10: Kelly - The Covariation Model Flashcards
Kelly’s philosophy that, while there is only one true reality, reality is always experienced from a unique, alternative perspective (construction)
constructive alternativism
Kelly’s idea that “ordinary people” are not unlike scientists - they have constructions of reality, expectations (like hypotheses), a desire to test expectations (like experiments), and an ability to adjust their understanding of reality based on results
fruitful metaphor
Kelly’s claim that “a person’s processes are all psychologically channelized by the ways in which he anticipates events”
fundamental postulate
1st corollary of Kelly’s theory - “a person anticipates events by construing their replications” - we construct our anticipations using our past experiences, we expect patterns/consistencies in our experiences
construction corollary
2nd corollary of Kelly’s theory - “a person’s construction system varies as he successively construes the replication of events” - reconstructing (altering) our anticipations when things don’t occur the way they have previously
experience corollary
3rd corollary of Kelly’s theory - “a person’s construction system is composed of a finite number of dichotomous constructs”
dichotomy corollary
useful concepts, fictions, templates that we use to store our experiences and guide our perceptions/behaviors
constructs
another term for constructs that emphasizes how they are unique to us, ours alone
personal constructs
another term for constructs that emphasizes their dichotomous nature - they have two opposite ends or extremes (poles) - short/tall, thin/fat, etc.
bipolar constructs
Kelly’s term for a pole of a construct that one has convinced themselves doesn’t truly exist or has no meaning - process similar to repression
submerged
constructs pertaining to the wider world, others, and the self
peripheral constructs
constructs that are most significant to an individual - “define” them
core constructs
4th corollary of Kelly’s theory - “each person characteristically evolves, for his convenience in anticipating events, a construction system embracing ordinal relationships between constructs” - we relate constructs to each other to organize and process information
organization corollary
a construct that is “under” another construct, relates to it but is more specific (living things -> plants -> trees) - taxonomy or constellation
subordinate construct
a construct that includes many other subordinate constructs, is “above” them (ex. “animals”)
superordinate construct
definitional kind of subordination - stacks of constructs with all of their poles aligned, poles all correlate to each other (basis for stereotypes - good, clean, smart, moral vs. bad, dirty, dumb, immoral)
constellation
a close relationship between two constructs - one is consistently used to predict the other (can be good and realistic, like in scientific research, or overly rigid and problematic, like in prejudice or OCD)
tight construction
a fairly weak relationship between two constructs - connection is flexible, not absolute or quite necessary (helps to avoid prejudice, but can make someone flaky, unreliable, impulsive if taken too far or used inappropriately)
loose construction
loosening our constructions (fantasizing and brainstorming alternative constructions), finding a novel construct with potential, then tightening it to achieve a result (arts, therapy, problem solving)
creativity cycle
5th corollary of Kelly’s theory - “a construct is convenient for the anticipation of a finite range of events only” - no construct is useful in every situation
range corollary
the range for which applying a construct is useful or necessary
range of convenience
a construct that can be applied broadly to almost anything (ex. good vs. bad)
comprehensive
a construct that is applied narrowly and is useful in few situations (ex. fluorescent vs. incandescent, only relevant to light bulbs)
incidental
6th corollary of Kelly’s theory - “the variation in a person’s construction system is limited by the permeability of the constructs within whose range of convenience the variants lie”
modulation corollary
term for constructs that are open to increased range, can be newly applied to novel ideas and situations
permeable
term for constructs that are likely not to have any variation or increased range moving forward
concrete (impermeable)
broadening the range of your constructs significantly in response to new information/experiences (ex. encountering a ghost after firmly believing they weren’t real)
dilation
narrowing the range of your constructs significantly in response to new information/experiences (ex. going to war and losing your belief that humans are moral creatures)
constriction
7th corollary of Kelly’s theory - “a person chooses for himself that alternative in a dichotomized construct through which he anticipates the greater possibility for extension and definition of his system” - we choose to do what will most likely improve our ability to anticipate
choice corollary
the choice that will improve our understanding by forcing us to directly confront uncertain things (ex. going to parties to understand socializing)
adventurous choice
the choice that will improve our understanding by allowing us to safely ponder uncertain things (ex. staying more independent to understand self)
security choice
8th corollary of Kelly’s theory - “persons differ from each other in their construction of events” - everyone’s constructs are different
individuality corollary
9th corollary of Kelly’s theory - “to the extent that one person employs a construction of experience which is similar to that employed by another, his psychological processes are similar to the other person” - we desire validation
commonality corollary
10th corollary of Kelly’s theory - “a person may successively employ a variety of construction subsystems which are inferentially incompatible with each other” - we can be inconsistent within ourselves, we are a “community of selves”
fragmentation corollary
11th corollary of Kelly’s theory - “to the extent that one person construes the construction processes of another, he may play a role in a social process involving the other person” - even if dissimilar to someone else, you can still relate to them
sociality corollary
Kelly’s term for “emotions” - refers to the experiences we have when we move from one way of looking at the world to another
constructs of transition
in Kelly’s theory, a state when you are “caught with your constructs down” - discomfort when you become suddenly aware that your constructs aren’t functioning well
anxiety
in Kelly’s theory, a state of anxiety that involves anticipation of great changes coming to your core constructs (the most important ones)
threat
in Kelly’s theory, an emotional state caused by doing things which are not in keeping with your core constructs (your ideas of who you are and how you should behave)
guilt
in Kelly’s theory, attempting to force reality to match up with your constructs (violence, assertiveness, activism)
aggression
in Kelly’s theory, insisting that your constructs are valid, even if there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary (ex. an elderly boxer who still believes he can fight)
hostility
in Kelly’s theory, “any personal construction which is used repeatedly in spite of consistent invalidation” - neuroticism, addiction, violence, greed, etc.
psychological disorder
correcting someone’s poor/ineffective construction of their experiences through Kellian therapy
reconstruction
the changing of one’s constructs that is essential for progress in reconstruction
movement
AKA enactment - having individuals play the part of other individuals to become more aware of their own constructions, understand new perspectives
role-playing
a homework technique for Kellian therapy - a client develops a character sketch, then the therapist develops a fixed-role sketch with constructs that are independent of the client’s but used similarly, which the client must role-play for 1-2 weeks
fixed-role therapy
AKA character sketch - a multi-page description that a client writes of themselves in the third-person, used in Kellian therapy
self-characterization sketch
AKA fixed-role sketch - a multi-page description of an imaginary person written by a therapist, based on a client’s character sketch but explores constructs which are independent of the client’s but used similarly (“at right angles”)
enactment sketch
AKA rep grid - Kelly’s diagnostic, self-discovery, and research tool that involves naming elements and constructs
role construct repertory test
a set of 10-20 people a client names on their rep grid in response to questions
elements
one end of a construct defined in a rep grid - what makes people alike
similarity pole
one end of a construct defined in a rep grid - what makes others differ from people on the similarity pole
contrast pole
constructs based in infancy that are tied to survival and global in nature
dependency constructs
cycle that explains how a person will typically act when they commit to making a decision - circumspection, preemption, control
CPC cycle
first part of CPC cycle - considering several constructs which may fit the situation
circumspection
an individual misses opportunities because they take too long to evaluate their options - occurs during circumspection
information constipation
second part of CPC cycle - selecting a particular construct to fit the situation
preemption
third part of CPC cycle - acting on the chosen construct, then either validating or invalidating our choice in a structured way
control
unverbalized or unconscious anticipations - can be a cause for emotional disorders
preverbal constructs
selecting, from two options, the one which extends your constructs
elaborative choice
selecting, from two options, the “safer” one which is easier to handle emotionally - can be used to protect a person from change if change feels threatening
sedimentation
moving between the likeness pole and the contrast pole under periods of stress
slot movement
a construct that includes only its own elements - these elements cannot be applied to other constructs
preemptive construct
a construct that allows its elements to belong to other constructs concurrently - once identified in a particular way, these elements are fixed
constellatory construct
a construct that leaves all of its elements open to modification
propositional construct
in Kelly’s theory, an emotional state caused by a new “dominant” construct entering your system, causing damage
fear
process in Kellian therapy in which clients are encouraged to clarify and think through their problems in consultation with a therapist, in an effort to revise and discard ineffective constructs / formulate new, healthier ones
controlled elaboration
