Self-characterization is a proceeding for self-entering one’s personal reality.
George Kelly (1955) proposes self-characterization as a technique for assessment of the
construct system that describes the individual personality.
With personal construct psychology, Kelly has searched for an alternative to the
determinist theory, specific to analysis and behaviourism, which characterized the
American psychology school before the 50s. He considered the human being an active
and proactive agent in his/her own life, capable to move towards change (so the person is
the prisoner neither of his environment, nor of his past). The individual figures out in a
personal manner the constructs through which he sees the world’s events; creates his/her
own ways of understanding the reality. The personal construct theory shows that the
individual has power over personal change.
One of the principles of the personal construct psychology is that understanding of a
person involves knowing his/her way of perceiving the world and manner of making
decisions. Kelly sustain that in assisting the individual change process, the counsellor
should, first of all, understand how the client built his/her own world, the concept behind
it.
The data collecting methods used by Kelly aim to help counsellor develop in the
beginning of the counselling process an accurate image about the most important
interpersonal relationships or dominant characteristics of the client’s world. Two of these
methods are repertory of constructs and written self-characterization. Neither of them
was considered a test, but a starting point for interpretation and guidance for undertaking
a personal assessment of the change.
Self-characterization provides important data that could be analysed by breaking down
the main themes. Self-characterization will comprise relevant information about the
client’s perception and world construction: the client describes himself/herself, the
relationships, and the life context.
The Internet Encyclopaedia of Personal Construct Psychology presents self-
characterization as a genuine qualitative method. Kelly aims to meet his first principle: „if
you do not know what is wrong with somebody, ask him and, maybe, he will tell you”
(Kelly, apud Ivey, 1980). The counsellor should not pay special attention to whether the
personal individual’s world vision is right or wrong, but he should focus on the way the
client sees himself and his relationships with others. The information analysis is not
focused on the percentage of positive/negative, pleasant / unpleasant statements, but on
the simple listening of „the nature which reveals itself” in order to obtain the
understanding of the other’s system of personal constructs.
Self-characterization is recommended in the beginning of the counselling exchange. This
method, combined with the unconditional acceptance, will support developing a trusting
relationship between the counsellor and the client and ensure its sound continuation.
Acceptance and respect are essential aspects in an atmosphere where the client feels safe
enough to make further steps in exploring and improving his/her lifestyle.