Cloudy1′s Blog
Just another WordPress.com weblogPersonal Construct Psychology – 22 March 09
I particularly enjoyed this weeks lecture where we discussed and practiced using George Kelly’s Personal Construct Psychology.
This is definitely a technique that i can use in the world of career guidance especially, I feel, when dealing with adults who are more self aware as it can really open up a non threatening dialog between the practitioner and the client. As a human being we all have our own personal ideas of what we like and don’t like and often use the same words to describe our thoughts, however we also assume that everyone else understanding of the word is the same. this can hinder understanding especially in a career guidance environment.
I have often been aware of the differences of how people observe the world – either through sound or sight, when we use phrases such as !I hear what you’re saying” or ” I see where you are coming from” and how difficult it can be for both parties to convey their message if they don’t take into account the others view. However this technique goes much further and can really form a great foundation for both parties, not only allowing the practitioner to understand the clients views but also opening up more self- awareness for the client too! The use of laddering to understand the core constructs of the client was difficult at first as you really need to make sure it doesn’t turn into the interrogation of a toddler asking “why?” to every answer you give (my record for answering the most number of whys to a 3 year old was 10 – the last answer being the inevitable – because!).
I will be looking into techniques used in PCP to gain a better understanding of how I can use this to the benefit of the client, afetr all that’s the whole point of why I am doing this course, not to follow models that alienate people!
After thinking about opposites when it came to constructs I watched a TV show which talked about opposites, however in terms of actual objects rather than constructs, I thought you might find it funny too:
What’s the opposite of a KNIFE?
Most people will say a FORK as it is placed opposite the knife in a dinner setting. However if you think about the function of a knfie = to cut things up with the opposite of the knife will now become GLUE!!
Now that’s a different way of thinking eh?!