Developing Sociality in a Post-Conflict Northern Ireland: An Application of the Perceiver Element Grid

• Published in: Journal of constructivist psychology Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 953 - 977
• Main Authors: Barbour, Paul Jonathan, Bourne, Dorota Joanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Routledge 26-07-2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Conflict resolution; United Kingdom > UK; Northern Ireland
• ISSN: 1072-0537; 1521-0650
• DOI: 10.1080/10720537.2020.1808867

Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) offers a powerful framework for understanding the conflict and dispute between two parties. The bulk of the literature on PCP conflict resolution addresses issues in the context of families and small groups. In this paper, we present the analysis of sociality in the context of a long-standing conflict in Northern Ireland
1
. We used the Perceiver Element Grid (PEG) to map the construing of representatives from the two main communities in Northern Ireland
2
. Following 30 years of violent conflict and a subsequent 20-year peace process, these communities remain diametrically opposed to each other. In this paper, we explore the potential of the PEG as a means by which to assess sociality among parties to the Northern Ireland conflict. In addition, we discuss how the PEG could serve as a useful tool in conflict resolution, particularly when interviewees are asked to construe from the position of an imagined future. We draw conclusions relating to how developing sociality could be used to help improve inter-community relationships.