I am reminded of Kelly's writing regarding how we are limited by the
subject-predicate nature of our language. Anytime we state an observation",
e.g., "I (the subject) am an introvert ( the predicate)," to use Kelly's
example, it comes out sounding like dogma. What is actually meant, of
course, is "I percieve myself as an introvert."
In my work with adolescents, I've been continually confronted (frustrated!)
by the difficulty they have viewing alternative interpretations to their
"truths" (beliefs). My high school students and I have enjoyed reviewing
the classic work of the perceptual psychologists such as Ames, where our
interpretations are shown, in concrete terms, to be our attempt at making
sense out of a situation based on what we know or expect. We then work
towards the realization that we make similar arbitrary interpretations in
the social realm, often based on our expectations, and that there are often
altenative interpretations to the problems the student has been referred
for. Interestingly, I usually have less success getting their teachers to
come to the same realization!
Sy Balsen
School Psychologist
Ichabod Crane High School
Valatie, NY
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