge.
L5S↔ L5P is provisionally labeled Confirmation
Develop a Position
Q4-CL4: Community-centred
In the Tree, this level becomes a single balanced Centre which we will label:
L4B: Volunteer for Community Roles
Why?
Becoming established is about the community assigning you a proper status. Your participation in communal life will help you gain acceptance and respect. While active voluntary contributions to the community are under your control, the openings for those contributions are provided by the social milieu. The two requirements are inseparable.
Q4-CL3: Cause-centred
In the Tree, this level contains two polarized but connected Centres, which we will label:
L3P: Deliver Expertise and Excellence—which is the dominant Centre.
L3S: Adhere to Codes and Standards
Why?
Specialization requires enthusiasm, and becoming an expert depends on training and effort. These personal factors are taken further by a passion for excellence. However, society has valid concerns as to the quality of self-proclaimed experts. There is also the danger from those who want to cut corners, take advantage of customers or generally operate unethically. This leads to the formulation of codes of practice and the development of minimum standards. Adherence to these is part of what constitutes excellence and so the personal commitment to excellence is dominant.
Linkage
Delivering expertise and excellence (L3P) requires an inner determination that leads you to adhere to codes and standards(L3S). Conversely,, adherence to the codes and standards determines whether expertise and excellence are being delivered.
L3P↔ L3S is provisionally labeled Determination
Q4-CL2: Power-centred
In the Tree, this level becomes a single balanced Centre which we will label:
L2B: Build Resources & Strengths
Why?
Each person must build strengths and resources for themselves on the basis of where they stand, what their family will provide, and what they want. As previously noted, there are many strengths that can be developed: personal, social, financial and legal. Exactly what strengths are most important and how resources should be acquired and used will be shaped by conventions and availability. So the personal and social factors cannot be separated.
Q4-CL1: Market-centred
In the Tree, this level becomes a single balanced Centre which we will label:
L1B: Be Financially Self-supporting
Why?
Earning a living is a matter or each person to do in their own way. While the method depends on talents, knowledge and opportunities, it is impossible to get an income that is not socially supported, permitted and regarded as worthy. In order to be financially secure, each person must compete and do the best they can and this particularly applies at this level.
Having identified the Centres, the next step is to confirm the Channels of bi-directional influence that have been provided in the diagrams, and to label them appropriately.
Originally posted: 10-July-2025