How to Coach Yourself and Others Essential Knowledge For Coaching | Page 282

verbal symbol identifying it. Something like the 'gut feeling' or 'it
feels right' would be a non verbal construct. Kelly originally
called these 'preverbal' constructs, but in line with others
(notably Tom Ravenette 1997) I prefer the term non verbal.
Constructs, themselves, can be either Loose or Tight. A loose
construct is one which may or may not lead to the same
behaviour every time. Obviously this can make life difficult for
others as they will be unable to predict the construer's actions
consistently. A tight construct on the other hand always leads to
the same behaviour. These people are those with regular habits
and firmly held views. Our creativity is helped by moving from
loose to tight constructs. We start off with loose constructs,
trying things out for size, seeing what works and what doesn't, as
we move towards the new we tighten up our construing,
narrowing down our experimentation and so we begin making
clearer associations and developing more clearly the 'new'. One
way of loosening our constructs is via play and imagination. By
using play as an experiment we can (safely) try out new things.
The CPC cycle directs our method of choosing. The CPC cycle
consists of Circumspection, Pre-emption and Control. This is
basically a form of 'Review, Plan, Do'. Initially we review the
alternatives open to us (circumspection), narrow down the
choice to one and devise a plan of action (pre-empt), finally you
exercise control and do something. The cycle continues as every
action leads to both a review of the success of that action as well
as opening new choices.
One of the criticisms levelled at Personal Construct Psychology
(unfairly in my view) is that it does not deal with emotions. This
myth has been effectively address by others (e.g. Fransella 1995,
McCoy 1977). Kelly uses different terms to deal with emotions.
He sees emotions as transitional stages. For example threat is
defined as 'the awareness of an imminent comprehensive change
in one's core structure', fear is an incidental change in one's core

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