Chapter 11 - George Kelly's Personal Constructs Theory Flashcards
(36 cards)
What is Kelly’s central concept of constructive alternativism?
Predictions and interpretations of world determines behaviour
Different world views/theories have different ______________ and ___________.
Ranges of convenience; foci of convenience
What are ranges of convenience?
Boundaries of phenomena theory can cover
What are foci of convenience?
Points within boundaries where theory works best
What are personal constructs?
Characteristic ways of understanding how things differ (ex. funny/serious, safe/dangerous)
What is the person-as-scientist metaphor?
Personality functioning using logic to understand events
What are 5 characteristics of personal constructs?
Bi-polar
Predicting
Hierarchy
Range of convenience
Finite # constructs
What are the 2 poles of personal constructs?
Similarity pole: two elements construed to be similar
Contrast pole: two elements contrasted with third element
What are core vs peripheral constructs?
Core: basic to person’s functioning, changed with great consequences to rest of system
Peripheral: basics and can be altered without much consequences
What are superordinate vs subordinate constructs?
Superordinate: top of hierarchy
Subordinate: middle-level constructs
Constructs are defined (made more precise) by ___________. In this scenario, constructs do not change, but are ___________ by being applied to larger range of similar situations.
Applying to different situations; improved
Constructs are extended (made more encompassing) when they are applied to situations which they were ______________ before.
Not applicable
What is the construct system?
Consists of all individual’s constructs arranged in meaningful hierarchical order
To Kelly, this is the structure of personality
Construct systems start _______ and evolve with _________ in the world.
At birth; experience
Some constructs are readily available while others are not. These are known as…
Submerged constructs
What are permeable constructs?
Changeable
What are verbal vs preverbal constructs?
Verbal: can be expressed in words
Preverbal: used but unable to be expressed through words
Kelly’s theory is very ________ oriented, and people’s entire construct systems are channeled by the way they _______ events.
Future; predict
Emotions occur when there is an awareness that construct system is _______ or ________.
Validated; challenged
What happens during anxiety?
Range of convenience of construct exceeded
What happens during fear?
New construct about to enter system
What happens during threat?
Awareness that comprehensive change in construct system about to occur
What does straying from core constructs/roles result in?
Guilt
Some people’s construct systems more complex than others, leading to greater ________ in some domains and greater ________.
Expertise; self-complexity
