Perceptions of Socially Disadvantaged Children: A Personal Construct Approach |
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| Authors: | Tazvin Ijaz Farah Malik Shirmeen Ijaz |
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| Institution: | 1. Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistantazvinijaz@gcu.edu.pk;3. Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan;4. Department of Psychology, University of Sargodha, Lahore, Pakistan |
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| Abstract: | The current study compares the perceptions of self, family, and the world of runaway, abandoned, and home-living children using a personal construct approach. The sample consisted of 28 institutionalized runaway children (22 boys and six girls), 40 abandoned children (20 boys and 20 girls), and 50 home-living children (25 boys and 25 girls). The research tools included a semistructured demographic interview, a sentence completion test, and repertory grid technique. Results indicated that runaway children perceived their fathers as more rejecting and unloving as compared to abandoned and home-living children. Friends were construed positively by runaway children as opposed to home-living and abandoned children. On the domain of self, it was found that all the three groups were confused and unsure of their self-concept. Results of the study indicate that runaway children experience a substantial degree of pull toward the external world or other people, and the family was found to be pushing the child into the world of the unknown. |
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