Chapter 11 George Kelly

What is personal construct theory?

Construct = Hypothesis how life works how people are what is going to happen, I guess - Intellectual hypothesis used to interpret life events,Bipolar nature

An example- I know you are a good person, so you will act like this

Constructive alternativism

Idea of freedom to revise or replace constructs with alternatives as required

We can change, revise or reconstruct

Might change to adapt

What is fundamental postulate?

A psychological process or directed by the way people anticipate events

Personality is based(Hypothesis) On what will happen, then, based on constructs,

personality is constantly shifting because you change contracts(Experiences you’ve had)

People use construct to predict the future

Corollaries of personal construct theory

These Aren’t construct their branches off of postulates

Construction corrollary

Events are similar we can predict or anticipate how we will experience such an event in the future

Example this class I’m doing Wednesday Friday you come to see and listen to Professor teach, Teaching is different but a lot of similarities

Individuality, corollary

People perceive events in different ways

What you might think is positive another might think it’s negative

An example college party might have fun some might not think it’s fun

Organization corollary

We arrange our construction pattern, supporting our review of their similarities And differences

Our constructs are related to one another

Example good people are intelligent, but intelligent constructs aren’t always good

Hierarchy patterns organized

Dichotomy corollary

Constructs are bipolar.

you have an opinion Honesty you must include the concept of dishonesty

Have to know the opposite

Choice Corollary

We choose the alternative for each construct that works best for us, the one that allows us to predict the outcome of anticipated events

High versus low risk things you choose different

Example you either have an easy class or hard class you pick which one you wanna do

Range corollary

Our constructs may apply to many situations or people they may be limited to a single person or situation

Example Good person can apply to anyone

Example - Construct of tall versus short applied to people buildings not pizza

Experience corollry

We continually test our constructs against life experiences to make sure they remain useful

Modulation corollary

We may modify our changer constructs as a function of new experiences

Based on those tests or experiences

What do corollaries work together?

Experience and modulation

Fragmentation corollary

Sometimes have contradictory or inconsistent, subordinate construct

Sometimes contradict ourselves may override

Example-In class sitting by stranger talk, become friends construct, is friends versus non-friends, You talk about politics there on opposite side of you really confused that they were opposite but still our friends have an exception

Commonality corrolary

Although our individual constructs are unique to us, people in other cultures, may hold similar construct

Some people will agree on

Sociality corollary

We try to understand how other people think and predict what they will do and we modify our behavior accordingly

Predict what other people will do

Example driving other car turns on turn signal you think they will turn and you react Accordingly

How did Kelly assess personality?

Interview

Self characterization sketch

Role construct repertory test

Fixed therapy

Interview assessment

Kelly believes that the client must be respected

People may lie and distort the reported version Of events

Cognitive process-Ask questions

Acknowledge some people could lie about, also helps in revealing their true personality

Self characterization sketch

Skit

Used to assess individuals construct system

Write a skit about yourself-Personality shines through

Role construct repertory test REP

Device to uncover construct applied to important people in one’s life

Try to find important construct someone has

Example; Honesty versus dishonesty

Repertory grid

Diagram and watch presents information from the rep test

Client judges, three people forms a construct

Choose 20 people in your life that fit in different categories, including yourself

Select three people at a time explain how two people are similar and how the other one is different

Multiple times to help reveal your most important construct

Lengthy test

Includes emergent pole, and implicit columns - Dichotomies, helping cover anticipation and expectations

Fix role therapy

Play a new role

Client act out, construct appropriate for fixtures person

Helps show clients how new constructs can be effective

Given a new rule to play with similar characteristics act out for short period of time opportunity to learn new construct

Example of a rep test

Pick three people at a time and evaluate

Example 2 people that are considered bad in your life. Don’t believe in God one person you consider good is very religious.

Religion must be an important construct to you

Research on Kelly’s theory

People who take Test multiple times show same important construct each time

Effects Emotional; Construct align with emotions

Example-Happy people tend to have happy versus unhappy contracts

Real world applications’ Sometimes use on job sites or in hiring process to see how well you will fit the job

Research on personal; People aim/try to predict future their hypothesis

Cognitive complexity

Figure out why others act the way they do look at their constructs

Put yourself in their shoes

Cognitive simplicity

Don’t think deeply about others construct

Opposite of complexity

Research on Kellys rep Test

Construct remain stable

Choose friends, with similar construct, typically choose friends who are alike

Chelsea construct were like we’re happier have the same viewpoint

Schizophrenic stable, constructs of objects not just a people

Delinquent identified with action, heroes similar to violence

Research on Kelly’s cognitive complexity

High scores tend to score, low, and anxiety have more than the traditional five factors of personality

Be good at the predicting other behavior

Have moderate to liberal political views

Have diverse experiences and childhood tend to live in more diverse neighborhoods

Attributional complexity, research

High school tend to

Attribute behaviors of others to complex causes, Favor more complex explanations for things in life, think through all possibilities

Have a greater empathy-More understanding to others and their situations

Example cut you off instead of thinking drivers is a jerky you think they’re having a bad day having an emergency

Being sensitive to settle signs of racism

Criticisms on Kelly

Excludes emotional aspects says it’s all logic

Viewpoint was based on Midwestern young adults, coping with college life, limited demographic, Excludes, other cultures, children, elderly

Contains unanswered questions, Never explains reasons why people perceive events differently

Popular in the US, Type of writing, very dense, writing hard to understand Kelly’s popular in Europe

Contributions on Kelly

Unique and radical theory, Opened up new way of looking at personality

Personal view, Uniqueness in constructs

Broad support in Europe, Canada and Australia