Many times, when we have a problem or are suffering for some reason, looking at things from another perspective can help us find a solution. This is what George Kelly thought when he created the fixed role technique , framed within the theory of personal constructs and based on a constructivist approach to reality.

Constructivism states that reality is not something unique and immovable, but that it is being constructed; there are as many realities as there are people in the world. Each person will create their own reality and give it their own personal meaning. The nuances are infinite.

In the following lines we will see the foundations of the constructivist psychology proposed by G. Kelly.

Kelly and the Beginning of Constructivism

George Kelly was an American psychologist who proposed the theory of personal constructs. According to this theory, people construct the world based on personal constructs , that is, on ways of giving meaning to experiences.

Thus, each person attributes to the experience a certain meaning, resulting from such constructions.

In order to know more and more about the world around us and to anticipate the consequences of what is happening around us, we will have to adjust and modify our system of constructions. This will change with time and the experiences we will acquire .

Origin of the fixed role technique

The fixed role technique, also called fixed role therapy, was proposed by Kelly in 1955, although he started using it earlier, in the 1930s.

This technique is considered as the most representative of the theory of personal constructs , and is a useful tool to achieve therapeutic change.

Using this technique, the therapist constructs specific fictitious personality roles for the patient , and the patient must perform these roles for approximately 2 weeks. Through this implementation of new roles, the patient experiences new constructs that will help him/her to achieve change.

It is important that the technique is acceptable to the patient so that therapist and patient can work together.

Phases of this therapeutic process

Let’s take a closer look at the phases that make up the technique.

First, self-characterization is developed (which is also an evaluation technique proposed by Kelly, in 1955). In this phase the therapist asks the patient to write a description of himself (usually a couple of pages in the third person); this is what Kelly calls “character sketch”.

The therapist then builds another description from this, called “fixed role search”. The patient must play the new role or character for a certain period of time (usually 2 weeks).

Thus, the patient will be faced with playing a role in addressing the challenges and problems of his life , but from a different perspective. The fictional personality (new role) will have a different name so that the patient can represent it without losing his identity or compromising it.

The technique also includes homework, which in this case will involve playing a fixed role in work or academic situations (outside of therapy).

In the final stage of the fixed role technique, patient and therapist make an assessment of the results , and the patient is the one who decides whether or not to maintain some of the characteristics represented.

In addition, in this last phase, a farewell letter is usually written to the character in the fixed role. This strategy allows to prepare the closure of the therapeutic intervention

Characteristics of the technique

Within the therapy sessions, the patient will have to put the new role into practice (in addition to homework).

On the other hand, one way for the therapist to model the new role in the patient and for the patient to be able to see a concrete situation from the perspective of another is to use role reversal , with which the roles of the therapist and the patient are reversed. Thus, the patient represents the role of the therapist and vice versa; this allows the patient to explore reality from another point of view. Attitudes of exploration and experimentation will facilitate change.

The aim of the fixed role technique is for the patient to rehearse in practice what it would be like to live without the problem they have (also called dilemma), with the assurance and peace of mind that they will not be asked to eliminate it. This way, if you feel the change is too threatening, you can return to your usual way of functioning.

Finally, the aim is for the patient to be able to reorganize his previous system of constructs, to modify his personal constructs and to develop new ones, this time more functional.

Bibliographic references:

  • Cloninger, S. (2002). Personality theories. Mexico: Pearson Educación
  • Senra, J., Feixas, G. and Fernandes, E. (2005). Manual de intervención en dilemas implicativos. Journal of Psychotherapy, 16(63/64), 179-201.