Structures of Personality along Piagetian Lines

Abstract

Patterns of self-knowledge can be defmed by extending Piaget's concept of structure. For example, Robin experiences both a certain ball game and making contact with a girl as: { lovely win/lose good feeling about being active } fine with this group satisfied with the game { lovely contact/rejection good feeling about seeking contact} fine that friends are here satisfied with the acquaintance The theory of self-knowledge describes the genesis of patterns of self-knowledge, first in the case of the child, then in the case of the adult in psychotherapy. An example of the latter is the case of Fred; a young man without any musical ability who expects to become a world-famous pop star in five years. Some connections with Piaget's genetic epistemology are sketched. Some advantages of the theory of self-knowledge for the psychology of personality and for psychotherapy are summed up, such as the direct link between diagnosis, inteIVention and assessment.