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PersonalConstruct

George KeChapter 15

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George Kelly

Born in Kansas, in 1905 Completed B.A. in physics a Received M.A. in educationa

sociology

Completed doctoral work Worked in wide variety of cli

settings as well as teaching

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The Person as Scientist

Personal constructs hypotheses that makethe world meaningful to us

Personal construct theory If constructs appear to fit our subsequent

experience, we find them useful and holdonto them.

If the construct does not lead to behaviorsthat help us adjust to events in the world,we will seek to alter or change theconstruct.

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Constructive Alternativism

Philosophical position suggested that any

one event is open to a number of possibleinterpretations

Objective truth of a persons interpretationsis unimportant because they areunknowable

During our lifetime, we develop manyconstructs, which we continually test,revise, and modify

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Kelly's Fundamental Postulate and Corollaries

Fundamental Postulate A persons processes are

psychologically channelizedby the ways in which heanticipates events

Corollaries Ex. Construction,

Individuality, Organization,Dichotomy, Choice, Range,Experience, Modulation

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The Reconstruction of Old Concepts

Self-construct Based on what we perceive as

consistencies in our own beha Role

Process or behavior that peoplengage in based on theirunderstanding of the behavior constructs of others

Development Based on ones choice of const

and is viewed in psychologicathan biological terms

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Assessment and Research in KellysTheory

Clinical experience and interviewsprovided basis for Kellys theory

Role Construct Repertory Tests (RepTest)

Person reveals constructs bycomparing and contrasting anumber of significant persons inhis or her life

Research focused on cognitivecomplexity

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RepertoryTest Grid

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Thinking Critically

Assessing Personal Constructs: The Rep Test The following activity will help you become acquainted

with the Rep Test and also tell you about some of yourown personal constructs.

Make up a list of representative persons in your life bychoosing the individuals who most suit each description

below. Using the form provided (Figure 15.1), write thename of the person in the grid space above the columnwith the number corresponding to the description.

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Thinking Critically (continued)

List of Representative Persons

1. Write your own name in the first blank.2. Write your mothers first name. If you grew up with astepmother, write her name instead.

3. Write your fathers first name. If you grew up with astepfather, write his name instead.

4. Write the name of your brother who is nearest your own

age. If you had no brother, write the name of a boy near yourage who was most like a brother to you during your earlyteens.

5. Write the name of your sister who is nearest your own age. Ifyou had no sister, write the name of a girl near your own agewho was most like a sister to you during your early teens.

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Thinking Critically (continued)From this point on do not repeat any names. If a person has already been

listed, simply make a second choice.

6. Your wife (or husband) or, if you are not married, your closest present girl(boy) friend.

7. Your closest girl (boy) friend immediately preceding the personmentioned above.

8. Your closest present friend of the same sex as yourself.

9. A person of the same sex as yourself whom you once thought was a close

friend but in whom you were badly disappointed later.10. The minister, priest, or rabbi with whom you would be most willing to

talk over your personal feelings about religion.

11. Your physician.

12. The present neighbor whom you know best.

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Thinking Critically (continued)13. A person with whom you have been associated who, for some unexplained

reason, appeared to dislike you.

14. A person whom you would most like to help or for whom you feel sorry.15. A person with whom you usually feel most uncomfortable.

16. A person whom you have recently met and would like to know better.

17. The teacher who influenced you most when you were in your teens.

18. The teacher whose point of view you found most objectionable.

19. An employer, supervisor, or officer under whom you served during a

period of great stress.20. The most successful person whom you know personally.

21. The happiest person whom you know personally.

22. The person known to you personally who appears to meet the highestethical standards.

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Psychotherapy

Psychological disorders arise when aperson clings to and continues to usepersonal constructs in spite of the fasubsequent experience fails to validathem

Therapeutic techniques as

reconstruction Role-playing Fixed-role therapy Group therapy

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Kellys Theory in Perspective

Encouraged us to think of the person as a scientist Discussion of the way we validate personal constructs

involved philosophical insights

Emphasized the rationality of human beings Personal construct theory was forerunner of modern

social cognitive models