Viv Burr and Nigel King Using Personal Construct Methods in Reflective Practice Viv Burr and Nigel King University of Huddersfield School of Human and

Using Personal Construct Methods in Reflective Practice

Viv Burr and Nigel King Viv Burr and Nigel King

University of HuddersfieldUniversity of HuddersfieldSchool of Human and Health SciencesSchool of Human and Health Sciences

Institute for Research in Citizenship and Applied Human Sciences

Centre for Applied Psychological and Health Research11

Personal Construct PsychologyPersonal Construct Psychology

George Kelly (1955) The Psychology of Personal Constructs

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Clinical originsClinical origins Limited usefulness of (then) popular Limited usefulness of (then) popular

approaches:approaches: PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis Behaviour therapyBehaviour therapy

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Personal Construct Personal Construct PsychologyPsychology

Meanings rather than eventsMeanings rather than events How the world SEEMS to usHow the world SEEMS to us How we interpret events is keyHow we interpret events is key Some interpretations are more Some interpretations are more

helpful than othershelpful than others

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A person may approach the world ‘as-A person may approach the world ‘as-if’ it if’ it

were:were:

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……a threatening place a threatening place 66

……or a place full of possibilitiesor a place full of possibilities77


Over the course of our lives we develop dimensions of meaning Over the course of our lives we develop dimensions of meaning which we apply to our world which we apply to our world

These dimensions of meaning are ‘constructs’These dimensions of meaning are ‘constructs’ Constructs are dichotomous (bi-polar)Constructs are dichotomous (bi-polar) People are different to the extent that they use different People are different to the extent that they use different

constructsconstructs We can understand a person to the extent that we can We can understand a person to the extent that we can

understand the constructs they useunderstand the constructs they use

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Eliciting our constructs helps us to Eliciting our constructs helps us to articulate how we see the worldarticulate how we see the world

We can then more explicitly reflect We can then more explicitly reflect upon ourselves, our perspective and upon ourselves, our perspective and our conductour conduct

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Methods we will use today:Methods we will use today:

Construct ElicitationConstruct Elicitation

Laddering: Helps us to articulate Laddering: Helps us to articulate ‘core’‘core’

valuesvalues

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Construct elicitation: friendship Construct elicitation: friendship Take 6 cardsTake 6 cards•Write ‘me as a friend’ on oneWrite ‘me as a friend’ on one•Write on each of the others a name for 5 Write on each of the others a name for 5 other people you knowother people you know•Select any 3 and ask “how are two similar Select any 3 and ask “how are two similar but different from the third?”but different from the third?”•Focus on how they treat othersFocus on how they treat others•Record your constructs on the sheet Record your constructs on the sheet providedprovided

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Construct elicitation: social work valuesConstruct elicitation: social work values

Take 6 cardsTake 6 cardsWrite ‘me as a social worker’ on oneWrite ‘me as a social worker’ on oneWrite on each of the others a name for 5 other Write on each of the others a name for 5 other social workers you have seen in practicesocial workers you have seen in practiceSelect any 3 and ask “how are two similar but Select any 3 and ask “how are two similar but different from the third?”different from the third?”Focus on how they behave towards service users, Focus on how they behave towards service users, service users’ families and friends, colleagues and service users’ families and friends, colleagues and professionals from other servicesprofessionals from other servicesRecord your constructs on the sheet providedRecord your constructs on the sheet provided

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Example of ‘laddering’“Vegetarian – Eats meat” Preferred pole?

“Vegetarian” why?“it’s about recognising the right to life of animals” As opposed to what? “it’s just using animals for your own ends”. Why is it important to you recognise animals’ rights to life?It’s about living in the world in a way that accommodates the needs of others, not just yourself” As opposed to what? “it’s thinking only about yourself and what you want”.

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Accommodate other’s needs – Think only about self

↑

Animals’ rights to life – Use animals for own ends

↑Vegetarian - Eats meat

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Documents

Viv Burr and Nigel King Using Personal Construct Methods in Reflective Practice Viv Burr and Nigel King University of Huddersfield School of Human and