The Six Stages Framework has always been presented as a psychological framework for understanding human behaviour, inclusion and systems change. This week, however, an important question emerged during our discussions: is the Six Stages Framework becoming more than a framework? As conversations ranged across Educational Psychology, SEND, leadership, workplace culture and current affairs, a deeper insight began to take shape. Perhaps the SSF is evolving into a way of thinking—one that helps us understand behaviour, belonging and systems with greater curiosity, empathy and complexity.
Rather than simply creating new content, many of our discussions explored the identity and purpose of the framework itself. A recurring insight emerged:
The Six Stages Framework is more than a framework—it is a way of thinking.
This idea has implications for the forthcoming book, the SSF website, training, leadership development and the long-term legacy of the Framework.
How the Six Stages Framework Continues to Evolve
- The SSF increasingly functions as a lens through which to interpret human behaviour, rather than simply a model for categorising it.
- Robust frameworks are valuable, but enduring impact comes from helping people develop better ways of thinking, asking richer questions and holding complexity.
- The distinction between symptoms and underlying conditions remains central to understanding behaviour across education, healthcare, workplaces and wider society.
- Belonging, psychological safety and systems thinking continue to emerge as interconnected concepts rather than separate topics.
Emerging Themes
Belonging is Safeguarding
An important idea began to crystallise during discussions about schools, maternity services and organisational culture.
When people genuinely experience belonging, they are more likely to:
- speak up
- seek help
- challenge unsafe practice
- notice when others are struggling
- contribute positively to their communities
This suggests that belonging is not simply an aspiration—it is a protective factor across many systems.
Dialogue and Curiosity
Discussions also highlighted how dialogue often breaks down when curiosity gives way to certainty, blame or polarisation.
This has strengthened plans for a future reflection exploring:
What Happens When Dialogue Breaks Down?
Cave Reflections
The “Caves” continue to provide a useful metaphor for understanding thinking rather than behaviour alone.
This week’s discussions reinforced that people may become trapped not simply by misinformation, but by:
- incomplete perspectives
- certainty without curiosity
- failure to examine underlying systems
- assumptions presented as facts
The invitation remains to “come out of the cave” by widening perspective rather than winning arguments.
Educational Psychology and Professional Practice: Through the Six Stages Framework Lens
Our conversations this week continued to emphasise understanding behaviour through context rather than isolated incidents, strengthening psychological formulation within SEND practice, and connecting educational need to meaningful provision and outcomes. The discussions reinforced the importance of Educational Psychologists working not only with children and families, but also with the systems that shape inclusion, belonging and participation.
This thinking was reflected in wider professional discussions with Educational Psychologists through EPNet, where I contributed to conversations about the future role of the profession within the context of SEND and education reform. A recurring theme was that Educational Psychologists have much more to offer than assessment alone. We bring skills in consultation, psychological formulation, systems thinking and organisational change. As educational reform continues to evolve, there is an opportunity—and perhaps a responsibility—for Educational Psychologists to help shape environments where children, families and professionals experience genuine belonging rather than simply navigating increasingly complex systems.
Our conversations continued to emphasise:
- understanding behaviour through context rather than isolated incidents
- systems thinking within SEND and Educational Psychology
- linking psychological safety, inclusion and educational outcomes
- producing reports that clearly connect need, educational impact, outcomes and provision
These principles continue to influence both professional practice and the wider development of the SSF.
Website and Knowledge Hub Development
Significant progress was made in shaping the long-term structure of the SSF Knowledge Hub.
A clearer publication architecture has emerged:
- Start Here (foundational SSF essays)
- SSF Weekly Reflections
- Through the SSF Lens articles
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Books and resources
We also agreed that future Weekly Reflections and newsletters should adopt a consistent editorial cover design to strengthen recognition of the SSF brand over time.
Writing and Publishing
This week we developed plans for:
- SSF Weekly Reflection #4
- LinkedIn Newsletter #4
- a reusable editorial workflow for all future publications
- a consistent visual identity for Weekly Reflections
- a substantial new preface for Understanding Human Behaviour in a Complex World
The proposed preface introduces one of the Framework’s most significant emerging ideas: that the SSF is not merely a framework but a way of thinking about behaviour, belonging and systems.
Looking Ahead: Six Stages Framework Ecosystem
Priorities for the coming week include:
- Editing Understanding Human Behaviour in a Complex World
- Refining the new Preface
- Developing the permanent “Start Here” article explaining what the SSF is and why it matters
- Completing SSF Weekly Reflection #4
- Producing LinkedIn Newsletter Edition #4 based on the completed reflection
Reflective Question
If future generations inherit our ways of thinking as much as our institutions, what ways of thinking are we modelling today—and how might they shape the systems we leave behind?
Part of the SSF Weekly Reflections series by Dr Shungu M’gadzah, exploring the continuing evolution of the Six Stages Framework as a way of thinking about human behaviour, belonging, leadership and systems change.
🔗 Internal Links
Related Articles
The Cave of Simplification
URL
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/cave-of-simplification/The Cave of Symptoms
URL
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/cave-of-symptoms/Building Bridges of Empathy
URL
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/building-bridges-of-empathy/Understanding Human Behaviour in a Complex World
Awaiting publication July 2026:
Suggested URL
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/understanding-human-behaviour/Start Here
Why the Six Stages Framework Is More Than a Framework
Suggested URL
https://www.sixstagesframework.com/start-here/🔗 External Links
Through The SSF Lens Linkedin Newsletter 1
Linkedin SSF Psychology & Human Behaviour Group
