The particular focus and direction of our research is motivated by our belief that a Telic (purpose oriented) approach provides a very powerful perspective upon human experience and behaviour; and that it can reveal aspects of a person's life situation and trajectory that other approaches cannot.
More specifically, we believe that:
- a systematic investigation of the structure and dynamics of Telic phenomena (for example, a person’s aspirations, attainments, problems and threats) is sufficient in itself to reveal central and salient aspects of that person’s situation and life trajectory, even if no external concepts or categories – that is, concepts or categories beyond the descriptive terms which constitute our conceptual framework, or those which we elicit from the person himself – are deployed in the course of the investigation.
- many individuals are likely to benefit, in terms of an enhanced coherence of thought and action, from gaining a reflexive awareness of the structure, content and evolution of their aspirations, attainments, problems and threats; that further benefits follow when they are also made aware of the interrelations between these Telic entities and their day-to-day activities and long-term life projects; and that the techniques and procedures that we have developed represent an effective means of attaining that awareness.
- the analysis of social situations, interactions, relationships and networks in terms of participants’ Telic structure and dynamics tends to reveal aspects of these situations, interactions, relationships and networks that other approaches typically fail to identify: for example, by showing how one person’s intended progression along their Telic trajectory – as defined in terms of the attainment of their Aspirations, and the solution of their Problems – has been obstructed, reversed or derailed by the intentional or unintentional actions of others; or by demonstrating how the presumption that others are out to obstruct or derail one’s trajectory can at times become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
