TY - JOUR
T1 - Midpoint ratings on personal constructs
T2 - constriction or the middle way?
AU - Winter, David
AU - Bell, R.C.
AU - Watson, Scott
N1 - Original article can be found at: http://www.informaworld.com/ Copyright Taylor and Francis
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Midpoint ratings of elements on personal constructs have been given various interpretations, and the placement of the ideal self at the midpoint of a construct has been viewed as violating Kelly's (1955) dichotomy and choice corollaries. This article reports analyses, using a mixed models approach, of repertory grids completed by 80 clients referred to a clinical psychology service at up to five assessment points both pre- and posttherapy. A larger than expected number of ideal self ratings at the midpoint was found, and consideration of the content of several of the constructs concerned elucidated why it might have been that neither pole was preferred. Midpoint ratings of the ideal self increased over the course of therapy and were not associated with depression or anxiety. Midpoint ratings of the ideal self and self now were also related to various structural measures of construing. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
AB - Midpoint ratings of elements on personal constructs have been given various interpretations, and the placement of the ideal self at the midpoint of a construct has been viewed as violating Kelly's (1955) dichotomy and choice corollaries. This article reports analyses, using a mixed models approach, of repertory grids completed by 80 clients referred to a clinical psychology service at up to five assessment points both pre- and posttherapy. A larger than expected number of ideal self ratings at the midpoint was found, and consideration of the content of several of the constructs concerned elucidated why it might have been that neither pole was preferred. Midpoint ratings of the ideal self increased over the course of therapy and were not associated with depression or anxiety. Midpoint ratings of the ideal self and self now were also related to various structural measures of construing. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956027361&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10720537.2010.502428
DO - 10.1080/10720537.2010.502428
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77956027361
SN - 1072-0537
VL - 23
SP - 337
EP - 356
JO - Journal of Constructivist Psychology
JF - Journal of Constructivist Psychology
IS - 4
ER -