TY - JOUR

T1 - Personal construct psychology

T2 - A theory to help understand professional development, a philosophy to support it

AU - Brocklehurst, Paul R

PY - 2010/10

Y1 - 2010/10

N2 - AIM: The aim of this paper is to introduce the reader to personal construct psychology as a theory to help understand the process of change in facilitative and mentoring relationships.BACKGROUND: Continuing professional development is critical if practitioners are to keep up to date with new ideas, techniques, and materials. However, is it important not only to consider what is learnt, it is also important to understand the how of learning in order to develop an approach that leads to lifelong learning. Mentoring, coaching, and appraisal are all facilitative processes that aim to encourage professionals to engage with their own development. This leads to differing degrees of both behavioural and attitudinal change. As a result, it is useful to have a theory that can help an individual to understand these changes and to identify any difficulties that are associated with them.APPROACH: Personal construct psychology has long been recognised as a potential framework for personal development. It has been used extensively in a broad range of domains, including clinical and educational psychology, management, and psychotherapy.CONCLUSION: Personal construct psychology is a useful theory for understanding the facilitative process because it enables the facilitator to form a conceptual framework to comprehend behavioural and attitudinal change. Its underlying philosophical approach also supports lifelong learning, given its emphasis on an enquiring mind and reflection, both of which are key to continuing professional development.

AB - AIM: The aim of this paper is to introduce the reader to personal construct psychology as a theory to help understand the process of change in facilitative and mentoring relationships.BACKGROUND: Continuing professional development is critical if practitioners are to keep up to date with new ideas, techniques, and materials. However, is it important not only to consider what is learnt, it is also important to understand the how of learning in order to develop an approach that leads to lifelong learning. Mentoring, coaching, and appraisal are all facilitative processes that aim to encourage professionals to engage with their own development. This leads to differing degrees of both behavioural and attitudinal change. As a result, it is useful to have a theory that can help an individual to understand these changes and to identify any difficulties that are associated with them.APPROACH: Personal construct psychology has long been recognised as a potential framework for personal development. It has been used extensively in a broad range of domains, including clinical and educational psychology, management, and psychotherapy.CONCLUSION: Personal construct psychology is a useful theory for understanding the facilitative process because it enables the facilitator to form a conceptual framework to comprehend behavioural and attitudinal change. Its underlying philosophical approach also supports lifelong learning, given its emphasis on an enquiring mind and reflection, both of which are key to continuing professional development.

KW - Attitude of Health Personnel

KW - Behavior

KW - Communication

KW - Dentists

KW - Education, Dental, Continuing

KW - Emotions

KW - Humans

KW - Interpersonal Relations

KW - Learning

KW - Mentors

KW - Personal Construct Theory

KW - Personality

KW - Philosophy, Dental

KW - Psychology, Educational

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1308/135576110792936140

DO - 10.1308/135576110792936140

M3 - Article

C2 - 20887672

VL - 17

SP - 179

EP - 187

JO - Primary Dental Care

JF - Primary Dental Care

SN - 1355-7610

IS - 4

ER -