Using personal construct theory to explore self‐image with adolescents with learning disabilities

Abstract

Accessible summary Sometimes it can be hard for young people to explain to their teachers and supporters how they see themselves and what is important to them. This research different questions and drawings to ask young people with learning disabilities how they described themselves. The young people in this study found the questions and drawings helped them to share ideas about themselves with other people. SummaryA young person’s construct of self can be fundamental to their psychological well being (Glick 1999; Emler 2001). However limited research has been conducted in the United Kingdom to explore self‐image with adolescents with learning disabilities. Previous studies have demonstrated the effective use of personal construct theory with children (Maxwell 2006) and adults with learning disabilities (Hare 1997) and this paper proposes that personal construct elicitation methods can be used to help adolescents with learning disabilities communicate and share their self‐constructs. Four personal construct elicitation methods were used successfully to support students to discuss constructs of self, suggesting that personal construct theory can be used to guide an exploration of self‐image with adolescents with learning disabilities. The students in this study construed their self‐image hierarchically using psychological constructs over nine different dimensions of self.