Re: laddering
Robin Hill (bsrah@TWP.AC.NZ)
Fri, 23 Apr 1999 11:43:26 +1200
Just adding support for the notions raised by Fay and Devi. In
situations where I have been laddering with "clients" (almost
exclusively infor vocational gudance exploration) I often find myself
construing their process in terms of "approach -- avoidance."
Frequently people know what they want to avoid, but are less
certain about articulating the alternative that they want to approach
(and thats why they've come to talk to me). Considering the
contrasting pole when a person is "stuck" may serve to move
them from considering what they want to avoid to what they wish to
approach (or vice versa as the case may be). I also find that
considering both poles contributes to understanding the nuance of
meaning in the actual words the client chooses to use.
Lastly, as alluded to by Devi, I have encountered clients who,
rather than get stuck at one point in the ladder, get stuck in a
cyclical loop. I've encountered this especially with teenagers.
Q?: "Why would you prefer this pole to that one?"
A: "Because it is fun."
Q?: "And why is that important to you?"
A: "Because it is interesting."
Q?: "And why is interesting important to you?
A: "Because it is fun?"
and so on.... very frustrating...
Dr. Robin Hill
____________________________________
Principal Lecturer & Research Leader
Department of Business Studies
The Waikato Polytechnic
Private Bag 3036
Hamilton 2020
New Zealand
email: BSRAH@twp.ac.nz
Fax. NZ (07) 834-8802
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