First Tier

A phrase used to summarize the first six major levels of values development according to Clare Graves and Spiral Dynamics: Survival Sense, Kin Spirits, Power Gods, Truth Force, Strive Drive, and Human Bond. All First-Tier stages are characterized as believing their values are the only correct values, in contrast to Second-Tier levels of development, which recognize the importance of all value systems. Integral Theory uses First Tier to refer to the first six degrees or levels of developmental “altitude” (Infrared, Magenta, Red, Amber, Orange, and Green).