The Model of Logical Levels

The model of logical levels is our topic today. In lesson 42, you were already given a brief overview of the first insights. You can now find out in more detail what this is all about under this link!

Robert Dilts designed the model of logical levels in the mid-80s. The goal was to develop a tool that helps a person understand themselves and their environment better. At the same time, it should provide a hint as to which level one needs to address changes if one wants to develop as a person.

The logical levels are levels of change. They serve to clarify where, for example, a problem, a goal, or one's own mission is located. The solution occurs at the next higher level. I use the logical levels in problem-solving and resource work, where the situation is experienced and closely examined by clients at each level while 'ascending'. Through guidance and questions, resources are made conscious at each level. These resources are then brought into the underlying levels.

In the following, I would like to present the different levels to you in detail again:

environment

Every event takes place in a specific environment. This is the surroundings, the temporal and spatial context, the external circumstances, the external triggers. The level of the environment contains all external conditions that affect a person. The phenomena of the environment are externally perceivable through the senses. The environment can be described sensually. The environment can be explored with the questions 'Where?', 'When?', 'Who?', 'With whom?', 'Who else?'

Behavior

The level of behavior refers to all actions and reactions of a person that are perceivable from the outside by other people: the behavior of this person, their doing, their actions, their words, their tone of voice, their gestures, their movements, their motor skills, their breathing. Behavior can also be described with sensory-specific terms. Here it is about the 'What': What is being done?

Skills

Skills are cognitive and emotional processes that a person goes through to enable a certain behavior. It is about the ability to do, think, and feel – also about the awareness of these skills. The question here is 'How?': How does someone perform activities, what internal processes and programs are running? Skills are internal processes that are not directly perceivable from the outside.

Beliefs and values

The next level is beliefs, the convictions, values, and internal criteria that underlie actions – both consciously and unconsciously. Here it is about the guiding ideas that people hold to be true and that serve as motives for the use of their skills. People only apply the skills they possess when corresponding beliefs and criteria are present that allow the use of these skills.

Beliefs are interpretations from past experiences – individual theories about why something is the way it is and not otherwise. This level is inquired through: 'Why?', 'For what purpose?', 'What is important?'

Identity

The level of identity describes the self-image, the ideas that people unconsciously co-construct about themselves as a whole person in their behavior, in their skills, and in their beliefs. Identity is a high level of interpretations: the interpretation of numerous interpretations of past experiences.

Identity – with the poles of personal and social identity – can also be thought of as a special belief: a belief that people apply to themselves, the central model about themselves. The question here is: 'Who am I (when I live these beliefs and skills)?'

Belonging / Spirituality

The highest level is that of belonging or spirituality. This level is a trans-individual level. It includes the ideas, thoughts, and beliefs of people about something that is more than themselves, that transcends their individuality.

Here it is about belonging to something greater or higher. People who direct their consciousness to the contents of this level feel connected to other people, humanity as a whole, nature, life, a comprehensive idea, or the divine.

At the level of belonging, we find comprehensive visions, the meaning of life, life tasks, a mission, the experience of the source. Here it is about the big questions in life: 'Why do we live?', 'Why are we here?', 'What is the meaning of life?'