Dr. Clare W. Graves

The following page, written in the early 1960s, reveals some of Dr. Graves thinking as he conducted his research and developed the Levels of Existence Theory.

There are nine existence levels but ten behavioral levels.
The non-subsistence behavioral level occurs but phenomenologically.
It is perceived as losing one’s existence - - not existing.

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Present evidence indicates we may be able to identify at least nine levels of behavioral organization. The first four levels are quite clearly seen and definable. The fifth and sixth levels are becoming more clearly into view. The higher levels are, today, seen only in dim outline form subject to considerable revision. Below are listed the behavioral levels along with dominant need, nature of existence and nature of ethics at each level.

Behavioral Level	Dominant Needs	Nature of Existence	Nature of Ethics
9 – Being	Expression of Self	Infinite	Human
8 – 4^th Existence	Beauty	Appreciation	Awesome
7 – 3^rd Existence	Understanding	Comprehending	Compassionate
6 – 2^nd Existence	Information	Seeking	Cognitive
5 – 1^st Existence	Esteem of Self	Personalistic	Materialistic
4 – 4^th Subsistence	Belonging	Sociocentric	Conformistic
3 – 3^rd Subsistence	Power	Omnipotent	Might is Right
2 – 2^nd Subsistence	Safety	Frightened	Sacrificial
1 – 1^st Subsistence	Physiological	Animalistic	Totem and Taboo
Non-Subsistence	All things	Chaotic	Amoral perceived vital

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