How to Coach Yourself and Others Essential Knowledge For Coaching | Page 283

constructs. One example of threat can be seen in the way which
people of different belief systems are treated by the dominant
religion - the persecution of the Cathars during the middle ages
because they threatened the societal structure. One feels guilt
when one has done something which is contrary to ones core
constructs. Someone who sees themselves as 'an honest upright
citizen' would feel guilt if caught in some dishonest act (even
unwittingly). Happiness and joy are seen as support to
peripheral and core constructs. Think about how happy you feel
when you do something right or are complimented on
something.
Tools and techniques
Personal Construct Psychology has a wide variety of tools and
techniques at its disposal. Probably the most widely used is the
Repertory Grid. This is a method of eliciting constructs by asking
participants to compare three elements (objects, things, etc.,)
and state how two are similar and different from the third.
Answers are recorded in a matrix, which can then be analysed to
produce a construct map. This has been used for research into a
wide range of issues from business problems to
psychotherapeutic interventions (some examples of the latter
can be found in various chapters within this book). The Rep Grid
(as it is known) has a wide following and can be used without
any other PCP theory (and has been!). There are many variations
of Rep Grids including those looking at resistance to change as
well as implications grids and problem solving (for a more
comprehensive review of grids I would suggest Beail 1985,
Fransella and Bannister 1997, Stewart & Stewart 1981).
The Rep Grid can be compared to a 'hard measure', eliciting, as it
does, quantifiable data. There are, however a lot of softer, more
'touchy feely' construct elicitation techniques available. One of
the more popular is the 'Self Characterisation'. In this the client
has to write a character sketch of themselves in the third person

1161