Please note that the DMAP methodology breakthrough, when applied to dialectical metasystemic advanced analysis and problem-solving, is also known by its originator, Otto Laske, as the dialectical thought form system (DTF).
The following are minimal, suggested prerequisites or nice-to-have qualities and background skills that make learning DMAP (advanced dialectical metasystemic analysis and problem-solving) considerably easier and more successful. These minimal or suggested prerequisites are particularly applicable if you use DMAP at a think tank, an intelligence agency, at the highest level of corporate research, planning, management, and problem-solving, or the highest level of government analysis and problem-solving. This is because you will be dealing with extremely high levels of complexity, or individual or multiple interacting and interdependent complex adaptive systems.
A significant amount of reading and practice is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of this methodology and to develop the necessary skills. Although it will require a significant amount of time and effort, it is well worth it. It will make individuals with above-average intelligence who can master DMAP appear to others as highly gifted, and it will make the gifted appear almost supernaturally smart.
Here are the recommended minimal prerequisites:
1. One should be 27 years old or older. Below that age, the brain is not sufficiently developed to have enough synaptic connections to effectively handle the required mental bandwidth needed for processing this advanced methodology.
2. One should be above average intelligence and highly persistent. The DMAP methodology and process are very complex and challenging. If you are not highly persistent on a chosen challenge, it is not likely that you will be able to master the skill.
3. Ideally, one should have a high or very high IQ. This will make mastering the skill significantly easier.
We have repeatedly observed that individuals with average to slightly above-average mental abilities struggle and fail far more often than gifted, high-IQ (140-170) or very high-IQ (170-200+) individuals. Learning this methodology successfully and applying it to analyze and solve complex problems in multiple complex adaptive systems that interact with each other is intense and mentally challenging.
4. One must be able to consciously separate oneself from one's thoughts, feelings, ideas, or biases.
This critical skill must be practiced extensively in various drills or comes to some people naturally, who have been long-term meditators. It is very challenging to do advanced analysis and problem-solving with dialectical metasystemic methodology on complex adaptive systems unless you have also developed the ability to dispassionately see your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and biases as mere exterior objects to yourself, and not as a subjective internal and intrinsic part of who you are.
In the highly recommended DMAP book, Superintelligence by John Stewart. Stewart offers numerous exercises, in addition to traditional meditation practices, to develop the ability to turn your thoughts into objects while practicing DMAP. This book also explains the challenging and sometimes paradoxical DMAP learning process in great detail through the author's personal experiences as a proficient DMAP user and evolution theorist. If you're serious about mastering this skill and the other essential skills of DMAP, this is a must-read book in addition to Laske's three new books describing the methodology.
5. At some point, to do the last steps of the DMAP process, you will need to be proficient in systems thinking and knowledgeable about the principles and characteristics of complex adaptive systems.
6. One must be highly motivated to learn this new tool and skill.
It will set you apart from your peers who do not possess it. DMAP does not come easily or quickly for most individuals, even for the most talented and accomplished. It is only through persistent, careful material review and extensive practice that one attains the skill at a level of proficiency that will significantly magnify one's future career opportunities and make one appear like the smartest person in the room.
The additional suggested and very nice-to-have foundational skills are:
The following additional foundational skills are helpful if you have them now, and they will be invaluable for DMAP advanced analysis and problem-solving once your DMAP skill is developed. The paradox around these skills is that, if you have them now, at some level, you will have to temporarily suspend these analysis approaches at different points in mastering the dialectical metasystemic analysis and problem-solving process.
This is because DMAP thinking is so different. While still utilizing these earlier thinking methodologies, it transcends these other skills when modeling and analyzing complex adaptive systems. (The reasons for the paradox of temporarily suspending the skills listed below when doing the final stages of DMAP are explained in detail in the highly recommended new book Superintelligence by John Stewart.)
Suppose you intend to use this advanced analysis and problem-solving methodology in smaller, less complex, and critical situations. In that case, not everything on the second list below is essential, but having or eventually developing the skills on the second list will make success easier at any level.
Don't worry if you don't have all the following skills. Some of these skills may also be easier to develop after you have achieved the dialectical metasystemic analysis methodology:
1. Rational, analytical thinking,
2. Classical logic,
3. Scientific falsification principles and scientific methodology,
4. Statistical analysis.
5. Be at the social-emotional development level of at least the fourth of the six levels on Robert Keegan's Evolutionary Balances scale. Social-emotional development is often associated with the development or utilization of right-brain capabilities. DMAP strongly utilizes right-brain capabilities in the later stages of advanced analysis and problem-solving.
The most proficient DMAP users we have witnessed are level four and above on Keegan's social-emotional development scale. (We have, however, witnessed one individual who was adept at DMAP but low in social-emotional development. That individual was autistic, highly focused, and what would commonly be considered somewhat obsessive.)
It is common for gifted, primarily cognitive, left-brain individuals (particularly men) to be deficient in social-emotional development. Fortunately, one can increase one's level of social-emotional development by studying its principles and behaviors and practicing the techniques of socially emotionally well-developed individuals. Otto Laske also wrote Measuring Hidden Dimensions (MHD) volume 1, subtitled ‘The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults.’ It significantly refines Robert Kegan’s social-emotional thinking in both English and German. (below.)
We strongly recommend that individuals seeking the highest levels of proficiency in DMAP read Laske's additional book, Measuring Hidden Dimensions (MHD) volume 1. It will not only open you up to the highest levels of human development but also provide pointers on how to advance your current level of social-emotional development to higher levels.
This information will significantly ease your ability to perform high-level DMAP. It will also improve your life because enhanced social and emotional development facilitates improved social and career interactions.
Click here to buy Laske's publication, Measuring Hidden Dimensions: The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults (MDH). Wolfgang Pabst, the German science publisher, has MHD in both English and German.
You might be able to get a used copy of this book on Amazon here.
Laske, the originator of DTF methodology (the 28 dialectical thought forms), offers a course on understanding and fostering advanced social-emotional development here.
Many gifted individuals who are left-brain cognitively dominant, with lower right-brain social-emotional development, have considerable difficulty separating themselves from their biases and thoughts and turning them into unattached external objects. Instead, their biases, opinions, and ideas are closely "attached" as internalized "subjects" and not external objects. This issue creates many problems in DMAP analysis and problem-solving because it is invisible to the individual. If you are left-brain dominant with lower social-emotional development, be sure to get the book in the image above.
Mastering DMAP is so challenging that even gifted individuals with good development in both brain hemispheres will still struggle to develop high-level team DMAP skills. Fortunately, there is additional help available, as mentioned in the image above.
While reading and practicing the three essential books on DMAP by Otto Laske, to make it easier for you to learn the DMAP skills, also get the new book, Superintelligence by John Stewart.) From someone proficient in that skill, this book will give you an excellent and detailed picture of the many challenging aspects of the DMAP learning and mastery process.
If you are one of the individuals who can master DMAP analysis and problem-solving methodology, you should be very proud. Currently, you are part of a unique and small group of individuals.
Our hope and goal at the Universe Institute is to promote DMAP skills worldwide so that one day, there will be a DMAP practitioner in every critical analysis and decision-making position worldwide. When this happens, the world and humanity will be better equipped to resolve their greatest challenges more effectively and efficiently.
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