19 FAMILY CONSTRUCT PSYCHOLOGY:an approach .to understanding andtreating families

Harry Procter

f njvaf rond-Skjnner, S. (1981) Developm eng in Famity Thenpy.Kouuedge and 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._ctrncd wlth psychotherapy and clintcal ,"""*"f,

"" "*"ii'*

"ororrgtnose concerned.with purely theoretlcal lssuee. ftre'puiise of thtaPrper tl to exlrnlne whether constluct tneory traa- an!.t-trfir-g to con_tllbuta to -our undcrstsndlng or wnar goea on tn (!I|rllle! rnd to thcprrctlcc 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'acnrevealj,"_l*iisfrHl{'it"ffit5:,t,*li:i,*".",l"il frl;*T,'J""i:_Etgncd.for -th. whole rang€ of herprng pfrr"iiriir"iiii ilir ""

to1:1i"1" of.ps.ycholos]' ana gocioiogf. -rn

"pril,:oi'i"jiJiirrt" "coloPler lnd elaborate theorv.it seei;g to t.:""-frr!ji"i lppeaf toltudent-. who alr otheDwtse itt"""cr,""t"i uy- ir,i'iliiilllft" "reuch of thc oetcrbl wlth whlch they arc ii"Jlit"a'.

'-'-.'

*i!i!:_Tiiilri,J::ilx1#f;""","t*,**i,:*ir*x;"tyIr! th. Eost teportant contributton i; i;; i;,ie: ii ""piiJtr

rt" "r""

f$,I.i:ii;,"*$I"iT:llli"ii"irr'-1i#$ffi,"rtt"ttttlnnovltor3.

-. Co":!Tq th€ory utd frnuy th€rapy appslrod rt rbout th. ,sn.

!ii;{.!rTi:E::?f.f it:3:i'r,.ltll*i.:*l*"*_;s#r-.l!?.T..T.tr"v sbrao the opttmtao t

"t t'r,r"!"-ci,-u" ii-jil-i anc tr,"b_c_uct that actton thar lcad! to changrlior-u,.-".i'i-i.iiL"nt"rroportancc. Evcn thouEh they leero-to rr.ve coveropeti"igery un_eware of each other, I-would.argue thet both OlactiUnee-can greatty

P,"":gj ff"' belns cro!!-fertru,l"a. ii.r"ljilii"'TJiiiJa to "r,o":l:J_th" lalruaBaor construct theory.csd

"iJrr""ili"riity to th6tt".L::":-:.r, 9.: un4j,rs.tandrn g ot ranili procec;;;:--

--

X'li:Q"dT-&""'.Ti'Lll:1""':"J*i"'f An"i'l#:ilTt,oln"rttruy a! en rnteractrng ryaten thit t"na"''to r.rii"i-" tiil

",ru",r,r"

llTlglt homeostatlc processes ls fundanental for effective (a."nilytheFa.py. But personsl @n8truct theory as o"tgin"if ;nt"iveo islargely @ncerned wlth tntrapsychtc phenomeni o, "i

irr" *,o"t "itndyadrc- relattonshtp!. rt 18 ctear 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 lf lt ls to lsryc our purposo.'t hope to s;; ihet rhis ispoaalblc 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 for those tn tne f-,Uy i't "i"i-j;'iijra

etrher to resrictth6ruelvi.. to one lchool (and hence'totn it.'i";a"; fi';i; conrcrnpru_ .ou8 dertlton of dt the othoF .oh6b)-oi tJ n"?-ti"ii.'i"i" up ,othetr n€ck8 tn I confuolng ectocttc dtxture oClr,""i'rl-J _i t""nni-quer <tertved frpm a nu.oSer of dtff.;;i "p;;;;h;i.-slilv-i.'"rr"ry

.:Jcht tn ru! rslertton that thera tg a aisco'nitnuoue

-"i"-r[" u"tr""ntho varlour etterna{vss and that any ffnJ ii aii"'"t-"ir,ifr""is ot, .

lL:T.! th:..?lote..lo-grcalty tnposatbli. wrr"t we neeo iJio u" "ur"

,oaubaunc dl the drffer€nt approaches tn a ttreoret-tiir'iraiework rharat the boment IIer outstdo iria at a cr"*"r-iil,i ;iluifr"ctton tothe varlous present rlt€rnattvea..I iope to ino, rir"iiil., extensionsto peroond conltruct theory o'r lned i" tfri" cfr"pi"i iiarnuv "on_ruct.plychology) prcvlde-luch an overarchlng'f"".""oik. f t"theoreUcal ropennelar both tn fore and content "aUo*"-"'-"yntn""i"

*t$:.uL Ty-Tqprombe ot theor€ttcJ rrg.ui

"nd'ir*r-"rir.-_::... r' nor rult theoreflcsl approachie which;u8t be subsumed.Ev€n Dots lmportant. we ouat_have a_jramewori foioo-n-"truirrg ou.tntervsnttons 8nd Etrategt€s. Thts wtu i;;d i;-i'ri"ri-Jrl", ro""orwhit to do when and i-ncreaeed predt;Girtt;;io ii'"t ,n"effect! of each parttcular tntervenilon mlghi il. a;i.u"t tt.ory111.ll !y .l wloy lanqe _ot the-rpeuttc 1"ir,"itre" i" "lllr

(to b€round palucurarry tn Kcuv (r95s). vor._ 2) buili;a.'t i'so' nave trringrro Eey about what t. h.pplntng whrn roi ei;pi" iir,ifrrr"t orlttlrt.gtc tntcnrcnttonr -eic oale. Thc t*k- lr--fi;id;i'Lo ,rr"b-rcvrty ot thrr pspor prccrud?-8

""-"ir'i""ir"l;Jiiiii ir $,"

i#i,l.f i$*,""f :":':si"""",,tri,*lx?:i1i"1i","_pouttc b!uo! r{lll b. darlt wllllrors. U"rori.iiiiiirv,-["u-y," _n,rt-Dutlon! to ressarch !06thodologiy. p8rttcuhrfy. th;-ilp"Jorv g"ra, .cannot b. dcdt wlth hera cvei iho'tgh^$re tifd-ii p-Si.iry orr" orth. Dort prootrrns toolr for rtu<$tni rdtu:;;; ;fi;" h ferauy!l:::py.- neeasrr lntorsstsd.in uir" i"l""t ct-i.-ni,iii'ii*.",(re78) trh[lt Rytc (le?5) outun€r p--i

"i:itriJ-,ji"loiir," griaboth, ror-rclouch rnd th.rapy tt""ti, poiioiilitii"

"r". orroarltal tho!!py. (gee abo cirapter t3.j

THEORETICAL ASPECTS OP FAMTLY CONSTRUCT PSYCHOLOGY

! ^r.7"!,2y:rrr:, 9/ personat coni rrud rh?or?

f iri""f#1tr3.'.iff11:?'i"rsx",i"i1",fl"i;,'"'#i"".'ii?'$r:

. XeUy. strrtc by outunlng hls bssic eptstemotogical posttlon, Hetd(e! the EaterlEllrt posttton that the iorld ,e.ity "ilit"

and fu!_jll::: ,-1"'l pcopla's ttioughto realty extst. Ho*"v"', if,-"r" r! an tn_Irrurc vlrlcty of w-ayr ln whtch the wolld can ba conatruqd and thore!! alway! a way of rcvlstng these constructlo"r. Z"eii perron hara. 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 ofr acrcntht. Thu! thc task rn r;htci pdpr" ;; i";;;"nt!lry cn_

!:^ry_d. ! thc antictpatron of -ovents ";d ih"tr ;cti;;;aie taren hrccordance 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 t_f they !r. tnviudated th"t;-;b;;;;d rnd antrtcrnattvo l! found. Kellv la conc€rn"dio "rgt;;;;L,

p""_chology shoutd be reflextie, ln orher *o!dr.;y;;;"iuon madeebout p€optr rhoutd lDDlv equally to ur" activliii,"lileychotoglstetheo_!-elves. ,wrrat eneiiei ls-a theory tnat viewiirr-e o'rdtnaqf per_ron_coupalstonatety. TNs leans thai trre oraGarv-irirjry mdir6errs ln rhr aame bualn€ss 8s the. f8&lly theraptii _-tryjfig 1q ,naltg

:"-T:_gf rttuattoru ana wrertnng _rvtih ih;;;; *r{'iT "or,",r"rnt".uonstruct theory,s baalc assump.-ttons ana ftc ;op;,'inc"rn *tthprloccr! lather than content mai<es lt

"pf iteroihi"U-V-tmpattbtewlth systeEs theory.

The central tdea tn the theo.ry t8 the c.onstluct. Thls was orlgln-auy dottncd ar 'e way in wucrr-aome il!il;;;;":ti".,sct a! slrketnd yet dlffcrrnt fmn othere' (Xe-lly. 1951, vJt. J,-p. roSl. trr"conrtruct ls s btpotar dlmenston; f"i;;;L:-;;i'if-""o. *"rr_cold. or north_south, To.rtrs"aicniiJ'r;;;l;Jt-"is:'""3'"?"':J*,.-::tJ,,?""ff ili,l::;T',patr of irtcrnetrve lcta. rrrr r" ,"i" Jt;;-i;i;;j';h"r""coroUary:A pelron chooses fo! hloself thst- alternrttvs ln r auchotomtsedconrtruct thrugh whtch,ha alticteater tfre fuiaieipogerUfltyil:r".tTtiToTloof.oru""of hri(co;i;;c.t)-ii,"i"L<x"uviThG conltluct ts thus not Jur-t i palr of ettrlbute! or percopttons.Nor b lt r condnuou! dt,nG:rslon or-a scaL. xeuy-iis-6;t Irvegnolth-louth er thc ctGrtcat rxa.optc to Uf.iitr"t",tfif" irrnt. Obroct!thc,oscly.! cantrot bc 'norttr'or iioirtl ,TJ"-i"li'ri.iiptnds

on whsr€you.r. rturd,tng trhGn !rou_ appty ttre aeiciifiio". i-riJru ,r" *paltltl north! or louthC bctweeri- north anA iouifr. ifr-e construct t!epp-ued to ob,€ct! rn orde! to."k" ; e;;r;,;iiiit.iir"r, b furthornorth or louth when comoared *fm arotnci oU-tili. ili"n on" f"dc_Onrd lr north the othjr tc rrpUcrtry a-"iinl;;;til.

""[:i.'f.,!1,,l,S: jiH-d.",:tl"t'itcr,oiii]ilTJt',,"""""",uy

anq""-.d;;u"rJlirirlH'ff ":Xiff :trfJi;:,TS"r:::iXtii-undqrllca the theory ot theraieutic cil;;li#ili"ity o( soctatactr and cholces ari tlrde qutte unconactourly lnd furthormorerherepcurlc chanS! do€! ,roi n""e"""rtty trrio-iviiirilit rna awera_

Fomlly conrtrucf prychotogy 353

Hypothesas rre nrds by tho.U-nktng of two constructs. Tnus smiling.rFwnhg mlght b€ llnkeO to frappyJrad: tt" i.,ipot-n-"Jii in", *r"-

ili.1i1"."1,?*llirs':itJJ "':i;tJ"t?,ii1,lis"i."t "".","J"i;; "Sntlclprte events and ln DAlr-tcula! to antlclprta the behavtour of.other p.opla. So any chojcs !:p."" rcaxea wt r;ap-uie-ttons andil'i":9:',:1 Tr"Sf*,fffi i9!-'""':""'uv "i'i'.iiiiil; r"";i; .r1r1L_tire,-".*{;;;il;J":l*,T,f","S,rif"fi l,T;H",1,,:""l:".A ruperordlnate. nay bs rwhen

.I am, lmoklng, verrus ,run out ofcrgar.troa'. A whote set of tmpucatlons f"rt"i"f j"r,iJfiur may berubordtnated to these ttyo ettsrnattvs p.r*. ii,i luiliri.in"r"oayatenr ol conatruct! need not necesserlly be competlble wrth eachoth,er, lcldlng to. apparont tnconetstencleJ oi b;ffi;;;.:

:l*"{Xtli,ii"ttlilaH".Hi*,*::i,"irjffi l":lF:x;li3fT,:"T^Hli:f,,.i#m3,11i:l*1ff ",,"Hli;T ji:,i"o",1,"".,rne tattet are anxtety (the asrde ths,*s" oi;;,,1;i;.ilT1i"""*i*;":l: h::fliil""*:

;9g"-s$pigi;1kffit*ffi+;{,t,',jx;*ft- 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 H#:f,'ji;tl$S,{,}iffiff $:i,r;,{li!"hlr,T"::;*"*;l#"*;:H*tt.iti"-qgarettss hC experlencea en

#l*glnt#llt'trs}1i:tril$bllli.t+:l'x.ii.il:;ff$'":ff :r&H,-#;taii'sjtr"ii:i:uii:rij:

i$

C-o-a6rAthcorlstr heve up to nori lcr:d.ryuplhs*ii?;;*;:lt"$:,$:t",li":",J1x1i"f"111'h."",Gxranllon of thc thcory t! th€rerore necessary belors lt can b€eomeuEcru lo thc fanlly thlreola."I"l"gnorricu.Jiffi ,i;,J,ff lll,T,""H;,"ff f T,r:"%:li;rnc ncxt rcctbn._Bcrdert.lntcrclt6d ln followtng up tho baltc trnat! of porlond

ifi iry'"H,y-:11.":-_"t1"'lf"t jii1f,lii';;,;,"i**Iri"-,,ll-1d|c.: Bannbte! and Fralnc.,ua < rszU.pii"riii oj.iii urt_au"_rron to thc ocld rNle furtha

lL'i'r*,"""t.;$rgnldfJl,fjf :*#*"'H'J;#r'-FaPhy of wrltlng! ln thc rr'ea up to that y"*.

- --'-t'"

ji_:..1f1?: of fn..ry conrrrucr psychologD,Mrny wrttera in th. fl.ld "t

tai,ity tt eriiy hav€ attempteat to utulreil'i,.lir"l*,f f$J"*::l*'-""r1'rvilv;r"i"iiiil'J,'ii,*,,""p-ranuy. artober'c;;,,;eil;-#Ar',oi""J""ill"t";rlilfff i"f,ii ::i1..rtonlntpE, the 'f!aruy'. rn htc, rierd <rdrg;-i9;,si:';;;rl"r"

""""acan to edae when rlnaccura(

t?!:.*"r"q;;il;i,;-t#';iir1"'#iJff :lTi:lfi "?:":'iiT"*[illfli]"'*n*,,,.,:t,.lr_,t"1r,,:f*lj,ijf $r,"";,""s,;:"conccptuslly tortuour tnd thelapeuttcaf fy.,inuJaUfe]-. ".". we need not fall lnto the a6rDe tlsp lhen extendlng c.onltructrn€ory because, ag we have arguea,.tt ta epGilriiliriirii *.p",_

$ifi.,b:*"3'r;x;3ffi r#ii:r*"sff :Si,#""[,:rn }lla sochllty corouerv - Ke-uy -(-1963. p.95) atetes that, ,To th€cxtcnt thrt onc pcrcon co'nat

:tt:':3'"'ir-ii"i'lirJ''T:"*i"f#:tTtlll,*ff : ji"",pcnon.'In other worda a oerson mrkes cholcor or bchivaa tnrccoFduc€ r{tth hory rre anitqln-1g.s 1tr* tri"- "-tiri-Jru.l-"'".p."a.

$f*l1q"p?-uii$it"*f:lil:U$**1*,rS$*l;:ffi:Trirx*''iiriil#*lH"$"=fl,"kff F*a

l;iifiL:.;in:iThfi'f;.1.:r_,T", each musr make a chorcc, wrrrunof the rehtrona-hr,;;t"'{iT?"tlrTslnteln I common construction

^_wnat.occur! In frrntUor tr -tf,o-nJgottatton of a commcl"'Jill,,L:Jlf i:':*[.r3,tr6n,t,uoi"vit"ii..ti|rli+'r.';ttt

:il*gqpt+*r*}$sl:sg-vor, !ha!e ! flnttG 3et oy l::-"

t9 be- ln agr€co.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 rlemb€r8 be-

L:11":*"#ii;il;ll;*fi Tr*,t'il:ill:llh?:I.}:{":l}'{f lt'::ff:1*.r;1",.*rir$}.iq!E:.!i!lt!ili* j*:x;lr*tose-the:

";;;;;r"ililfii,t:e sDonstt anv sroup or p*pi.'iiine

*,i*ti!"{,1ji":',ifil$$rildi;i:fl*ll,:*i;ffi :",w.h_ereseveie;i;-"1il";,ltTllff l*1ll?:'-nintT,iTJ""":ii"''iilP,,ffri i'.:",ff;,r::',p,ly_. Anot her ;'r""i' L',",p r"' i" t h e,s ee _*niin*;i:x.'#"1'-"**""ffi r"""'i:l:t":L*'.lH:'':'ru"s**'"S::I!lfi:?'$;+di,{',i'liiili$''',t",""";fi ,

ffi*5{s#$e$$$g$Xgl1iilfffimytn llnpue! an lnaccuret,

ri;$T,fiJ,.i"1il:ti[lr"tf;;h";51grli5;"9"*1Oil,;;;$1ifi {rli;

ftlu,1trf#$F#fi$frTtfiitffi,"TS"''JI,"" jfl '*,Hffij,,1iJ."f,,f

"ig,t;1"1?:;r".""1ff f.*,

rsrut pmpoll onal to de8cllb_e c\onatructa rrhlch carry no lmpucstlon!regrrdlng the other realm membership "r-

,erilii"it.I rr," _n_!t!uct! h the FCS of a well _fu.ncttontnc f"rui ;ijil;i.to u" p-_porltrsnd. In other words esch memberrs- acttons and chotco8 wllloc rehtlvcly uncontamtnated by the oplntons rnd acttons of thootnot ocrDbar!.

$l,ffiiTi:,gyrtupri;i,m*$;ii1;,fii$,g;}$5$::ii*tfl*,tstrji"l.,hto"r*stance!.theiLiriintr,,,,ou"rv

ffiffiffiWffiffi**',#N9ff6

,ili't"*l1Hl":?#"jJl:1".'er,drsasteement becomes en issuenot-hslp tr,"r.lili8 ;;j-1:9

nelshbour or Psvchianist who did::tlt "?,"pi"""ron-i,,f, ;l3r:Xill"i"l"il,jlrHil::"iLill,:r:;rramly cus_truct approach.

Ino fanlly Constructa rtev on rh..rh.i L-_j L- , ,

;,*,':l"li,u11li:{#r on the oth€r hancr be rerated in 8n

uq.-unpredrctrbr"rnt",""tijl'l-si*t"t\5:$iiiJ-',r"o"ilrvtnrnreoic-'ti:,"x1;:rtrilrlk1!*ri+,#-F$il,t,Fni!..lr'*'"i:ffi f 'f *,:j":tTjl1*'{ii"!!!'*J:'':llT$?;'i.'!'*1,.*l'*lf *",,x^l,l"H"j;!lii$i{,i:,!i!F$:r::;"J*i..Ei*[rl1+i:T*i,*li";ii#f#:H$:q"::il.

*r#ffffiiffi'g$fi:i**Hfir;;

mff*#**t*r*s**ffi

Theory ol chongc In tomtly therapyThe process of change that occurs durlng fanlly theraPy 18 note3sentlally dlfferent from that whlch occurs quito 'naturilly'ln thodry-by-day 8nd year-by-year experlences of c w.ll functlonlngfuluy. K?lly underEtood therspeutlc change to be a proceoa ofrtconstluctlon. Thh lnvolvec I change ln tho llnkages botwo€nconstnrctE, 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 chlngetoccuFlng ln the flDlly construct lyltem dudng thc pt!ce!! ofnegotlatlon. The f Dtly theraplst dellborrtely tlor to h.lP thc famllynegotltta chang€r In thc FCS whlch lt hs! fslled to do naturally drdspontm€oully. FaFlly thenpy conslst! thorcfors ln glvlng thef$lly ocoblra cxperlonces whlch enabls them to elaborats andrwlsa thc fatDtly constluct lytt€m,

F.rnlly construct plychologJ plovldcs a way of ov€rcomlng andpilclng bcyond thc arguments between bebrvlouslstt rnd lytten!thcorlrts on lh€ one .hrnd and the psychosnalytlc and lntlghtorlcntcal throrllta on thc othcr. Theorl8t! fsom these school!. clrlmthrt rhat lr G3scntlal k s chrngc ln €lther behavlour rnd fsrnllyltlucturc 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 cbangepFo€ess, hsvlng at best only partlal validity. What 18 fundamentallr 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 governNghly concrete and epecltlc cholces and interactlon Bequences atthe level of 'microprocessr. These @nstructa are ln turn governedby construct3 !t an lncreaglng level of supelordinNcy. Suporordlnato@nstructa will tend to remsln mole Etable over tlme 8nal wlll beevidcnced by redundancle! tn the lnteraetlon procass and by themetshlch clop up sgdn and agaln. The relstlonlhlp b€tween auper-oldlnrtc lrld subordinete constructs ls dlalectlcal. The Buperrdlnatscln8tluctE gtlde ind gpvern the subordlnate!. The lubordlnstssvrlldste rnd rnaint8ln the supercrdinates.

A chlng. ln tb. FCS l! Ukely to bc accompanlsd by r chsngo lnbshrvlour and fanlly atlucture. llowever thl! lr not necesrarlly thecr!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 frnllygdnlng ncw conaclou3 lnslghtr but tNs tr ag.ln not nocGlsarlly th.cr3.. It l! a fr€quent €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 aEet ol lupeFrdlnate psychologjcal constluctr wNch m8y or nay notbc present ln th. fsmlly msmborr' conltruot lyrtamr. Thl, ryll[ rllodcpcnd on thcl! d.volopmental level - young chllatren ero Uk6ly tocxpcrlcnce chang€ rt th6 level of feeltng only. Adults aro more

lik_ely. to be able to prvtde a verbal cgnsrruction as well..-.P.erhel8 more tmportant than.how-a :d;;;;;;-" i"'ii" qu".,,or_how. the.chsng! ls malntslned ano the wiy fn *ifl"r,-,i" n"* *r,rtguratlon ts stsbiltzed. It 18 posstbl€ to r,"rrj

",i"riiv'io'ienare indlfforent wrys but unlcae thio:amate con'air"Jtrr.i,i'iiiri,'i,i,,1ir"""""Tll"li:,tJ":*i:5: g;:t_ilr,

It mlght be pocatbte to cet ; father.wrth a ;!jil-;;l'# i, ","pdrlnklng lor a wNls (arfbordlnate change). s"i ;ntii

"'i""i"io,occurc tn the lup€lordlnato famuy -""i"ir"i iiJ"iiiiiitirrg ni,!l:r,._Iatlplo, 1otd, not part of uio fa,,,,itt-i;;;b'riil""na

"r,iro-ren (r!_oppossd to warm, parl of tho faritiyl , gteuiuzatioi *ur noroc_cur. Thur a changr tn f;mtry trrcrapy wiir'on-ryI;il#l;;,tr;-'wnen thG. revl8ton har permcatid rtgniirrrouln ine-rdi"so rn"t :

!!:"iii$i!ld#::r ;ff ;:1""J,"1'*Tli*:t,[r-i::l :i**;: " " .once .the.. farnuy t! open to niiotratron allin.- ri,iiii,i riv'io "rr*.uve.rsm y rherapy ta to ue c6gntzant i;"t-l;lr;;;:.".r"u., o".ur. ,t-auspect that the behavlourlaie trave focused ol-"uuoijii",""

"na:l:-"1tdy?tl on supcrordlnater. rm -partiarit-yii

iiir'r,Hri", or;i::"",T.,ii",1"n ro n€slect trre cuciar procJ"Ji"'ii"iirr]ng uo.

*lIi-,!+i"$,1,"1-:H'#JA'Ll:illff ,o,'"",':oI;".,,'1";f ;;T'"negptlatton. proceag flowa on tn accordsnc" iiin ii"-i'"ri"io" orevary.tey ltfe. Thte mutt b€ viewed ,n rhe;;i;;;iiiri'i".'y rir"cycle and the socletat exDectatlons of. "g. ""J

j"id"; "piplp"i"ro:er-ravt?u1.. rt must atlo Ee bokc^d

"t rn irre conieii-oi i[i,.o",",

::l:1:l _onctudtns soct€ty rts€rf) "u";;;l;;'tf" rliiI. ,""example no amount of fatn[v therapy.witt ue a-guusrliui", io"

" g*oschool for the chltatren. Ftnally. tn!-ther"pi"ir*i,"i'trg", ,n",he lr&oaelf ta a cructel Dart of ihe *"rJ

"'"t1"oiil'riri' iilr"pi"rnuat dtsengese from tlie fsrnuy leavrng "-;i";;;"a';;;;oping nersystem. Thls means that the constnr:r .of

,r,"rp, o" ltili"-py, musrue tnstdo th€ funuy boundsrv. tr tt ts telt o"i..rji ,i".iiiuv ,ura@n leek out a doctor or theraptst sgaln. ------ .' '- .-.,

Sumnory

:.rmuy. conatruct psychology provldes. !s -wrth a brosdly embracingrriEoretlcal Famework shlch boks.st the ferr y,s uniqu,,, i""UtV "":t-t_:,"!_yt"d by ths. farotty construct

"y"t"r. iit"- li'ili ,i"r"rv .pelrtvr, percclved roellty.-but tg a iynamtc, ictfi" o'"",t""r"ringot a 3y.ton of hterarchaliv orgrnlzod ir.

""'tr,i"ii'lioiiid"". rrr"ancmattvor cc llnkod toiettr6r Uy tmpUcatfon anU t-frti.iiio"t .""nmemDer to nake anttctoettonr wNc-h ,iy-oi ,"y n-t'!T"liro","allr prlctlc€. Thl! Dutud .rrtkter-mea.ncgouiii;-iilr,il.iifi n"ij":j"s.J,'i*,iJ:ff x"lil*weyc whtch can bo charrctGrrzid.ag *"i,rG;i;;;;i.Jrciorou..o ,q:nango ts und€rltood both tnnturrl ncgori;tb;';iir,lr"py ,omvolvo. roconstpuctton of rhe pcs .- ThtJ il"1; o""rii"i.ii" "o._luct between bohavloural ana p-aychodynarnil i"ri i:|i"liili","about the retauvo lmportrnce 6t

'uehaviour

"f,"rrj" inj-inJignt .

--"2

The second part of thls psper wlll examlne some of the technlqueswhich llow frcm the theory. Exsnples of how the theoly throwsLight on the mechenisms involved in technlques derlved from variousschools of fsmlly therapy wlll also be glven,

IMPLICATIONS FOR THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE

FEnlly th6rapy ls about enc$uraglng the (rdrlly to negotlats andrtvlrr lta conccptlon of reruty and the wry lt habltually act6 lnEc@rdance wlth thls reality. The famlly 18 lnvlted to 8ee and actupon the wolld ln novel ways. The famlly ls put lnto sltuatlon! lnwhtcb ncgotlstlon c&n take place and through varlous technlque8the process of change ls etlmulated ond encouraged. Before dls-curllng thcse technlques, however. the b!8lc atance that ls takentowards the fanily and the general method of lnvestlgating the FCSrill bc outlined.

KeUy 8ttrched gre8t lmportance to the lnltial thelapeutlc rtanceto be taken wlth cllents. He was discusslng indtvldual therapy butuhlt hc say! sppues tust as nuch to fsnlly therapy. Fundatnentalls thc tcceptlnce of the client. Kelly detrne! acceptanc€ as thetherrpbtra atlempt to enploy the clientrs own construct aystem. ,

It involves ths rcad,lne3s to utillze tho cllenttr own modes ofappprch. . . The therapbt Bhould attempt to sntlclpate sventsln the_ wsy the client anttclpates them. He should try to employthe 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_ rhoulrl the thcraplst avold or srgu€ with the fsrnily-aboutthiE. 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 ldeasclaborrte whtt lr occurllng durlng thG procers of tolntng (Mlnuchln.197{). Whcress Kelly wa! referrlng to the acc€ptance o( perronalconstructr. we lre of coursa dlscusrlng the acceptrnce of thcfirDily con8truct ry.tem. Tht3 involvet-Oowtng with, encouraglngand utlllzlng the sequences 8nd contlngsncbiot tlre lnteractton

-

pFocer8. Por example if r chlld repetluv€ly tntorrupts th. prrontlldla!og!., thlr wlU be ancouraged end utfu;sd rathar uranblocked.

Kclly go€s on to dlscurs two,prlllatlve, technlque8 thot mry beneceaalry 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 appearto flE to be consl8tent, acceptabte and orgrntzsd. tb Uturirade,Kclly -pFovlde! r.8_an €xa$plc what arnounti to rn lntoreltlng earlyuse 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 "ruohrhln-g!" Hcrc hard to gat rld of all ai once'. (Kelly, i955, yo1. f Ip. 656). Another tcchnlquG lr cupport whtch tnvoivcc tho vrlldlttonor thc cllcnttt rntlclpltlon! ro thrt ho h parmltted to Gxp6rtment

widely and successfully. Kelty ltsts the occasions when and rhennot to uae these strateclea.

,_3!-",*"":p, of the FaS^ can be uled rs a gulde ln the rhcrspeuriclntorvlow. Tho proc€ss 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 pmcesslraeu tenda to sumulata lnteractton and negottrtion.- ThG-m€thod ltle-lf lr conceptuauy qulte airelght forwtr<t. One iso9slcrlly toolrlng for rlrnllsrlty and contlast and how thc membersot lnr fanUy and soclal network cluster tog€tha! on caltdn dtmen-8lon8. Thoso sam. mothods havc besn ueed Uy ottter

-funil-y tn""".

9l9t?. latng for example (chapter 2 !n this "6turij 'a"ig-*no

in rneramuy til€ boy take! sfte!. palazzoll et al. (19?g) wtll ask who inthe famlly 18 the -most happy, the lext mosi happy.-lh" iu""t n"ppyand ao oD. The dialectlcal basls of conatructs ls'drucial here. Thusthe llmllarlty between people tnplles tfrefr coniiasi ;d "i""

.,"r"". -r, Jlrs can be used by tho therapist for therapeutlc ends. lf on€ .want! to emphallze a dllferen& or a bounilary one connects tfre@natnrct pole8. If one yrants to emphastze th; slmilaiitl;n€ looksfor dlfferences. Thus lf one wantg io intervene constru'ctivety with ;a_ marltal problear lt ls olten much more efteciive to-"rpi""i"e tn"otrength! ln the malrlsge thsn to probe for patnotoqvl-'-^-llyr"g e,stebli3hed son€ of the baslc alternatlves i-rrd bouno"rt"..trc rnerapEr goes on.to lnvestlgste the llnkage. ln the FCS. Whor-e]! q^a.uSnLor go out tn th. evanlng end who lets her back in? v$harqoe-l tne othet pllent do? One la- looklng for how propositionsl . con.ttelhtory, -permeabte and loose the construct retationsnips

-ere '.irl

s.ear-chlng for arear ln whtch the FCS ls fu"ctionai-"no rittere ir isdysfunct ional . . . : . , ,O-ne ls,-o-f co.urse, partlculsrly lnterested In the process but rh€content of.famlly c-onrtructtons i8 very lnc[catlv" aj *ef]. The con.

!:l! r"?t be contlluourly Unked.to ic obscrvable lnttiictton pro-caa! lnd checked lor natch o! mtsmatch. Sut in ttsetiiiti contenry{lu g{vo lmportmt clu6a rbout flxarlon ln tt" i".iii-irfi'iycre andtho_ ag€-approprlaten"o o( the fam y,s congtruciioisl'- -

^r1*119^T.:*.!o-ms,h)rpothese! eboit how $re idS -i""ctrons

s rans€or rnorap-euttc techntqus! lre avsllable to deel wlth tha vartous dis_- , l-.-ordera o( nogotlatlon; For Gxanpte tf the problem- wfi-ril rrl e-cs is -

.constdsled to bo rn €xcoarlve loogenesr, itt"rpi"

"iii Ue'maae totlghtsD thc ryltarn. In a chsottc tarnily where 6;;b-6 i.-;-1";;

l|:I.rylnng !€ems lo be pr:edtctable,'tr," ir,"r"pi"i i'iriio"us onrugnry conclete and 8Declflc lseueg. end gtve the fanily very crispand-ttghly. organrzed ibut very brtef) tiars to peiiorl b'erweenEeaarona.. An attoBpt wlu bc oads to llnk lnd tlihten up the famlly,sIrlgmcnt.d actr and to hclp thero to recogntze rieir looleness asbetng palt of thetr creatlvtiy._11:L*^t oxanpto mtght bo-r-farntty. wlth vsry few wlthtn-bbunduyclnttruct: - ovcryonr ln thc fara y la fhC anO congtd;iaie anOh€lpr c.rclr othorr Th. probtcn la tn"t tru" ra"ntitv'i"-iri]ntoineothrough lt! contirst - peopte outllde tho farntti'-#unoalv a"e rn_con'tderate, seulah ani oi"n. so wrren iir"'i'rJ-rj'i'.,iij.i;;',

-_.-

galng our wtth boys "nd

*"::l1g.,o .:tep_acroaa the boundary shems to adopt the fanity,s cot;lif "sltilts, :irh.;*ffi l*,u l':'|"ff: i",l *

-rr l! poEslble to work In thjr manncr dhccfly lharlng tha thor!-paulto pFma!! wlth tho fanlly, It may however be betier to workrnotrec y, helping the fsrnil

:$,1**i1,grl*,$f Urii:i::1T5"'"',:n'"ry.mllxll,':i'iil"t,ilj"*.mtfl i,o**,"v$:l''fi f"Til:TSt""'I",',:tl'echniqueil;;i;-;i;;'provrdrnsanThis clearty u6" iitri" iiiiilg^ :..,"J.t'9t?.t .o" a plece o-f Interacttoi.change. Ketly's ,"iiirii"iil"'ll-Tth

Kellv's vlew of therapeutlc

l":ij:,":il!""i'.#:d;,xi*niH""{',*ili,t*i"H'x:f,{i,j,lcreauve 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$ii:H:i"'r""H::l;;,"_:,:l-ry* *n"," ii'i,i'i,it'J,iT,1:t"::"""""t",,j1f; # ;:l:':;$"",-illins wra opersting nlth a baslor not against-n"e.;;; ;t;;rj-.T-lEFuct:

rpeoPlG are ag-alnet nerng verlus not Interestlnq,t 11lt-t"-JTtt"tt"ot ('People aie lnterest-o"-n but -"";ifi';;;;""'i11!no""tt."" belng orthogon.l to ht!

fl $;$;l$_:^rih,er+'rf;ir:frii*:l*"."*"*nilrrsE r,rc[. ]tc watchcd peoDl

tiH"":"9ffii::',";iJ"T* j*^l&-:':"*":l'i,:*l*:;tlii|reed.over-thrrpJii. ji.i;:'::,r";',t;"":j":,rf l:"*f""r,qTi":"lH:r"nliX:::f,:lrl"q? end starreo seehs au klndr of rttuatron' In asurerent ught. TNs exarnDl(cxaoplc of

-how $t*"i"i,i['iJ-g1ven because lt provid€s a ctea!

ncr @nstruct ri-1i""!i"-i'rrtilan-g-e ls- reg.arded a! taklng place. The

st nrct ulo. r t u"-_i"i'i-il.r."..- _":l - ?" subsurned ln to a s-uporoldln8t e

fr ;1ll$illfi l3$'n;":':r*lli-d."{"q'{{*il"l;*liiitl:r;ilf r',*,i*,{mk*,j*llfi 1;::**.,;,[,:"

of transttioh ale elaborative.."l{riln:.. For.example , hostility is dc.111:d "" -the

rcontlnued effort to extort velldarlonel €vldence inlavou! of a type of soclal Dr

tliiff .:'#ff l#::'J,,iT{Tilililtiii:'""1,f iJ,il:,:',TIr_hese *e rer,a,"ea',rrrl'rr -"*fit

,T:",ff".1*:*X1""?Stif j '

everyd-ay commonaenSe consiwrrr*rra-eraborai*;";;;;iln"ll.T:1"*"Hr;,A,',""::l*,1"i;".,deprerslon (Cade and Southiate, l9?9). The therspist rook rhecuentrs complalntg even mors eerlously,rr".-tt"

"ri5ii. "io suggc!rc,:lne wa! In fact not betnc oeaatmlsttc.inouln.

' inj. J"lJi. , r,"

"ri"n,ro got ove! the btock onliaborating r,."

"J,lJtirj"i-i"iJi"no to ai.--Iii_t-l1 !"jr g. optrmtsuc was rn flct,*"" ;i;;;;;-ti"":.'

_ r€rramlng ts also fundunentat in -tne. supervl-iin-ii if,"""pi",, .re-rn€pa the bulk of the worl"'rr.'"-.,'"1''-"ipi#,'ff .i:l:o::,",:"f; l.l]:i"il1i"":1f"il":Tia;"rf*Ji"':l$"i#J*r""':J:1'rar ranlv I hersp ist he rp t he rE m I r !procuetrve.iyir,;iri;iiifi llii,l',i"Tr',1"i."t*J;r";,":i#..X.;t:'conalats of the theraprat enT::lcr_ns ,n" ,Lrl"i" iJl"ir,",1,

","0 .

:fi li:,_w"::,Hr,Ilt,:l^::i*:t""1:j*i,l"i*lii:::"nay never ghare htr sadness. becauge fre hac re;;ei.io ".n,t"ip","

ang€r fron htc wlfe or ""r"!gT",

fp..-I,i" "on

Ln"i-n"'"i""," ,o o"_come lad. The structursl tirer-aptst.wiu p;;;;;;; "iu"p.r"," int""_

lii':$frffii?1i+,*fi :$il[*",i,:hrrr rrlrs wrrn tU! vtew o( ET-T-be]ng l lke-s scientlst, KeUy hysgrcat !t!a!s on provldtnq ta,l-kf-and destgnlng experl,mcnts rs tn.e:rii"i:";Ht-****tl"iA*t*rEry#i*U,r ne -lama procels occurr ln irha fanlly !y!tem. A DFobe trlng leedback. It ts not a oue

h"t#i*iffiBr:IiJ.ljl,i-T*".'i"poni""iili'r,!'i'""'v*ni"n,m,i*,11 j*lfu "*:##iri"rl$dli',.i''mm;Pr;!:r:rp..""il;';;"ilil1i'd.i'lni1,i?"1i1'"iill:ilTf ,,Jii,"f -oate! thelr reallty. Thlr sttmulate! them to search for new alter-nauver. por exarDpls lf a coup-fe^wlth a s^exual problem are told toavotd phystcal conlact tt orerrii*:g*""ff [ltitril:,{,s.1ii:e,ilfr ,1L:lr:"ll;,i,".:i:l;,t r'"t .uo,,

" t i,li;ioi,;iffi j lT:1r'""" lit, ll,,i r".'"", "s t hi s a re t y'ErtcKaon and Haley'e u8e of metaphor (Haley.l tgZSl c8n also be

undelrtood ln thlr frlrnework. The ssllre patterns wtll emalge whena couple are eatlng. mrklng love br cleanlng out the garage. Whatls common between thr slturtlons 18 superordlnato structurc. Thesuperordln.te structure can be changed by worklng on tnnocuoustoptc! snd never aFousing the reststanc€ that for eiarnplc a dtr-cusslon of thelr €€x llfe may engender. ln one exarnple, I cguple'rconrtruct of t!cl! happy marrlage was valldated by iaylng thitrpl9bleo was like a tlny graln of eand ln a gear uoi. Thcj were ableto lcc.pt thst they hld a prblem by lt belng framed as mlnutc.turtnet constructs could be bullt ln uslng the almost lnflnltc posst-blutlcs the metaphor generates - oit changer, ayncromelh, revelaegrcrr and so on.

Many of the technlqu€s of the obiect relatlon! theorlsts and ana-lytlcruy orlente-d fsmlly therepbts c8n be underltood aa waya ofhelpln-g the fanlly reconstruct 8nd dllate the FCS. Materlal ian beused frpm the fanily'e own past to lnvelldate lt! con8truct! andvtlldltc new end more functlonal lealltles. Intclpretetton conslstsin elco_urr-gtrlg new constructlon, usuelly at a dlrly j"pirorOtnaterevel. scutptlng and chlldren,s play materlal can be used to valldatelhe potcntlallew atructure, es lt i3 rtch tn metaphorlcal lmpucatl,ons.

Fragmentatlon.Is lajd to occur wh€n two tncomiattblo rubirrcttnatcconsttuctlonr of the sllne obrect are held. Thts pmcesc lr akln tofilelnr! sptlttlng mechanlam whereby good lnd Uia aapecto of tfres8.me obrect cannot be entertalned slmultaneouety. We can under_stand.the strated€s of the Klelnten therapt8t wio may encluragethe client to conslder the incompatible alternativea Oiat rucceoilvelyand then to encourag€ r @nslderatlon of the good aspect wlth a

-

.rew eteoenta of the bad alpect lntroduced. The cueni ta en@uragedto revlae his system by formlng a superordlnate construct whlch-,"_* n--n""ty subsune the prevlou8ly conlucting poles. Typlcauyrn a rar[uy a member wlll 8ee hlmself a8 bad and another arembei agperfect or vice versa and thls family conatruct comes to be maln_tdncd- hon€ostrtlcaUy. The above technlque cln be used ln thlr$ruatton. Fot ex8.ople e couple in wNch tho wlfe s€es hsrs.lf aBlotr.tly bad and her husband rE ldeallzed may ba encourag€d to con-tinue givlng examples of thls d,tstlnctlon, So-me of her f,,riU"nC'srctrona can be l8belled ar better end 8one worle althouqh all aroclearly very gDod. Llkewlse soms of he! ettrtbute, ;t6"o. .o""downiight appalung. Gradually the conatruct ta etaboraieo anaextend€al and the rlgld dlchot6my is bboken down ana eoftened.

rrnarry rolDe of thc tochnlques from the erpsrlsnttal sch6l! oflhcrrpy can bc m.ntlonad. fhe gestalt anA dfener!-Uc-techntque!1f- |.Tylhc on.bodlly. feeungs ani conatruini u,"-uiaii" autono_mour can provlde r rlch set of. wttNn_boundiry co"ati"ci". frf"""agemay 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 constructtheory cEn Integrate i wtde -valtety. of a;;;;;;ly uiieri'tea ranUythcrlpy t?chnlque!, Moro lmportarit, tt iin genc'rai;-;-rppa!6nuy

Infmlte vrrlety of further tecnntques once thc framework has b€en.underltood. Once the method h8j becn g:r""f"d, ;"i;i look"

;ll""lliTit i::.rh€ rheraptst ts freed to acr in a sponrrneous 8nd

CONCLUSION

ll^i:t_:"U be.lrgved that the l"lgu-9ge of the theorertcat frarne-worn pr.oposed here ta conollcat"al Hj*""""'i u"jrJr".iii, ,n"underlytng ldeas once thev have,been gr"#"i -h";"'*.i.opu"ung

sl'"",,,,&-lH:*:l;n"r*n:*"lli:il,*1,#:ii1li;;i:"1ilg1l:

set of approacheg ana technique;'io i"-inie"",*o

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