In my ongoing Mixed-Methods & Integral Research, which has been expanded into a project for designing the first Integral-Developmental Video Game, I explore new and alternative video game designs to catalyze overall human development based on different methodological frameworks originated from the field of Integral Theory.

Among them, I used the frameworks of:

(1) Integral Psychology, including the emergent field of "Post-Piagetian" Developmental Psychology.

(2) Integral Life Practice, which brings the contemporary concept of cross-disciplinary, multi-modular developmental training.

(3) Integral Play, a new theoretical & multi-disciplinary framework which links human development & play.




Integral Psychology (Wilber, 2007, 2000) covers a spectrum of models of psychology, therapy, consciousness, and spirituality. It refers to various Eastern and Western models, both in their pre-modern, modern and post-modern aspects; acknowledging all and finding a right place for every one of them. Integral Psychology also embraces many individual and collective aspects of human development, both in its exterior and interior manifestations, providing an integrated map for understanding past, present and future potentials for human development and evolution.

According to the Integral Psychology framework, human development has a very broad meaning, which embraces systematic definitions from various fields:

Psychoanalysis (Freud)
Analytical Psychology (Jung)
Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology (Piaget, Skinner)
Humanistic & Existential Psychology (Maslow, Rogers)
Transpersonal Psychology (Walsh & Vaughan)
Positive Psychology (Seligman)
Developmental Psychology & Structuralism (Piaget)
Post-Developmental Psychology (Maslow, Cook-Greuter, Kegan, Wilber)
Etc. 

Integral Psychology also takes in similar consideration other conventional definitions of human development related to Social (e.g., Erikson), Economic (e.g., Smith), and Educational (e.g., Perry) - hence embracing various individual, behavioral, physical, cultural, and social aspects.

From the perspectives of Integral Psychology and “post-Piagetian” Developmental Psychology, human development embraces a developmental continuum that integrates both mastering/integration (horizontal growth) and transformation (vertical growth) of various objective, subjective, and inter-subjective personal traits, including attitudes; beliefs; worldviews; social and relational skills; cognitive functions; technical capacities; and overall health & wellness.

Fig. 1: Different Altitude scales (colors) related to various Levels and Lines  (Wilber, 2007) - colors added

This developmental continuum ranges from:

(1) “Hard skills” (objective & practical) kinds of growth - e.g., technical skills, and special talents such as math, music and kinesthetic skills; to...

(2) “Soft skills” (subjective and inter-subjective) kinds of growth - e.g., behaviors and cognition, self-awareness, self-care, and interpersonal, emotional, cultural, social and moral intelligences; to...

(3) "Self-Actualization skills", (ontological, existential, and spiritual*) kinds of growth - e.g., spiritual awareness, environmental and humanitarian care, agnosticism, religious faith, and inner drives for self-actualization and transformation.

* Spiritual Growth: Follow below the four basic distinctions of spiritual growth proposed by Wilber (2007):

(1) Moving to the highest levels of development in any Line of intelligence
(2) Development of a separate Spiritual Line of intelligence
(3) Increase of extraordinary peak experiences or altered States of consciousness, including State-stage training
(4) Nurturance of particularly special or “spiritual attitudes” that can be present in any stage of human development, such as love, care, forgiveness, patience, compassion, and wisdom.

According to developmental and integral psychology researchers*, all the 3 main traits that compose the human developmental continuum have the intrinsic capacity to improve and transform in qualitative ways within and through different Levels of Development related to multiple and often interdependent Lines of Intelligence

* Integral & Developmental Psychology Researchers: Wilber, 2007, Gordon & Esbjörn-Hargens, 2007; Marquis, 2008; Gardner, 2006; Torbert, 2004; Cook-Greuter, 2006; Beck & Cowan, 1996; Kegan, 1994; Kolhberg, 1984; Loevinger, 1976; and Maslow, 1973.

Human development is also influenced by the capacity one has to access and master different or altered States of Consciousness (e.g., subjective moods, inner states of flow, engagement, relaxation, creativity, openness), and can vary significantly in relation to different Personality Types (e.g., Myers-Briggs, Enneagram)

Fig. 2: Different Altitude scales (colors) related to various Levels (Wilber, 2007) - colors added

One of the fundamental developmental concepts related to Integral-Developmental Psychology is an emphasis on facilitating overall balance and health from a holistic perspective: Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual.

From the perspective of these developmental fields, human beings are seen as potential self-actualizers, not only as clients or “patients” as in mainstream medical and psychological fields.

The focus tends to be on facilitating processes and practices geared towards reaching optimal levels of human potentials and healing, not only on adaptation, functionality, sickness or diseases.

Based on that, one of my proposals is to integrate a methodological framework into current practices of video game design that involves a broader and deeper concept of human development geared to promote holistic health, related to cross-training and balance of mind, heart, body, and spirit.

The more video games can provide efficient developmental tools through various kinds of strategically customized applications, the better, more meaningful, healthy, attractive, adaptable, and even “acceptable” these video games can be not only to gamers, but to the overall population; including teachers, leaders, mentors, healers, therapists, and other guiding professionals.

By accomplishing that successfully, video games can extend their influence and popularity into a broader range of players from all kinds of backgrounds, interests, ages and cultures. As a result, they can become even more meaningful, useful, pervasive, and popular, hence becoming even more profitable in the market.