Sacrificial and Expressive Value Systems in the English Neo-Classic and Romantic Movements

Year: 1979

Research Problem: Exploration of the English Neo-Classic and Romantic Movements using Clare Graves’ “Level of Existence” or value systems theory.

Method: Graves’ framework, which focuses on sacrificial (Tribalistic, Absolutistic, and Sociocentric) systems and expressive (Egocentric, Achievist, and Individualistic) systems, was utilized in analysing the politics, society, religion, philosophy, and literature of the two periods.

Results: The Neo-Classic period was dominated by sacrificial systems, especially Absolitistic, while the Romantic Movement was dominated by expressive systems, especially Achievist.

Conclusion: This thesis suggests that man’s cultural development, like his psychological development, appears to evolve in a spiraling, pendular motion between sacrificial and expressive systems.

https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc504221/m2/1/high_res_d/1002772421-Heflich.pdf