Dependence, Independence, Interdependence

What is the ‘maturity continuum’? Author Stephen Covey introduced his readers to the ‘maturity continuum’ in his popular book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The maturity continuum explains the process of moving from dependence to independence to interdependence. This developmental continuum can be applied to individuals, families, cultures, organizations, countries, governments. The idea is to grow into, mature into the highest level of maturity: interdependence - “…the fact of depending on each other; the idea that everything in nature is connected to and depends on every other thing” (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/interdependence).

As infants, most animals and all humans depend on their mothers or caregivers to survive; they are in the ‘dependence’ stage on the maturity continuum.  As the animal or human ages, grows, develops, the natural movement is to becoming independent on the maturity continuum: the ‘independence’ stage - “…the ability to live your life without being helped or influenced by other people; the state of wanting or being able to do things for yourself and make your own decisions, without help or influence from other people; freedom to make laws or decisions without being governed or controlled by another country, organization, etc.” (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/interdependence). For human parents, teachers, caregivers, this is often a monumental stage because it means letting go of the need for the child to be dependent so they can grow up and become individual adults.  And, the final stage of progress on the maturity continuum is ‘interdependence.’  Unfortunately, some individuals, families, cultures, organizations, countries governments don’t mature past the ‘independence’ phase and miss out on the benefits of embracing interdependence.

Some countries, for example the country currently known as the United States, are so fiercely independent that it actually impedes growth for the country and its people. During the early years of that country, independence was hard-fought for and was the appropriate maturity level for building a new country. “Independence is not a bad thing. We want our children to be able to function on their own. But once that’s accomplished, we want them to grow beyond independence and recognize the importance of interdependence. Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants’” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-daughter-doesnt-have-to-be-miserable/202202/growing-beyond-independence-the-benefits-of). Dr. Courtney Conley observes, “Our society values independence. But fierce independence can be a defense mechanism and may actually hold you back. The adage, ‘If you want something done right you have to do it yourself,’ is an example of this. Perfectionists often share this mentality. Somewhere along the line, they developed the thinking that they can’t rely on others or that their way is best. This creates the feeling that you have to take on everything yourself. It prevents people from asking for help or accepting help when it is offered. They are essentially a one-person show. This is a recipe for stress, frustration, and burnout…True growth comes in realizing the interconnectedness of the world. We all play our roles with our unique attributes, qualities, and characteristics. We all have areas of strength and areas for improvement. Interdependence is a necessary skill if you want to enjoy mutually supportive relationships, accomplish big goals, and sustain emotional well-being. This will benefit children in school and throughout adulthood as they transition to the workforce” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-daughter-doesnt-have-to-be-miserable/202202/growing-beyond-independence-the-benefits-of).

Unfortunately, there is an obvious example of how not embracing interdependence can be detrimental. At present, a movement in the country currently known as the USA

shuns interdependence and has a desire to slide down the maturity continuum into ‘us against the world’ type of unhealthy independence.  That equates to becoming less mature rather than more mature.  It will hurt its citizens and the citizens of the world who had been in relationship together.

Think about how interdependence works well:

• In a group project, everyone contributes their individual skills, knowledge, and actions to benefit the whole.

• On a sports team, everyone is working toward the same goal - to win.  Each player contributes their individual skills for the success of the team.

• For the health of a global economy, countries work together to share their contributions with one another.

• In times of war, terrorism, chaos, pandemics, famine, natural disasters, etc., countries working together to share information, to share solutions, to be allies, to share resources. It is the foolish country that thinks it doesn’t need allies and is attempting to be ‘totally independent’ from the rest of the world.

• In business and economics, “Contemporary economy operates on the interdependence between nations and specific businesses in any field. It may include trade, investment, and other economic activities. Such partnerships help optimize resources and decrease expenses, enhancing efficiency and profits” (https://helpfulprofessor.com/interdependence-examples/).

• In international relations, “Countries rely on each other for diplomacy, security, and trade agreements. For example, one country may benefit from trade with another, providing each with access to goods and services they cannot produce themselves” (https://helpfulprofessor.com/interdependence-examples/).

• On the ecological issues, In nature, interdependence plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystems. Different species interact in complex ways, forming a balance of interdependence where each species relies on others for survival” (https://helpfulprofessor.com/interdependence-examples/).

• In the areas of science and technology, “In research and development, collaboration and interdependence help to achieve scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. By pooling resources and expertise, researchers can share knowledge and tools to develop new innovations” ” (https://helpfulprofessor.com/interdependence-examples/).

Here’s an example that may sound familiar: “…let’s take trade between two countries [; it] is often based on interdependence. Country A may rely on Country B to supply raw materials. In contrast, Country B may rely on Country A to purchase its finished products from those raw materials. Suppose one country stops or significantly reduces its trade with the other. In [the] case of such a situation, both countries may suffer economically, politically, and socially. Human interdependence and globalization go hand in hand. The effects of globalization have caused different countries and cultures to depend on one another for their needs (Di Mauro et al., 2009). For instance, the United States may import textiles from China due to cheaper manufacturing costs. In contrast, China may import technology and machinery from the US. The interdependence between countries enables them to trade ideas, products, and services, resulting in the creation of global markets, such as these" (https://helpfulprofessor.com/interdependence-examples/). 

Interdependence is natural as the highest form of relationship.  Think about how interdependence plays out on “…the Four Spheres of Life highlights the relationship between the spheres that make up our planet. These include the Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere. All four spheres are interdependent, and our world would be a mess without one another (Vodden et al., 2019). For example, the atmosphere (layer of gases surrounding the earth) depends on the hydrosphere (all of the water on earth) for the water cycle to occur, providing rain to sustain plant and animal life in the biosphere.  [Interdependence is also valued in business] …if one team member is not completing their assigned task, then that could cause a delay in the entire project (Sharma, 2015).

So, if every team member collaborates and finishes their tasks within the given time frame, it would lead to the timely completion of the project, resulting in the growth of the business.

Consequently, interdependence in the business world creates unity and helps businesses achieve their goals. In education, social interdependence theory creates a setting where learning and growth depend on the collaboration and support of other individuals.  Students can achieve academic goals and develop critical social skills through collaborative learning and teaching  (Sharma, 2015). For instance, group projects encourage learners to apply their individual strengths to benefit the group while developing communication and collaboration skills. It promotes teamwork and an appreciation for diversity. Interdependence of life in the ecosystem promotes diversity and balance. In essence, organisms depend on each other for survival (Sharma, 2015). Pollinators such as bees and butterflies rely on flowers for food, while flowers depend on pollinators for reproduction. In general, a complex network of interdependence exists among different species for their survival. Furthermore, humans rely on ecosystems to obtain vital resources like food, water, and fresh air. This type of interdependence in ecology promotes a sense of stewardship and conservation of natural resources. So, interdependence is everywhere around us, promoting an attitude of togetherness, unity, and community” (qtd. in https://helpfulprofessor.com/interdependence-examples/).  

Are there some potential pitfalls to interdependence? Very few. [paraphrased from https://helpfulprofessor.com/interdependence-examples/] 

• Loss of independence

• Reduced responsibility.

• Diminished flexibility.

• Disagreements.

• Disappointments when mutual dependence on equal performance behaviors are not met.

Forbes published an article touting, “Interdependence: The Key To A Better World”; in it they point out, “The challenge in embracing interdependence is to move away from right and wrong, good and bad, to an appreciation of the potential that we carry to impact each other, and for that matter, the universe. Then we can frame ‘freedom’ and ‘individualism’ as an opportunity to maximize the potential that each one of us has to make a difference. In other words, individualism becomes what one uniquely brings to making a difference, a unique piece to complete the puzzle. Interdependence then heightens the impact one has as it reverberates through the many interdependent parts. With the changed frame, the paradox shifts. Individualism, rather than being an obstacle, becomes a contribution. The thirst to thrive becomes the splendor of an unthinkable reach. Having left the ‘fear, scarcity and control’ world, one can enter the world of appreciation, gratitude and the very best of humaneness. The core of interdependence is an extraordinary chance to be part of an exquisite purpose and to contribute to that purpose. What might seem a useless effort in the isolation of just one individual becomes a critical linchpin in the world of interdependence that makes the impossible, possible…In short, for interdependence to be a widespread success, we must find a way past fear, command and control. Interdependence is the highway that will take us there. We must avoid awakening our reptilian brain [“the part of the human brain in the basal ganglia that controls automatic and self-serving / preserving behavior patterns such as feeding, fighting, fleeing, and reproduction” (www.oed.com) ] and, rather, promote engagement, enthusiasm, creativity and love” (https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2020/03/12/interdependence-the-key-to-a-better-world/).

Is this a good time in history to downgrade our maturity level, or is it the best time to embrace interdependence? Please share your stories, thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at reimaginelife22@gmail.com.

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