By Adam Leonard

Keywords: quadrants, developmental levels, lines, states, types, holon, holarchy, Spiral Dynamics integral, Integral Methodological Pluralism, flatland, communication studies, translation, transformation, worldviews, value systems, David Johnston, theory, rhetorical, semiotics, phenomenology, systems, sociopsychological, sociocultural, critical, curriculum

Chapter 1 expresses the need for theoretical integration within communication studies. Chapter 2 introduces the “All Quadrants, All Levels” (AQAL) integral model created by the American philosopher Ken Wilber (2000b). The AQAL map has five central elements: quadrants, levels, lines, states, and types. Chapter 3 outlines the challenges of methodological integration. Integral methodological pluralism offers a philosophical justification for paradigmatic integration. The social sciences—including communication studies—face a crossroads in finding the integral balance between the theories and methods of the humanities on the left hand, and the theories and methods of the sciences on the right hand. Chapter 4 begins the transition into applying integral communication as a strategy, by drawing from each hand. Chapter 5 surveys the work of several researchers who study the evolution of value systems. Within this growth tendency, four specific value systems stand out in contemporary American culture. Chapter 6 uses these four value systems within an integral communication strategy. Chapter 7 presents an informal case study documenting integral communication in action. David Johnston used integral communication to transform the building market in Alameda County, California. Finally, Chapter 8 focuses on the transformative applications of integral communication. Multiple disciplines—from education to business to medicine to politics—are already using integral communication to talk, learn, and grow with each other. Furthermore, a transformation strategy and curriculum suggest the possibility of using language to prompt developmental growth. [Co-Director’s note: this paper includes the following elements of Integral Theory: quadrants of development, developmental levels, lines, states, and types. Spiral Dynamics integral, holons and holarchies, translation and transformation, flatland, and Integral Methodological Pluralism are also included concepts. – Barrett]