title: Personal construct theory and psychological well-being.
abstract: The concept of 'psychological well-being' (as opposed to 'psychological disorder') is considered from the standpoint of George Kelly's personal construct theory (Kelly, 1955). It is argued that the origin of psychological disorder lies in a difficulty in 'person construing', with particular reference to 'self-construing'. For some (like schizophrenics) this may be a relatively permanent state of affairs, whereas for others it may reflect a temporary crisis or transition. It seems that the ability to maintain a relatively stable, yet flexible, self-construction may be crucial. Social relationships, however, although potentially validating, also carry the risk of invalidating our self-construction. An individual's particular response to 'invalidation' may be substantially determined by commonality of construing in his particular context, e.g. an adolescent female may turn to slimming whereas a young male may turn to alcohol. Although the theory has proved to be most useful at an explanatory level, it has been applied therapeutically only to a limited extent. It is argued that psychologists may make a greater contribution to the enhancement of psychological well-being by applying constructive alternativism within a learning or educational context rather than the clinical setting.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013850:Thinking