IDM Press
IDM Press is a multi-lingual social science publishing house and the publishing branch of the Interdevelopmental Institute. We publish textbooks for students taking courses at the Institute, not only in English, but also in German, French, and Spanish.
So far, two books in English have appeared:
- A volume on applied developmental theory titled "Measuring Hidden Dimensions: The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults" (2006), referred to as "MHD Volume 1"
- A volume on applied theory of knowledge titled "Measuring Hidden Dimensions of Human Systems: Foundations of Requisite Organization" (2009), "MHD Volume 2".
Both books are textbooks for use in courses taught at the Institute, and are available both in softbound and in e-book form (see below). A German and French translation of Volume 1 is expected in 2010 – 2011.
“There is much literature on adult development out there but my view is that your articles and books are the most clear and enlightening to read. I read your Volume 1 several times and, as a consequence, found your Volume 2 much easier to understand. Volume 2 really helps me to coach leaders and CEOs. The ‘mind openers’ are very succinct and of great use in practical executive coaching. By using them, I have an edge over other coaches in executive coaching.”
Dr Shaker Mustafa
Highlights of Both Volumes
In terms of substance both Volume 1 and 2 of Measuring Hidden Dimensions introduce a new paradigm of process consultation, whether in the form of coaching, management consulting, psychotherapy, HR management, mediation, or social work. The two books deviate from the predominant behaviorist paradigm of the social sciences, by showing that behavior is a second-hand phenomenon whose roots are adult-developmental progressions occurring over an individual's life span. In both books, adult development is viewed from an epistemological — theory of knowledge related — not a psychological, perspective.
Reviews & Detailed Content Descriptions
For details and reviews of MHD Volume 1 please see MHD1 Reviews.
Volume 2, in particular, is critical of present adult developmental research in which the two best researched lines of adult development — cognitive and social-emotional — are either rigidly separated or are reduced one to the other. Volume 2 transcends this now 30-year old research-obstructive tradition by linking Kohlberg School findings to Frankfurt School research in dialectical thinking.
For details and reviews of MHD Volume 2 please see MHD2 Reviews.
Measuring Hidden Dimensions: The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults (MHD Volume 1; 2006)
Content of Volume 1
Volume 1 refines Kegan's developmental perspective by including it as one aspect of three represented in the Constructive Developmental Framework (CDF): social-emotional, cognitive, and psychological. The refinement is in the form of chapters on interviewing, amplification of conventional stage scoring, direct focus on coaching and management consulting, inclusion of practice reflections and exercises for coaches and consultants, and an Appendix comprising case studies on individuals and teams, as well as capability management.
By including the social-emotional perspective as a sub-component of CDF, it becomes easier to separate, as well as link, the two main lines of adult development. While the crucial social-emotional question is "What should I do and for whom?", the central cognitive question is "What can I do and what are my options?" While linked in real life, conceptually these are two very different issues for adults. They deserve independent theories.
How to Order Volume 1
Measuring Hidden Dimensions: The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults is available in both soft cover bound format ($35.00) and e-book format ($25.00).
NOTE: On US book orders shipping and handling is free. However a charge applies to printed book orders shipped outside the US. Be sure to enter the correct coupon code on the order checkout page.
Shipping & Handling
Please read carefully. Note: a $20 shipping fee is added automatically to every MHD-1 order.
- International Customers (outside North America except Canada): shipping is $20
- Canadian Customers: Enter coupon code CAN to reduce the shipping by $15 (shipping is $5)
- US Customers: Enter coupon code USA1 to reduce the shipping by $20 (shipping is free)
It is the purchaser's responsibility to enter the the correct coupon code on the checkout page.
Order Soft-Cover Bound Format
Click the PayPal logo below to order the soft cover book ($35.00).
Order E-Book Format (PDF)
Click the PayPal logo below to order the PDF version of the book ($25).
Measuring Hidden Dimensions of Human Systems: Foundations of Requisite Organization (MHD volume 2; 2009)
Content of Volume 2
Volume 2 is more than a sequel to Volume 1. It grounds social-emotional in epistemic and cognitive development and addresses research issues first formulated by organization theorist Elliott Jaques.
This volume has two prominent foci:
- Dialectical thinking [chapters 4 to 8, 13, and Appendix]
- Foundations of Requisite Organization [chapters 1-3, 9-12, 14-15]
Although conventionally not linked, in Volume 2 these two topics are seen as deeply interrelated, notwithstanding the fact that dialectical thinking is an ancient thinking tradition that should be taught, learned, and used outside of organizations as well. The reason for the linkage of the two topics in volume 2 is simple: those in charge of making and maintaining large organizations will fail if they are unable to think dialectically. Outside of organizations, dialectical thinking is a central topic in climate change and similar issues.
The novel theory of consciousness development presented in volume 2 is diagrammatically shown below:
This says:
- Social-emotional development concerns stance (positioning in the world), not tools of navigating in the world, and is under the direct influence of cognitive development.
- Assumptions about the uncertainty or certainty of truth, in volume 2 referred to as epistemic position [else “stage of reflective judgment”], mediate between social-emotional and cognitive development.
- Cognitive development presupposes development of social-emotional and epistemic capability and consists of extending logical thinking into dialectical thinking beginning in late adolescence (where logical and dialectical thinking initially overlap).
- Cognitive development in terms of increasing ability of using dialectical thought forms drives social-emotional development, which thus can be explained not only in its outcome (e.g., “stages”) but the mental processes it comprises.
- There is interdependency between social-emotional and epistemic development, on one hand, and between epistemic and cognitive development, on the other, but no direct influence of social-emotional on cognitive development.
- Rather, the influence is mediated by epistemic growth (improved capability of dealing with uncertainty).
- There is, however, a direct influence of cognitive on social-emotional development (as can be seen in any cognitive interview when considered in relation to findings in a social-emotional interview).
In volume 2, these novel working hypotheses for adult developmental research are put to use in addressing organizational issues in the sense of Elliott Jaques. Organizational layers of accountability are defined cognitively, and thus can be critically examined in terms of how far role carriers in an organization are able to use dialectical thought forms. The book shows how this can be assessed through a semi-structured and scored cognitive interview whose procedure is entirely different from a Kegan-style social-emotional interview, and historically derives from Michael Basseches’ work. In fact, in chapters 9 to 13, volume 2 teaches how to conduct cognitive interviews that can be scored and compared among each other. This purpose is also served by the Manual of Dialectical Thought Forms in the Appendix in which every individual thought form is discussed in its meaning, and is exemplified by concrete applications.
As a result of its recasting of social-emotional development, volume 2 proposes the following research hypothesis regarding adult development in the form of a hierarchy of assessment scores:
According to the diagram, the most general assessment score is the social-emotional one which applies to millions of people at the same time. It is thus unspecific regarding an individual's uniqueness, and also says nothing about the individual's culture. A person's cognitive profile, assessed in volume 2 by a Fluidity Index, comes much closer to a person's uniqueness and cultural uniqueness. Even closer is the psychoanalytical "Needs/Press" score (taught in Module C of IDM Program One).
It is here that dialectical thinking comes in for those who study at IDM: all three CDF scores need to be seen as interrelated and mutually dependent on each other. When these scores are linked by way of using dialectical thought forms, a holistic picture of the person assessed arises. This picture is more complex than any other assessment mechanism presently on the market delivers.
One can say, then, that volume 2 not only integrates volume 1 but gives more precision to social-emotional assessment than is found in Kohlberg School research (but also in Loevinger’s work). This is due to the fact that in volume 2, Frankfurt School dialectical thinking is fully integrated with Kohlberg School findings. In linking the two schools, CDF transcends both schools — one of which does not think developmentally while the other does not think dialectically. Volume 2 thus opens a new path for process consultation and developmental research in the 21st century.
How to Order Volume 2
Measuring Hidden Dimensions: Foundations of Requisite Organization is available in both soft cover bound ($65.00) and e-book format ($40.00). In both formats, the book contains a manual of dialectical thought forms which is additionally available as a stand-alone e-book in pdf format, priced $25.00.
NOTE: On US book orders shipping and handling is free. However a charge applies to printed book orders shipped outside the US. Be sure to enter the correct coupon code on the order checkout page.
Shipping & Handling
Please read carefully. Note: a $30 shipping fee is added automatically to every MHD-2 order.
- International Customers (outside North America except Canada): shipping is $30
- Canadian Customers: Enter coupon code CAN to reduce the shipping by $15 (shipping is $15)
- US Customers: Enter coupon code USA2 to reduce the shipping by $30 (shipping is free)
Order MHD-2 Soft-cover Bound
Click the PayPal logo below to order the soft cover book ($65.00).
Order MHD-2 E-Book (PDF)
Click the PayPal logo below to order the PDF version of the book ($40.00).
Order MHD-II Manual of Dialectical Thought Forms E-Book (PDF)
Click the PayPal logo below to order the PDF version of the Manual ($25.00).