Personal Constructs Theory (PCT) Analysis

Personal induces Theory (PCT) AnalysisPersonal causes Theory A Systematic Study backing/AbstractIn this study we aim to carryer an analytic thinking of a subjects problems using the Personal Constructs Theory (PCT) suggested by Kelly. The subject is a 35 year old female full time employee pretending in the like comp all as the researcher and has shown no barriers to construing. The subjects problems with her relationships gain been determined using the repertory gridiron interview and we discuss results and provide an analysis of the findings following the interview and data collection. The interview was done to reveal elements within the invitees relationships and all interview limitations have been considered for the study. We provide an analysis of Personal Constructs Theory in general giving a design overview of its master(prenominal) premises and principles and then move on to its applications including the gridiron interview technique on our client. We discuss the results and analyse the findings correspondly.IntroductionGeorge Kellys Personal Construct Theory (PCT) emphasises that the world is compassd by a mortal match to the meaning the person applies to it and the person has the freedom to choose a meaning fit to what he or she wants (Kelly, 1955). Thus a person has the freedom to choose a meaning in terms of which he perceives the world and corporation have got alternative creationions or meanings to his past, present and future events. Thus a person is not a victim of his events but can liberate himself from unpleasant events by re viewing and redefining them. According to Kelly (1955) PCT attempts to explain why a man does what he does and is a theory ab give away how the human cognitive operation flows, how it strives in new directions as tumesce as in old, and how it may d be for the first time to r from each one into the depths of newly perceived dimensionsKelly states that a persons processes argon psychologically ch annelized by the shipway in which he anticipate the events(1955). Here, the subject is the process and the man-to-man is a behaving organism who may need an external force to initiate an event. The processes include those of self-definition and relationships with former(a)s, and how we interpret events around us as tumesce as the events we perceive and tasks at hand (Kelly 1955). Kelly based his theory of PCT on man as the scientist bewilder and the basic points were as followsthe individual creates his or her own ways of seeing the world and interprets events according to how he perceive themthe individual builds percepts and constructsthese constructs atomic number 18 organized into establishments, or group of constructs which embody relationships ii or more systems may contain the same events, yet the events argon separate from any of the systemsany individuals systems have a definite fociThe term construct is a concept that represents the view a person has constructed ab divulge the world as he experiences it. Constructs as well represent the way a person is similarly to construe the world and the construct system as a whole represents the history and predisposition to perceive the world in a particular way.Kelly alike distinguished between kindly reality, individual reality and communality. Individuality denotes that every individual differ from each other in how they construct or perceive the world, communality refers to the underlying connaturalities or common elements in perception and how the construction of experience in one person is similar to that of another (Kelly, 1955). Social reality is perception of how one person construes the construction processes of another person and how they argon involved in a social component part. Personal construct theory has been used in several sociological and scientific disciplines and it has been emphasised that social reality and communality should be considered along with the individual or perso nalized reality and both have to be considered together in developing an apprehensiveness of the psychological processes (Dalton, 1992).The theory of Personal Constructs, points out that it is our personal psychological constructs that prove the world predictable. We use construct systems to help in perception of the world and respond to all stations according to these perceptions. Our construct systems help us to make sense of the world, to make it predictable, to draw conclusions about causes and effects and we learn from experiences and adjust our behaviour accordingly (Fransella, 1995). Kelly wrote that the construct systems influence our expectations and perceptions and reflect our past experiences according to which we forge our future expectations. For example since we known from our past experiences that winters are cold, we would take adequate measures of protection during winter because we expect winters to be cold.However according to Kelly, our construct systems arr est and change and are not static and are either confirmed or challenged when we are conscious. We adapt and immunise our constructs according to the situation and alter our feelings according to our experiences. We also tend to think and react according to our construct systems and some(a) constructs represent values and key relationships which are difficult to change and fixed whereas some other constructs are less complex and more flexible and adaptive. The truth about the world as understood and experienced determines the nature of the construct system. Construct systems are not generally judged according to any objective truth and depend on an individuals personal feelings, perceptions and wefts (Dalton, 1992). One individuals construct system may be different from anothers and when there is a general dis covenant in constructs, it is generally denoted by detriment or preconception. Although conflicts and differences of opinions are unpleasant, these events help us to sympat hize differences in pot and help us to learn how other people perceive things (Stevens, 1996). However construct systems change and may not be altogether internally consistent. People may react or perceive things differently even in similar circumstances and this is normal as there is a certain degree of internal difference in perception of events. Distortions of judgement due to internal inconsistency of personal constructs can be harmful for a person as he may suffer from personal distress. The extent to which one person can appreciate and react to another persons constructs is a measure of empathy or how one perceives another (Banister, 1985). One persons construct system may be markedly different from another persons constructs yet one should be able to infer the other persons construct in order to empathise and develop a sense of social oneness and responsibility. Kellys theory is one of the most stiff theories in social research and helps to provide a psychological explanat ion of social similarities and differences.The applications of Kellys theory of Personal constructs are wide and varied as it helps to provide mathematical representations of constructs systems. Construct systems are multidimensional mathematical models and a persons language is used to classify his or her experiences. Kelly positive a physique of mathematical models and representations of construct systems and tested hypotheses that followed from basic personal construct theory (Fransella and Bannister, 1977). To understand peoples personal construct systems the repertory Grid reference technique was developed, also known as the Role Construct Repertory Test. The repertoire of constructs that a person develops represents some form of perception, judgement or evaluation and is always comparative. Thus judgement of anything good is in comparison with the concept of bad. Thus in using a Grid interview three elements are considered and then ii are paired in distinguish with a thi rd. The theory of personal constructs can be applied to personal experiences and relationships and so parents, relations, friends, colleagues and the individual are largely responsible for the formation of constructs (Smith et al, 1995 Kalekin-Fishman et al, 1996). Kelly elicited a patients constructs, rated the different elements on the constructs and used the resultant grid to point out to the client what his primary problems or concerns were. This helped to decide which therapy would be important and helped to determine the progress and effectiveness of therapy. For example one could find the two elements in a personal relationship of a patient and his capture and use this technique to find out differences between a patients perception of himself and what his mother would like him to be. The patient would then be encouraged to provide a self description and over locomote through means of making his relationship with his mother more pleasant and productive. If there are paranoid elements recognised in a patients perception of himself or his relationships, appropriate therapeutic interventions are suggested.The Repertory Grid interviewing technique was developed by Kelly to over convey some of the methodological limitations of the interview method. The main steps of the Grid technique includeSelecting a stiff of elements this could be anything from relationships to issues and the elements could be people involved in these relationships with the client.The elements are taken in groups of three and the client is asked to pair two of them separating the third according to a special characteristic (Adams-Webber, 1983). Thus here the differentiation is done according to constructs determined by the client and is done on a bipolar scale with the interviewer setting up the question but the client determining the capacitance (Anderson, 1987).The constructs are examined in some detail and after the interview the constructs are made into scales of 1-5 and the inte rviewee is expected to rate every element for every construct on this scale. The result is a matrix and this is then analysed statistically to show the client his problems and how they can be tackled. The statistical analysis helps to give measurements of individual people characteristics and compares peoples perceptions before and after the interview. The Grid is thus a statistical, and content free process and although the interviewer initiates its functions, it is the patient who drives it allowing him to come out with his own perceptions thus giving the process a freedom from any interviewer bias and allows complete transparency(Anderson, 1987). Since it is also a standardised interviewing technique any interviewer can read the interview and understand its implications.Russell and Cox (2003) and Morrison (1991) have stressed on the importance of repertory grid in the analysis of individual perceptions. Considering Kellys constructivist alternativism, we can assume that all our p resent perceptions of the world could be subject to changes and revisions and accordingly our perceptions of people and subsequently our social relationships could also be changed according to this principle.MethodA 35 year old female colleague, Marie Oliver was selected for the interview process. The client was having some relationship problems, especially with her work colleagues and has been showing maladjustment along with problems of anxiety, depression and lack of productivity at work. The participant was apprised of the purpose of the interviewing and was asked to participate suggesting that participation in the interview would help her in overcoming her personal problems. A Repertory Grid Interview was done and the first step was identifying elements or grid components. For this all the realizable elements including people in relationships were identify. Thus elements are work colleagues known to the participant and to the researcher, and the participant used triad method with the elements to create constructs around any one chosen topic. Elements were then compared by inquire participant to take 3 elements and ascertain where 2 are similar and 1 is different, and the participant was encouraged to continue until all possible combinations were exhausted of 3 elements from the set of 10. The instruction given in this case was , choose any three of these known people and group two of them together separating a possible third to show why two of them are similar and how they differ from the third person.This process was used to identify similarities and differences of individuals until the participant ran out of constructs. Several mini-grids were developed in advance to ensure that the participant was comfortable with the process of grid construction. Then the Participant followed the process, generated the first grid, to ascertain whether each element is more like the similarity pole or difference pole by patsy with x or o respectively. The participan t then generated a second grid to rate each element on each of the 10 constructs using 1-5 point scale, but presented the grid to experimenter without ratings, experimenter then created the final grid as the participant.The main aim and purpose of the interview was agreed with the participant and views about other work colleagues were thus taken. The participant was fully informed from outset regarding the possibility that the revelations from the Grid Interview could be unsettling for her.However for these purposes, participants consent form was also signed in advance and the constructs were then set up on the grid allowing to be revealed. In the process of the interview, the researcher made notes on participant behaviour and perceptions as verbally revealed.In this case, the participant Marie was asked to identify the elements in her workplace that could be considered in her relationships with colleagues. Marie identified 10 colleagues at her workplace and separated two of them a s distinct from a third. The common points and the differences were noted. Each of the 10 constructs chosen were rated on a 1-5 scale and the grids were created with similarity and difference poles marked by x or an o. This was done in case of determining constructs and relationships with work colleagues. After the formation of a grid, an analysis was drawn up.Findings/AnalysisThe two assumptions of the Grid Interview by Kelly were as follows1. If we can identify an individuals construct single-valued function there is a strong possibility we can predict that individuals behaviour.2. We may be able to modify an individuals map, and therefore behaviour, by some form of training.The two smells of the Repertory Grid are1. Elements which are the objects of an individuals thinking and to which they relate their concepts or values. These elements may be people with qualities like effective, un victor, etc or they may be objects or abstract, concrete concepts like the interview or a test 2. Constructs are the qualities used to describe the elements in our personal, individual relationships thus a person is effective because he has a pleasant relationship with his staff which reflects personal construct as applied to the element of an effective individualThe main elements in an analysis when a grid is applied to an individual are1. The results relate to that individual alone2. Only one grid has to be analysed for an individuals report.3. A grid scoring form is used to perform the analysisThe Findings and Analysis help us to probe the following questionsTo what extent was the study helpful in soul the participants view of the topic of examination?Identification and justification of apparent areas of understanding and lack of understandingIs a pattern of understanding evident?How does the analysis link with the notes made prior to completing grids on expected areas of degree of understanding?What is the meaning revealed by the participants choice of elements and const ructs?Do the elements and constructs reveal a similar or different view of the topic of analysis chosen?What does the degree of the match imply?Was the study any more helpful when conference elaboration was also used as an extended method?Is some analysis of new understandings reached during feedback conversation helpful for the process?What do the notes and quotes as revealed by the client suggest?The findings are given as follows(Mostly worked together with these individuals)Close organisation on 4, 5, 6 elementsLess agreement on 9 element(Mostly worked separately with these individuals)Little agreement on 1,2,3,7,8,10- elements with different negative personal experiences working with E7 and E8 on particular projects.Close agreement on 6 constructs (professional hire). Upon discussion, views were similar regarding the meaning of professional conduct and who could be trusted.Less agreement on 1,3,4,5,7,9 constructs. Upon discussion, researcher and client shared similar/same definitions of each construct.Little agreement on 2,8,10 constructs. Upon discussion, our definitions were different, hence our measurement of each element came from a different understanding of constructs.The elements identified by Marie were individuals at the workplace and Marie revealed that she worked closely with elements 4, 5 and 6 although had less agreement with element or colleague 9. Marie revealed that she has worked separately and had negative personal experiences with colleagues identified as elements 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10 although she said she was working on the same project with two of these negatively perceived colleagues 7 and 8. Mari suggested a close agreement with 6 on professional conduct and said that her views with 6 were similar regarding professional conduct, friendships and trust issues as to who in the office should or should not be trusted. Marie suggested that her constructs were either in line of reasoning to or were not compatible with those of 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 elements or colleagues identified. Marie and the researcher had some discussions on the nature and definition of particular perceptions and constructs and the general definition of these identified by the researcher were similar to that of the subject. The subjects perceptions, feedback and opinions on the constructs were noted separately.Marie identified that two of the colleagues were genial and amicable and compared with the other person who in contrast has been described as un social and not easy to get along with.The Repertory Grid Scoring mainsheet is drawn as followsThe process of producing the Repertory Grid can be broken down into the following stepsStep One The participant Marie identifies ten colleagues whom she knows well. Among these ten colleagues Marie should go along well with at to the lowest degree two of them ideally.Step Two Marie is given six pieces of card or paper on which she is asked to write the distinguishs of the people she has identif ied. These are the elements described. A number can also be added to the card/paper to signify description and added at the head of column on the scoring sheet. Alternatively, the name itself of the element identified can be entered on the scoring sheet as well.Step Three Three cards are selected, for example 1, 2 and 3, and Marie is asked to identify some aspect tie in to these colleagues behaviour which makes two of the three people selected different from the third.The construct word or phrase is written in the top left side of the vertical columns. In the top right side of the vertical columns is written the description of the person one who is different from the other two.This process of obtaining constructs from the three people is continued until no further constructs or perceived characteristics could be elicited from the participant.Step Four Once the constructs have been entirely elicited and entered on the gradsheet, the cards are returned.Each element person is then g iven a score on a scale of 1 to 5. A score of 1 or 2 is allocated to those who are suited to the description in the leftfield column, the column with the description of the pair. Scores of 5 or 4 are allocated to those who match with the description in the right-hand column, the description of the odd person outStep Five A different set of three cards is then selected, cards 4, 5 and 6 and the process in steps 3 and 4 is repeated, ensuring that the description of pairs is recorded in the left-hand column and a score of 1 or 2 relates to the pairs similarity and score points of 4 and 5 relate to the description of the single person. A score of 3 is average score. A score of at least one 1 and one 5 is helpful when allocated usually from the set of three people for whom the constructs are being elicited.Step Six Step five is repeated and the various combinations of the elements are aimed to be covered until the participants run out of perceived characteristics or constructs that coul d be entered on the card.After the grid consideration, the grid scoring sheet is used to record the views of the participant for each element against each construct which has been offered. The data collected is then subject to analysis. A manual analysis can generate and extract considerable information from the grid and all the constructs are related to the personal characteristics of each work colleague considered in the study by Marie.Step Seven In this case study we consider the behavioural aspects of work colleagues of Marie which is related to their overall friendliness, therefore at the end of the grid Marie is asked to rate the elements in a single, given construct over a scale of friendly to unfriendly.The scoring for friendliness is then compared with other individual aspects to highlight differences and to provide indicators for friendliness.Step Eight The scores for each construct are obtained by marking the difference for each element against the general friendliness fi gure.Step Nine In this phase, we analyse the various constructs on the basis that if the score is low the aspect measured is significant in the ranking for friendlinessIt is the duty of interviewer to remain without any bias and to refrain from giving any suggestion to the participant on what constructs should be drawn. Forming the constructs is entirely dependent on the participant and the researcher has no role in its formation. They must be according to the thoughts and perceptions of the individual who is being interviewed in this case, Marie although the constructs must be clear, meaningful. Here the analyst has helped her in one or two cases when she couldnt describe the construct and sought help of the analyst to come out with the right word. After the constructs are listed against the elements, the grid results are scored and are ready to be used for analysis.From the example used in this study -the aspects which go towards the behavioural skills of colleague at work, are id entified as followsHas empathy with other colleaguesHas a proper work culture and attitudeHas an ethical senseIs friendly and amicableIs knowledgeable and professionalAlways has a good style and appearanceIs a team oriented personIs a leader in the groupComes out with fresh new ideasIs helpful and cooperativeDiscussionIn this study we selected Marie Oliver, a 35 year old colleague who was measly from some initial maladjustment in the workplace. Marie was asked to participate in the Repertory Grid Interview process to identify the reasons of her problems, categorise them and come out with possible suggestions. The fire taken was qualitative analysis by using the Personal Constructs theory developed by Kelly and a final analysis using scoring sheet and identifying elements through the Repertory Grid Interview technique. Marie was asked to select characteristics and constructs of persons in her workplace. She identified the most desirable and friendly characteristics in her colleague s against the least desirable ones. The notes taken during conversation with Marie reveal that Marie felt she got along only with a few colleagues only three as mentioned. There were basic differences in professional ethic and conduct with at least two colleagues she was working in collaboration with. The behavioural skills Marie identified as important in defining her good relationship with the colleagues are empathic characteristics in others any concept of an ideal colleague is also associated with being able to follow a proper work culture and having a proper attitude. Having an ethical sense, a sense of justice and being knowledgeable, professional with a good sense of humour are also identified as important characteristics in a proper friendly colleague. Marie indicated that being friendly, amicable and with good style and appearance has been noted in at least two of her colleagues and this is stark contrast to a third colleague she identified and with whom she doesnt seem to get along. If we consider Kellys perspective of constructive alternativism, it is possible to have alternative perceptions as our perceptions of the world depend completely on our personal constructs.Marie also identified leadership skills, helpfulness and cooperativeness, being able to come out with fresh ideas and following a proper work culture as important aspects of professional behaviour and gave high scores on these aspects to at least two of her colleagues. Overall, a Repertory Grid Interview on Marie showed that she has good and easygoing relations with two of her colleagues but doesnt seem to go well with many of them. The negative implications of the findings which suggest why Marie did not get along with most of her colleagues and seem to show anxiety and depression symptoms as well as dissatisfaction with her workplace were revealed in her perception of constructs on most of her colleagues. Marie suggested that some of her colleagues were low on cooperativeness and help fulness, friendliness and proper professional attitude making the automatic teller machine competitive and hostile. The dynamics of Maries actual relations with her colleagues were thus revealed using this Grid interviewing procedure and Maries own perception of her work situation, perception of her situation and role in the office, and perception of her relations with her colleagues and her job were also revealed through this study. As Morrison (1991) used the repertory grid technique to understand nurses perception of wish well and their evaluation of caring attitudes in nursing, Maries perception of her work culture could easily reveal her ideal understanding of a workplace and what she sought in her colleagues. Her inner constructs, precepts and how she saw the world as an individual were revealed and so were her expectations in the future. Considering Maries perceptions, some psychological counselling to improve her working and professional relationships was recommended.Limit ationsThe methodological limitations and concerns of interview as a means of knowing peoples construct system were many, as noted by Kelly. These areInterview influence sometimes the interviewer and the school he belongs to whether behaviourist or psychoanalytic could determine the way the session goes and this undermines the objectivity and validity of the studyDependence on the interviewer the role of the therapist should be minimal and the therapist should just be a tool to facilitate self perception according to Kelly. Most individuals have the electrical capacity to understand his or her problems and any overdependence on the researcher should be avoided.There may be problems with measuring and predicting individual or group characteristics. Although psychology seeks to understand laws of human behaviour, large scale studies showing correlations of different behaviour may not be helpful for study of personal constructs which is based on the understanding of individuals or a small group of people.These methodological limitations have been kept in mind while conducting the interview and interviewer bias and any dependence on the interviewer has been kept to a minimum. Interviewer intervention has also been minimal.ConclusionIn this discussion, we set out with an overview of the Personal Constructs Theory proposed by Kelly (1955). We discussed the different tenets of the constructs theory, the inconsistency of personal constructs and how constructs tend to vary in different people or in same people in different situations. Thus situational factors seem important in constructs and perceptions on other people. Individual constructs form the construct systems and Kelly established the grid method to determine the different elements in a social situation that can be considered as responsible for an individuals disturbed social relationships. In our study of Marie Oliver, a 35 year old employee, her social relationships and possible disturbances were study u sing the Repertory Grid Interview technique and her analysis of good and bad characteristics of ten of her colleagues were indicated on the card given to her. The scores were drawn up and according to the analysis the desirable characteristics that Marie perceived in some of her workmates and not in others, were found out. Maries behavioural problems and her unique relationships with her colleagues are then analysed suggesting whether Marie need any further psychological help for her anxiety, depression and other work related maladjustments.BibliographyKelly, George AlexanderThe psych