-
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19
FAMILY
CONSTRUCT
SYCHOLOGY:
an
approach
.to
understanding
nd
treating
families
Harry
Procter
f njvaf
rond-Skjnner,
S.
(1981)
Developm
eng in
Famity
Thenpy.
Kouuedge
nd
Kegan
Paul,
London.
INTRODUCTTON
Over
the past
decade,
personal
conatruct
theory
has
clme
lncrear_
lngty
lnto prominence.
it
has
found
adherents
,il"i
i-oii.""
"o._trncd wlth psychotherapy and clintcal ,"""*"f,
""
"*"ii'*
"ororrg
nose
concerned.with
purely
theoretlcal
lssuee.
ftre'puiise
of thta
Prper
tl
to
exlrnlne
whether
constluct
tneory
traa-
an .t-trfir-g
o con_
tllbuta
to
-our
undcrstsndlng
or wnar goea
on tn
( I|rllle
rnd to
thc
rrctlcc
of
frEUy
thersDy.
-
Tht
hls
paltlcular
riliv"rrce
for-
tNg-
book.
rlnce
rtrangely,
con-
Itlucl
theory
rn
Bprtc
of
being.an
Amerrcan
trive-ntGri
trai'acnrevea
lj,"_l*iisfrHl{'it"ffit5:,t,*li:i,*".",l"il
rl;*T,'J""i:_
tgncd.for
-th.
whole
ang
f
herprng
frr"iiriir"iiii
ilir
""
to
1:1i"1" of.ps.ycholos]'nagocioiogf.
rn
"pril,:oi'i"jiJiirrt"
"
oloPler
nd
elaborate
heorv.it
seei;g
to
t.:""-frr ji"i
lppeaf
to
ltudent-.
who
alr
otheDwtse
tt"""cr,""t"i
uy-
r,i'iliiilllft"
"r
uch
of
thc
oetcrbl
wlth
whlch
they
arc
ii"Jlit"a'.
'-'-.'
*i i :_Tiiilri,J::ilx1#f;""","t*,**i,:*ir*
r
th.
Eost
teportant
contributton
;
i;;
i;,ie:
ii
""piiJtr
rt"
"r""
f$,I.i:ii;,"*$I"iT:llli"ii"irr'-1i
nnovltor3.
-.
Co": Tq
thory
utd
frnuy
thrapy
appslrod
rt
rbout
th.
,sn.
ii;{. rTi:E::?f.ft:3:i'r,.ltll*i.:*l*"*_;s#r-
l ?.T..T.tr"v
brao
he
opttmtao
"t
t'r,r" "-ci,-u"
ii-jil-i
anc
r,"
_c_uct
hat
actton
har
lcad
to
changrlior-u,.-".i'i-i.iiL"nt"r
roportancc.
Evcn
thouEh
they
leero-to
rr.ve
coveropeti"igery
un_
eware
of
each
other,
I-would.argue
het
both
OlactiUnee-can
reatty
P,"":gj
ff"'
belns
cro -fertru,l"a.
ii.r"ljilii"'TJiiiJa
to
"r,o"
l:J_th"
lalruaBaor
construct
heory.csd
"iJrr""ili"riity
to th6
t".L::":-:.r,
9.: un4j,rs.tandrnot ranili procec;;;:--
--
X'li:Q"dT-&""'.Ti'Lll:1""':"J*i"'f
n"i'l#:ilTt,oln"
ttruy
a
en
rnteractrng
ryaten
thit
t"na"''to
r.rii"i-"
tiil
",ru",r,r"
-
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2/17
llTlglt
homeostatlc
rocesses
s
fundanental
for
effective
(a."nily
theFa.py.
But
personsl
@n8truct
theory
as
o"tgin"if
;nt"iveo
is
largely
@ncerned
wlth
tntrapsychtc
phenomeni
o,
"i
irr"
*,o"t
"itn
yadrc-
elattonshtp .
rt
18ctear
ttrerlfore
ttriig
suugiantial
erien-
slon
of
ths
9ory
tnto
the 8rea
ot
,"rtf-p.i"on-ii"i-roi"i,p"
n""0,
to.bo.made
f
lt ls
to
lsryc
our
purposo.'t
hope
o
s;;
ihet
rhis
is
poaalblc
and
thrt
tN8
nakcs
ev;Ia6te
to
tfr"-i"rnffv
tfr'"i"ot",
,rto",
ol_Kslly's theorstlcal and techntcJ conti6;it;;;.'
"'-".
..
It
h
.coDmon
or
those
tn
tne
f-,Uy
i't
"i"i-j;'iijra
etrher
to
resrict
th6ruelvi..
to
one
lchool
(and
hence'totn
t.'i";a";
fi';i;
conrcrnpru_
ou8
dertlton
of
dt the
othoF
.oh6b)-oi
tJ
n"?-ti"ii.'i"i"
up ,o
thetr
nck8
tn
I
confuolng
ectocttc
dtxture
oClr,""i'rl-J
_i
t""nni-
quer
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7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
3/17
.
XeUy.
trrtc
by
outunlng
hls
bssic
eptstemotogical
osttlon,
He
td(e
the
EaterlEllrt
posttton
hat
the iorld
,e.ity
"ilit"
and
fu _
jll:::
,-1"'l
pcopla's
tioughto
realty
extst.
Ho*"v"',
if,-"r"
r
an
tn_
Irrurc
vlrlcty
of w-ayr
n whtch
the
wolld
can
ba conatruqd
and
thore
alway
a way
of
rcvlstng
these
constructlo"r.
Z"eii perron
har
a.
unlqu.
Iray
of
construln|
and
people
arc
atnnar
io-iach
otho
to
,n9:I".1r,- h1 thcy.conatiuc e"inti rn . rtrU"r
"ry.
-
A.uy
trtc
to lUurtrrt.
how
peoplc
operltc
by
ualig
the
mod6l
of
r
acrcntht.
Thu
thc task
rn
r;htci pdpr"
;;
i";;;"nt lry
cn_
:^ry_d.
thc
antictpatron
of
-ovents
";d
ih"tr
;cti;;;aie
taren
h
rccordance
wlth
theso
antlclpltloli.
Act8
can
Ue
vtewea
as
hypo-
th"ses-whlqh
are
conttnuouaiy."rUa"tea
o,
GviiA"i"J
uy
e*pert_
::lcc.
t_gedr.y
_f hey
r.
tnviudated
th"t;-;b;;;;d
rnd
an
rtcrnattvo
l found.
Kellv
la
concrn"dio
"rgt;;;;L,
p""_
chology
shoutd
be
reflextie,
ln orher
*o dr.;y;;;"iuon
made
ebout
poptr
rhoutd
lDDlv
equally
to
ur"
activliii,"lileychotoglste
theo_ -elves.
,wrrateneiiei ls-a theory tnat viewiirr-e
o'rdtnaqfper_ron_coupalstonatety.
TNs
leans
thai
trre
oraGarv-irirjry
mdir6er
rs
ln
rhr
aame
bualnss
8s
the.
8&lly
theraptii
_-tryjfig
1q
naltg
:"-T:_gf
rttuattoru
ana
wrertnng
_rvtih
ih;;;;
*r{'iT
"or,",r"rnt".
onstruct
theory,s
baalc
assump.-ttons
na
ftc
;op;,'inc"rn
*tth
rloccr
lather
than
content
mai
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4/17
Fomlly
conrtrucf
prychotogy
353
Hypothesas
re
nrds
by
tho.U-nktng
f two
constructs.
Tnus
smiling.
Fwnhg
mlght
b
llnkeO
to
frappyJrad:
tt"
i.,ipot-n-"Jii
n",
*r"-
ili.1i1"."1,?*llirs':itJJ':i;tJ"t?,ii1,lis"i."t".","J"i;;
ntlclprte
events
and
ln
DAlr-tcula
o
antlclprta
the
behavtour
of
.other
p.opla.
So
any
chojcs
:p.""
rcaxea
wt
r;ap-uie-ttons
and
il'i":9:',:1
r"Sf*,fffi
i9 -'""':""'uv
i'i'.iiiiil;
r"";i;
r1r1L_tire,-".*{;;;il;J":l*,T,f","S,rif"fi
l,T;H",1,,:""l:".
ruperordlnate.
nay
bs
rwhen
.I
am,
moklng,
verrus
,run
out
of
rgar.troa'.
A
whote
set
of tmpucatlons
"rt"i"f
j"r,iJfiur
may
beubordtnated
to
these
ttyo
ettsrnattvs
p.r*.
ii,i
luiliri.in"r"o
yatenr
ol
conatruct
need
not
necesserlly
e
competlble
rth
each
th,er, lcldlng to.apparont tnconetstencleJ i b;ffi;;;.:
:l*"{Xtli,ii"ttlilaH".Hi*,*::
":lF:x
;li3fT,:"T^Hli:f,,.i#m3,11i:l*1ff
,,"Hli;T
i:,i"o",1,"".,
rne
tattet
are
anxtety
(the
a
srde
hs,*s"
oi;;,,1;i;.ilT1i"""*i*;":l:
h::fliil""*:
;9g"-s$pigi;1kffit
-
r'e
600ve
exactple
of
aooklng
raa
be
continued
tn
order
to
;lfjTf
"l\:""ff"*",."[Hf
'reodgewed.t'hat-i;"-;;;;",""y
ilffi;l:$l*ll$titfi#:f,'ji;tl$
ff $:i,r;,{li "hlr,T"::;*"*;l#"*;:H*tt
garettss
hC
experlencea
en
#l*glnt#llt'trs}1i
i.il:;ff$'":ff
r&H,-#;taii'sjtr"ii:i:uii:rij
i
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
5/17
C-o-a6rA
thcorlstr
heve
up
to
nori
lcr
:d.ryuplhs*ii?;;*;:lt"$:,$:t",li":",J1x1i"f
xranllon
of
thc
thcory
t threrore
necessary
belors
lt
can
beome
Ecru
lo
thc
fanlly
thlreola
."I"l"gnorricu.Jiffi
i;,J,ff
ll,T,""H;,"ff
T,r:"%:li;
nc
ncxt
rcctbn.
_Bcrdert.lntcrclt6d
ln
followtng
up
tho
baltc
trnat
of
porlond
ifi ry'"H,y-:11.":-_"t1"'lf"tii1f,lii';;,;,"i**I
ll-1d|c.:
Bannbte
and
Fralnc.,ua
szU.pii"riii
oj.iii
urt_au"_
ron
to
thc
ocld
rNle
furtha
lL'i'r*,"""t.;$rgnldfJl,fjf
*#*"'H'J;#
aPhy
of
wrltlng
ln thc
rr'ea
up
to
that
y"*.
-
--'-t'"
ji_:..1f1?:
of
fn..ry
conrrrucr
psychologD,
Mrny
wrttera
n
th.
fl.ld
"t
tai,ity
t
eriiy
hav
attempteat
o
utulre
il'i,.lir"l*,f f$J"*::l*'-""r1'rvilv;r"i"iiiil'J,'ii,*,,""
ranuy.
rtober'c;;,,;eil;-#Ar',oi""J""ill"t";rlilfff
i"f,ii
::i1..
tonlntpE,
he
'f aruy'.
rn
htc,
ierd
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
6/17
l;iifiL:.;in:iThfi'f;.1.:r_,T",
ach
usr
ake
chorcc,
rrrun
of
the
rehtrona-hr,;;t"'{iT?"tlrTslnteln
I
common
onstruction
^_wnat.occur
n
frrntUor
r
-tf,o-nJgottatton
f
a
commc
l"'Jill,,L:Jlf
:':*[.r3,tr6n,t,uoi"vit"ii..ti|rli+'r.';ttt
:il*gqpt+*r*}$sl
-vor, ha e
flnttG
3et
oy
l::-"
t9
be-
n
agrco.nt.
They
do.
rt"r:
.
.
ths.soquenc{;G;il;',"il,Lli:""ilTlB?"ihll"r:::,"f*,,1
patterna
of
the
farnlly
nimu.i. -
-oi,:..t'-::'::.j:::.:"
como
htgNy
""nrrt'irJ
,i-3Yf
:.o":t
the yeara
farnilv
rlembr8
be-
L:11":*"#ii;il;ll;*fi
r*,t'il:ill:llh?:I.}:{"
lt'::ff:1*.r;1",.*rir$}.iq E:. i lt ili*:x;lr*
tose-the:
";;;;;r"ililfii,t:e
sDonstt
anv
sroup
or p*pi.'iiine
*,i*ti "{,1ji":',ifil$$rildi;i:
",
.h_ereseveie;i;-"1il";,ltTllff
l*1ll?:'-nintT,iTJ""":ii"''
iilP,,ffri '.:",ff;,r::',p,ly_.
Anot
er
'r""i'
',",p
"'
" the,s e
*niin*;i:x.'#"1'-"**""ffi"""'i:l:t":L*'.lH:'':
ru"s**'"S::I lfi:?'$;+di,{',i'liiili$
ffi*5{s#$e$$
ytn
llnpue
an
lnaccuret,
ri;$T,fiJ,.i"1il:ti[l
r"tf;;h";51grli5;"9"*1Oil,
{rli;
ftlu,1trf#$F#
,"TS"''JI,""
fl
*,Hffij,,1iJ."f,,f
"ig,t;1"1?:;r".""1ff
.*,
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
7/17
rsrut
pmpoll
onal
to
de8cllb_e
c\onatructa
rrhlch
carry
no
lmpucstlon
egrrdlng
the
other
realm
membership
"r-
,erilii"it.I
rr,"
_n_t uct
h
the
FCS
of
a
well
_fu.ncttontnc
"rui
;ijil;i.to
u"
p-_
orltrsnd.
In
other
words
esch
memberrs-
cttons
nd
chotco8
lll
c
rehtlvcly
uncontamtnated
y
the
oplntons
nd
acttons
f
tho
tnot
ocrDbar .
$l,ffiiTi
:,gyrtupri;i,m
::ii*tfl*,tstrji"l.,hto"r*stance .theiLiriintr,,
ffiffiffi
ffi**',#N9ff
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
8/17
,ili't"*l1Hl":?#"jJl:1".'er,drsasteement
ecomes
n
ssue
not-hslp
r,"r.lili8
;;j-1:9
nelshbour
r
Psvchianist
ho
did
::tlt
"?,"pi"""ron-i,,f,
l3r:Xill"i"l"il,jlrHil::"iLill,:r:;r
amly
cus_truct
approach.
Ino
fanlly
Constructa
rtev on rh..rh.i L-_j L- , ,
;,*,':l"li,u11li:{#r
on
he
othr
ancr
e eratedn8n
uq.-unpredrctrbr"rnt",""tijl'l-si*t"t\5:$iiiJ-',r"o"ilrvtnrnreoi
'ti:,"x1;:rtrilrlk1 *ri+,#-F$
i:ffi
'f
*,:j":tTjl1*'{ii" '*J:'':llT$?;'i.' '
*l'*lf
*",,x^l,l"H"j; lii$i{,i:, i F$:r:
Ei*[rl1+i:T*i,*li";ii#f#
*r#ffffiiffi'g$fi
mff*#**t*r*s*
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
9/17
Theory ol chongc In
tomtly
therapy
The
process
of change
that occurs
durlng fanlly theraPy 18 not
e3sentlally
dlfferent
from that
whlch occurs
quito
'naturilly'ln
tho
dry-by-day
8nd
year-by-year
experlences
of c w.ll functlonlng
fuluy.
K?lly underEtood
therspeutlc
change to be a
proceoa
of
rtconstluctlon. Thh
lnvolvec
I
change
ln tho llnkages botwon
constnrctE,
thc addltlon of
new conltruct ,
th. olaboratlon of lub-
lyltcos
or a chang In the
rangE
of convenlence
whlch ths con-
stluct ryrt"B covere. All these concePtr csn be extendod to
chlnget
occuFlng
ln the
flDlly construct
lyltem dudng thc
pt ce
of
negotlatlon.
The f
Dtly theraplst
dellborrtely tlor to
h.lP thc famlly
negotltta
changr
In thc FCS
whlch lt
hs fslled to do naturally
drd
spontmoully. FaFlly
thenpy conslst
thorcfors
ln
glvlng
the
f$lly
ocoblra cxperlonces
whlch enabls
them
to
elaborats and
rwlsa thc fatDtly constluct
lyttm,
F.rnlly construct
plychologJ
plovldcs
a way of ovrcomlng
and
pilclng
bcyond thc arguments
between bebrvlouslstt rnd lytten
thcorlrts
on
lh one
.hrnd
and the
psychosnalytlc
and
lntlght
orlcntcal throrllta on thc othcr. Theorl8t fsom these school .
clrlm
thrt
rhat lr G3scntlal k s chrngc ln lther behavlour
rnd
fsrnlly
ltlucturc
on thc ons hand or for the fsmlly to
galn
Inllght lnto tt
own
funetlonln8 bafoF chrnged behavlour crn occur. Nelthsr l
r.-
glrded
by thG
prcsent
rf,rlte as rn adequate
account of the cbange
pFoess,
hsvlng
at best only
partlal
validity. What
18 fundamental
lr
thst
change occurs ln the negotiated
famlly con8truct system.
To clarify
this ln
relatlon
to
the
issues
of bahavlour chrnge and ln-
rlght
l
Is
necestary to
leturn to the ldea that the FCS ls hleralchl-
cslly
orgmized.. Constructs at the bottom
of the
h.lelarchy
govern
Nghly concrete and epecltlc cholces and interactlon
Bequencesat
the level of
'microprocessr.
These @nstructa are ln turn
governed
by
construct3 t an lncreaglng level of supelordinNcy.
Suporordlnato
@nstructa
will
tend to remsln mole Etable over tlme 8nal wlll be
evidcnced
by redundancle tn the
lnteraetlon
procass
and by
themet
shlch
clop up sgdn and agaln. The relstlonlhlp btween auper-
oldlnrtc lrld subordinete
constructs ls dlalectlcal. The Buperrdlnats
cln8tluctE
gtlde
ind
gpvern
the subordlnate .
The lubordlnstss
vrlldste
rnd rnaint8ln
the supercrdinates.
A
chlng. ln tb. FCS l Ukely to bc accompanlsd by
r
chsngo
ln
bshrvlour and fanlly atlucture. llowever thl lr not necesrarlly
the
cr c.
One
polslblllty
is lor
the
famlly lo
contlnus
bsbavlng as b6-
fota
but
to lhla behavlour to be
canstrucd,
or
frsmad ln
r new way.
Staursly
raconrtructlon
le llkely to
b. rccoEpanled by the frnlly
gdnlng
ncw conaclou3 lnslghtr
but
tNs
tr ag.ln not nocGlsarlly th.
cr3..
It l a frquent
xperlenco ln stratoglg
fanlly thclapy
(o
Darrlvc
chrnges
to occuF with tho
fanuy havlng
Uttl. or no roallza-
tion thrt
I clungE ha
occulred, let dono why
lt lnay havs occurrsd.
Cogaltlvc arrarenc
of
thc change dependr
on ttrc axlrtoncc
of
a
Eet
ol lupeFrdlnate
psychologjcal
constluctr wNch
m8y
or nay
not
bc
present
ln th. fsmlly msmborr' conltruot lyrtamr. Thl, ryll[ rllo
dcpcnd
on thcl
d.volopmental
level
-
young
chllatren
ero
Uk6ly
to
cxpcrlcnce
chang
rt th6 level of feeltng
only. Adults aro
more
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7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
10/17
lik_ely.
o
be able
o
prvtde
a verbal
cgnsrruction
s well..
-.P.erhel8
more
tmportant
than.how-a
:d;;;;;;-"
i"'ii" qu".,,
or_how.
he.chsng
ls
malntslned
ano
the
wiy
fn
*ifl"r,-,i"
n"*
*r,
tguratlon
s
stsbiltzed.
t 18
posstbl
o
r,"rrj
",i"riiv'io'ienare
in
dlfforent
wrys
but
unlcae
hi
o:amate
on'air"Jtrr.i,i'iiiri,'i,i,,1ir"""""Tll"li:,tJ":*i:5:
;:t_ilr,
It
mlght
be
pocatbte
o
cet ;
father.wrth
a
; jil-;;l'#
i,
","p
rlnklng
lor
a wNls
(arfbordlnate
change).
s"i
;ntii
"'i""i"io,
ccurc n the luplordlnato amuy ""i"ir"i iiJ"iiiiiitirrg ni,
l:r,._Iatlplo, 1otd,
not
part
of uio
fa,,,,itt-i;;;b'riil""na
"r,iro-
en (r _oppossd
o
warm,parl
of tho
faritiyl
,
gteuiuzatioi
ur
nor
c_cur.
hur
a
changr
n f;mtry
rrcrapy
wiir'on-ryI;il#l;;,tr;-'
wnen
hG.
evl8ton
har
permcatid
tgniirrrouln
ine-rdi"so
rn"t
:
:"iii$i ld#::r
ff
:1""J,"1'*Tli*:t,[r-i::l
i**;:
.
once
.the..
arnuy
open
o niiotratron
llin.-
ri,iiii,i
riv'io
"rr*.
ve.rsm
rherapy
a
o
ue
c6gntzant
;"t-l;lr;;;:.".r"u.,
o".ur.
,
-auspect
that
the
behavlourlaie
rave
focused
ol-"uuoijii",""
"na
l:-"1tdy?tlonsupcrordlnater.m
-partiarit-yii
iiir'r,Hri", or
;i::"",T.,ii",1"n
ro nslect
rre
uciar
procJ"Ji"'ii"iirr]ng
o.
*lIi-, +i"$,1,"1-:H'#JA'Ll:illff
o,'"",':oI;".,,'1";f
;T'"
egptlatton.
roceag
lowa
on
tn
accordsnc"
iin
ii"-i'"ri"io"
or
vary.tey
tfe.
Thte
mutt
b
viewed
n
rhe;;i;;;iiiri'i".'y
rir"
ycle
and
the
socletat
xDectatlons
f.
"g.
""J
j"id";
"piplp"i"ro
er-ravt?u1..
t
must
atlo
Ee
bokc^d
"t
rn
rre
conieii-oi
i[i,.o",",
::l:1:l _onctudtns
octty
tsrf)
"u";;;l;;'tf"
rliiI.
,""
xample o amount f fatn[vtherapy.wittue a-guusrliui",o"
"
g*o
chool
or
the
chltatren.
tnally.
n -ther"pi"ir*i,"i'trg",
,n",
e
lr&oaelf
a
a
cructel
Dartof
ihe
*"rJ
"'"t1"oiil'riri'
iilr"pi"r
nuat
dtsengese
rom
lie
fsrnuy
eavrng
"-;i";;;"a';;;;oping
ner
ystem.
hls
means
hat
the
constnr:r
.of
r,"rp,
o"
tili"-py,
musr
e
tnstdo
h
funuy
boundsrv.
r
tt
ts
telt
o"i..rji
,i".iiiuv
,ur
@n
leek
out
a
doctor
or
theraptst
sgaln.
------
.' '-
.-.,
Sumnory
:.rmuy.
conatruct
psychology
provldes.
s
-wrth
a
brosdly
embracing
riEoretlcal Famework shlch boks.st the ferr y,s uniqu,,,
""UtV
""
t-t_:," _yt"d
y
ths.
farotty
construct
"y"t"r.
iit"-
li'ili
,i"r"rv
.
elrtvr,
percclved
oellty.-but
tg
a
iynamtc,
ictfi"
o'"",t""r"ring
ot
a
3y.ton
of hterarchaliv
orgrnlzod
ir.
""'tr,i"ii'lioiiid"".
rrr"
ncmattvor
cc
llnkod
toiettr6r
Uy
tmpUcatfon
nU
-frti.iiio"t
.""n
emDer
o
nake
anttctoettonr
wNc-h
iy-oi
,"y
n-t' T"liro","a
llr
prlctlc.
Thl
Dutud
.rrtk
ter-mea.ncgouiii;-iilr,il.iifi
"ij":j"s.J,'i*,iJ:ff
"lil*
eyc
whtch
can
bo
charrctGrrzid.ag
"i,rG;i;;;;i.Jrciorou..o
,
:nango
ts
undrltood
both
tnnturrl
ncgori;tb;';iir,lr"py
,o
volvo.
oconstpucttonf rhe pcs.-ThtJ l"1; o""rii"i.ii"
"o._
uct between
ohavloural
na p-aychodynarnil
"ri
i:|i"liili","
bout
he
retauvo
mportrnce
t
'uehaviour
"f,"rrj"
inj-inJignt
.
--"2
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
11/17
The
second
part
of thls
psper
wlll
examlnesomeof the technlques
which
llow
frcm the theory. Exsnples
of how
the theoly throws
Light
on the mechenisms nvolved in
technlques derlved from various
schools
of fsmlly therapy wlll also be
glven,
IMPLICATIONS OR THERAPEUTIC RACTICE
FEnlly
th6rapy ls about enc$uraglng the
(rdrlly
to
negotlats and
rtvlrr
lta conccptlon of reruty and the wry
lt habltually act6
ln
Ec@rdance
wlth
thls reality. The famlly 18 nvlted
to 8ee and
act
upon
the wolld
ln novel
ways.
The famlly ls
put
lnto
sltuatlon ln
whtcb
ncgotlstlon
c&n
take
place
and through varlous
technlque8
the
process
of change ls
etlmulated ond encouraged.
Before dls-
curllng
thcse
technlques, however. the
b 8lc atance
that ls taken
towards
the fanily
and the
general
method
of lnvestlgating
the FCS
rill bc outlined.
KeUy
8ttrched
gre8t
lmportance
to the lnltial
thelapeutlc rtance
to
be taken
wlth cllents.
He was
discusslng indtvldual
therapy
but
uhlt
hc say
sppues
tust
as nuch to
fsnlly
therapy. Fundatnental
ls thc tcceptlnce
of the
client. Kelly
detrne acceptanc
as the
therrpbtra
atlempt to
enploy the clientrs
own
construct
aystem.
,
It involves
ths
rcad,lne3s
to utillze tho cllenttr
own modes
of
appprch.
. . The therapbt
Bhould attempt
to
sntlclpate svents
ln the_
wsy
the client
anttclpates
them. He
should
try to employ
the
cllentir voc.bul[y.
. . .
He
shoulat
glv
words th.
m.snlig
the
cuent
glver
tbem
(KeUy,
1955, vol. 2, p.
58?)
lG
nly
Slve
e an exanple a nedlcsl construction
of s 8ymptom.
Rarely_
houlrl
the thcraplst
avold
or srgu
with
the fsrnily-about
thiE.
Full acceptlnc
hss
the ffect
of reduclng
lnxiety and
creat-
ing_thc
opportunlty
lor the
rsembsrs to start
entertslning
alter-
natlvc
conrtluctr.
pFocca
N"lly calts
clrcurnapectlon.
thete ldeas
claborrte
whtt
lr
occurllng
durlng thG
procers
of
tolntng
(Mlnuchln.
197{). Whcress
Kelly wa
referrlng to the
accptance
o(
perronal
constructr.
we
lre
of coursa
dlscusrlng
the acceptrnce
of thc
firDily
con8truct
ry.tem. Tht3
involvet-Oowtng
with,
encouraglng
and
utlllzlng
the
sequences
8nd contlngsncbiot
tlre lnteractton
-
pFocer8. Por example if r chlld repetluvly tntorrupts th.
prrontll
dla og .,
thlr wlU
be ancouraged
end
utfu;sd
rathar
uran
blocked.
Kclly
gos
on to dlscurs
two,prlllatlve,
technlque8
thot
mry be
neceaalry
lnlti8lly
lnd
dultng
parttcular
phase
of the
therapy.
Rclalulanc
lnvolve provldtng
a
olmpltflLa
lupetlrdlnsto
@n8truc-
tlon
o
thlt
the cllent,s
behavlour
and
lde8
wlll
tcrnporarlty
appear
to
flE
to
be consl8tent,
acceptabte
and
orgrntzsd.
tb Uturirade,
Kclly
-pFovlde
r.8_an
xa$plc
what arnounti
to
rn
lntoreltlng
early
use
o(
paradox.
Hs
gave
a
g{rl,s
sympton
back
to hsr ana
ield
tliat
'lh"
should not go too fast ln getttng rlct of her llmp, that
"ruoh
rhln-g "
Hcrc
hard
to
gat
rld
of all ai
once'.
(Kelly,
i955,
yo1.
f
I
p.
656).
Another
tcchnlquG
r cupport
whtch
tnvoivcc
tho
vrlldltton
or
thc
cllcnttt
rntlclpltlon
ro thrt ho
h
parmltted
to Gxp6rtment
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
12/17
widely
and
successfully.
Kelty ltsts
the
occasions
when
and
rhen
not
to
uae
these
strateclea.
,_3 -",*"":p,
of
the
FaS^
an be
uled
rs a
gulde
ln
the rhcrspeuric
lntorvlow.
Tho
procss
of
lnveatlgatlng
the
lamlty,s
alternstives,
rne
acloaa
anal
wlthln
boundary
construct6
and
the wey
the
family
,":1:11"t:
are
llnked
together
is not
merely
dlagnostic.
The
pmcess
lraeu tenda to sumulata lnteractton and negottrtion.
-
ThG-mthod
ltle-lf
lr
conceptuauy qulte
airelght
forwtr
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
13/17
galng
our
wtth
boys
"nd
*"::l1g.,o
.:tep_acroaa
he
boundary
shes
to
adopt
the
fanity,s
cot
;lif
sltilts,
irh.;*ffi
l*,u
':'|"ff:
",l
-
rr
l
poEslble
o
work
In thjr
manncr
dhccfly
lharlng
tha
thor -
aulto
pFma
wlth
tho
fanlly,
It
may
however
be
betier
to
work
notrec
y,
helping
the
fsrnil
:$,1**i1,grl*,$frii:i
:1T5"'"',:n'"ry.mllxll,':i'iil"t,ilj"*.mtfl
,o**,"v
$:l''fi
f"Til:TSt""'I",',:tl'echniqueil;;i;-;i;;'provrdrnsan
This
clearty
u6"
iitri"
iiiiilg^
:..,"J.t'9t?.to"
a plece
o-f
nteracttoi.
change.
Ketly's
"iiirii"iil"' ll-Tth
Kellv's
vlew
of
therapeutlc
l":ij:,":il ""i'.#:d;,xi*niH""{',*il
reauve abitity to g;nerate
an
infinite
""ri;i;;i;;y;#,ooktrrg
.. t-
qod Gxarnple
of
reframi
il11'J,TfJi?Ti;'sl#Ji'"fi
':'"$'?'Ji'"*ff:fi
":i':il',:"
time'
In
"r"
"r
rv
"*ri
"l "1":
Td 1"\:d
to
try
tt
for
a
perlod
of
;:TTtrTli#T,*i:l:*,,,:;Tjii'i$ii:H:i"'r
"_:,:l-ry*
n","
i'i,i'i,it'J,iT,1:t"::"""""t",,j1f;
#
;:l:':;$"",-illi
s
wra
opersting
nlth
a
basl
or not against-n"e.;;; ;t;;rj-.T-lEFuct:
rpeoPlG
are ag-alnetne
rng
verlus
not
Interestlnq,t
11lt-t"-JTtt"tt"ot
('People
aie
lnterest-
o"-n
but
-"";ifi';;;;""'i11 no""tt.""
belng
orthogon.l
o
ht
fl
$;$;l$_:^rih,er+'rf
rrsE
r,rc[.
]tc
watchcd peoDl
tiH"":"9ffii::',";iJ"T*
*^l&-:':"*":l'i,:*l*:;tlii|
reed.over-thrrpJii.i.i;:'::,r";',t;"":j":,rf
l:"*f""r,qTi":"lH:r"n
liX:::f,:lrl"q? end starreo seehs au klndr of rttuatron'
In
a
urerent
ught.
TNs
exarnDl(
cxaoplc
of
-how
$t*"i"i,i['iJ-g1ven
because
t
provids
a
ctea
ncr
@nstruct
ri-1i"" i"-i'rrtilan-g-e
ls-
eg.arded
a
taklng
place.
The
st
nrct
ulo.
r
u"-_i"i'i-il.r."..-
_":l - ?"
subsurned
n
o
a
s-uporoldln8t
fr
1ll$illfi
3$'n;":':r*lli-d
*liiitl:r;ilf',*,i*,{mk*,j*l;::**.
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
14/17
of
transttioh
ale
elaborative.."l{ri ln:..
For.example
hostil ity
is
dc.
111:d
""
-the
rcontlnued
effort
to
extort
velldarlonel
vldence
in
avou
of
a
type
of
soclal
Dr
tliiff
:'#ff
#::'J,,iT{Tilililtiii:'""1,f
J,il:,:',TI
r_hese
e
rer,a,"ea',rrrl'rr
"*fit
,T:",ff".1*:*X1""?Stif
j
'
everyd-ay commonaenSe onsi
wrrr*rra-eraborai*;";;;;iln"ll.T:1"*"Hr;,A,',""::l*,1"i;"
deprerslon
Cade
and
Southiate,
l9?9).
The
therspist
rook
rhe
uentrs
complalntg
ven
mors
eerlously,rr".-tt"
"ri5ii.
"io
suggc rc,:
ne
wa
In
fact
not
betnc
oeaatmlsttc.inouln.
inj.
J"lJi.
, r,"
"ri"n,
o got
ove
the
btock
onliaborating
r,."
"J,lJtirj"i-i"iJi"no
to
ai.-
Iii_t-l1
"jr
g.
optrmtsuc
as
n
flct,*""
;i;;;;;-ti"":.'
_
rrramlng
s
also
undunentat
n
-tne.
upervl-iin-ii
if,"""pi",,
.e-rnpa
he
bulk
of
the
worl
"'rr.'"-.,'"1''-"ipi#,'ff
i:l:o::,",:"f;
.l]:i"il1i"":1f"il":Tia;"
rf*Ji"':l$"i#J*r""':J:1'rar
ranlv
hersp
st
he
p
he
E
m
procuetrve.iyir,;iri;iiifi
llii,l',i"Tr',1"i."t*J;r";,":i#..X.;t:'
conalats
f
the
theraprat
nT::lcr_ns
n"
,Lrl"i"
iJl"ir,",1,
","0
.
:fi li:,_w"::,Hr,Ilt,:l^::i*:t""1:j*i,l
ay
never
ghare
htr
sadness.
becauge
fre
hac
re;;ei.io
".n,t"ip","
ngr
ron
htc
wlfe
or
""r" gT",
fp..-I,i"
"on
Ln"i-n"'"i"","
,o
o"_ome
ad.
The
structursl
tirer-aptst.wiu
;;;;;;;
"iu"p.r","nt""_
lii':$frffii?1i+,*$il[*",i,:
rr
rrlrs
wrrn
tU
vtew
o( ET-T-be]ng
llke-s
scientlst,
KeUy
hysrcat
t a s
on
provldtnq
ta,l-kf-and
destgnlng
experl,mcnts
rs
tn.
e:rii"i:";Ht-****tl"i
ne
-lama
procels
occurr ln irha fanlly y tem.
A
DFobe r
lng
leedback.
It
ts
not
a oue
h"t#i*iffiBr:IiJ.ljl,i-T*".'i"poni""iili'r, 'i'""'v*ni"
,m,i*,11
*lfu
*:##iri"rl$dli',.i''mm
:r:rp..""il;';;"ilil1i'd.i'lni1,i?"1i1'"iill:ilTf
,Jii,"f
oate
thelr
reallty.
Thlr
sttmulate
them
to
search
for
new
alter-
auver.
por
exarDpls
f
a coup-fe^wlth
a
s^exual
problem
are
told
tovotd
phystcal
conlact
tt orer
rii*:g*""ffltitril:,{,s.1ii:e,ilfr1L:lr:"ll;,i,".
'"t
uo,,
"
t
,li;ioi,;iffi
j
lT:1r'"""
it,
ll,,i
".'"",
s
hi
sa
e
y'
ErtcKaon
and
Haley'e
u8e
of
metaphor (Haley.l
tgZSl
c8n
also
be
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
15/17
undelrtood
ln thlr
frlrnework.
The
ssllre
patterns
wtll
emalge
when
a
coupleare
eatlng. mrklng
ovebr cleanlng
ut the
garage.
What
ls
common
etweenhr slturtlons
18superordlnato
tructurc.
The
superordln.te
structure
can be
changed
by
worklng
on tnnocuous
toptc
snd
never aFousing
he reststanc
hat
for eiarnplc
a
dtr-
cusslon
f
thelr x
llfe may
engender.
n
one
exarnple,
cguple'r
conrtruct
of t cl happy
marrlage
was valldated
by iaylng
thitr
pl9bleo was ike a tlny graln of eand ln a gear uoi. Thcj were
able
to
lcc.pt
thst
they hld
a
prblem
by lt
belng
framed as
mlnutc.
turtnet
constructs
could be bullt
ln uslng
the almost
nflnltc posst-
blutlcs
the metaphor
generates
-
oit
changer,
ayncromelh,
revelae
grcrr
and
so on.
Many
of the technlqus
of
the
obiect
relatlon
theorlsts
and
ana-
lytlcruy
orlente-d
fsmlly therepbts
c8n
be underltood
aa waya
of
helpln-g
the fanlly
reconstruct
8nd
dllate the
FCS.
Materlal
ian be
used
frpm
the fanily'e
own
past
to
lnvelldate
lt
con8truct
and
vtlldltc
new
end
more
functlonal
lealltles.
Intclpretetton
conslsts
in
elco_urr-gtrlg
new constructlon, usuelly at a dlrly
j"pirorOtnate
revel. scutptlng
and
chlldren,s play
materlal
can
be used
to valldate
lhe
potcntlallew
atructure,
es
lt i3
rtch tn
metaphorlcal
lmpucatl,ons.
Fragmentatlon.Is
lajd to
occur whn
two tncomiattblo
rubirrcttnatc
consttuctlonr
of the
sllne
obrect
are held.
Thts
pmcesc
lr akln
to
filelnr
sptlttlng
mechanlam
whereby good
lnd
Uia
aapecto
of tfre
s8.me
brect
cannot
be entertalned
slmultaneouety.
We
can
under_
stand.the
strateds
of the Klelnten
therapt8t
wio
may enclurage
the
client
to conslder
the incompatible
alternativea
Oiat
rucceoilvely
and
then
to encourag
r
@nslderatlon
of
the
good
aspect
wlth
a
-
.rew
eteoenta
of the
bad
alpect
lntroduced.
The cueni
ta
en@uraged
to revlae his system by formlng a superordlnate construct
whlch-
,"_*
n--n""ty
subsune
the
prevlou8ly
conlucting poles.
Typlcauy
rn
a
rar[uy
a member
wlll
8ee hlmself
a8
bad
and another
arembei
ag
perfect
or vice
versa
and thls
family
conatruct
comes
to
be
maln_
tdncd-
honostrtlcaUy.
The
above
technlque
cln
be used
ln
thlr
$ruatton.
Fot
ex8.ople
e couple
in wNch
tho
wlfe
ses
hsrs.lf
aB
lotr.tly
bad
and
her
husband
rE ldeallzed
may
ba
encouragd
to con-
tinue
givlng
examples
of thls
d,tstlnctlon,
So-me
f her
f,,riU"nC's
rctrona
can
be l8belled
ar
better
end
8one
worle
althouqh
all
aro
clearly
very gDod.
Llkewlse
soms
of he
ettrtbute,
;t6"o.
.o""
downiight appalung. Gradually the conatruct ta etaboraieo
ana
extendal
and
the
rlgld
dlchot6my
is
bboken
down ana
eoftened.
rrnarry
rolDe
of thc
tochnlques
from
the
erpsrlsnttal
sch6l
of
lhcrrpy
can
bc m.ntlonad.
fhe
gestalt
anA
dfener -Uc-techntque
1f- .Tylhc
on.bodlly.
eeungs
ani
conatruini
u,"-uiaii"
autono_
mour
can
provlde
r
rlch
set
of. wttNn_boundiry
co"ati"ci".
frf"""age
may
be-
u,ted
ar
an lndlrect
Eetaphorlcrl
t.ct
"tiu"
i"
couplea
who
-
havc
dlfnculty
wlth phystcar
cloaeneas.
The
alm
of
thls
rectlon
has
been
to
denonatrats
how
construct
theory
cEn Integrate
i wtde
-valtety.
of
a;;;;;;ly
uiieri'tea
ranUy
thcrlpy t?chnlque , Moro lmportarit, tt iin genc'rai;-;-rppa
6nuy
Infmlte
vrrlety
of
further
tecnntques
once
thc
framework
has
ben.
underltood.
Once
the
method
h8j
becn
g:r""f"d,
;"i;i
look"
-
7/21/2019 Procter (1981)
16/17
;ll""lliTit
i::.rh
rheraptst
ts
freed
to
acr
in
a sponrrneous
8nd
CONCLUSION
ll^i:t_:"U
be.lrgved
that the l"lgu-9geof the theorertcat rarne-orn pr.oposed ere
ta
conollcat"al
Hj*""""'i
u"jrJr".iii,
,n"
nderlytng
deas
once
hev
have,been
r"#"i
-h";"'*.i.opu"ung
sl'"",,,,&-lH:*:l;n"r*n:*"lli:il,*1,
;i:"1ilg1l:
set
of
approacheg
na
echnique;'io
"-inie"",*o
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Laing, R,D.
(196?)
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(eC.),
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S.
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Shum.r,
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nd Cages' , Sussex
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