Essentially, spiral dynamics refers to a psychological and data-based approach geared towards understanding the thinking systems and worldviews or perspectives of societies, organizations, and individuals. In this case, Spiral Dynamics helps in comprehending diverse decision-making and problem solving by exploring how individuals react to their environment and how they conceptualize things, instead of the things they think about.

A paradigm, on the other hand, is a model that contains all the views and perspectives that are commonly accepted about a specific subject. In other words, a paradigm refers to a group of thought patterns or concepts such as standards, research methods, and theories about legitimate contributions in particular fields of study.

Memetics can be defined as the study of culture and information related to Darwinian evolution analogies, with the concept also related to the study of cultural information transfer as part of the evolutionary method. Essentially, memetics entails the sidestepping of traditional conceptions about the truth of beliefs and ideas, with focus instead directed towards the success of these beliefs and ideas. For instance, memetics have been applied in the Syrian War through social media to alter social discourse about NATO’s funding of Al Qaeda-backed rebels.

SDT differs from Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” because the latter fails to apply universally. Indeed, unlike SDT, Maslow’s theory explores specific niche parts of human development, but misses the broader perspective related to the engine that drives this human development. Whereas Maslow’s theory implies that human development has an end-point, SDT proposes that this development is open-ended with humans embarking on a never-ending quest.

SDT can be applied in nursing and patient care to help nurses navigate and recognize issues in the workplace related to conflicting worldviews and values among patients, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Further, SDT also helps nurses navigate conflicts between their professional and individual perspectives and values, as well as worldviews and values on which the workplace surroundings are based.

Finally, my worldview based on the SDT framework is absolutistic as I seek order and stability, certainty, purpose, and meaning in life. This may affect my role as a nurse by making me more obedient to nursing supervisors, thus becoming a better team player. However, this would also mean that I am more resistant to new norms that undermine control.