Kelly Flashcards
Postulate
Assumption/rule that must not be questioned
Corollary
Subset of postulate
Construing
Making an interpretation: consists of abstracting and making generalizations
Replications
Recurrent themes (similarities and contrasts)
Dichotomous constructs
System in which 2 elements are similar and contrast with a 3rd
Permeability
Flexibility
Constructs
Bipolar categories
Similar to a schema
Drives of personality development and human though
Human need to anticipate future events
Humans are driven towards preserving integrity (by adapting)
Humans are naive scientists
How do we anticipate future events and preserve integrity?
Construe replications (number and similarities)
Develop a system of constructs (hierarchy, superordinal vs subordinal)
Extension
Making a system more comprehensive: being vaguely aware of more things
Definition
Making a system more explicit and concise: being certain of fewer things
Role of client
Understand self better
enhance ability to anticipate events
Preserve integrity to beat navigate emotional and physical world
Role of therapist
Understand clients system of construct (permeability, similarity/contrasts) to beast understand and help them.
Help client remodel their system of construct in order to best preserve their integrity and ability to anticipate future events.
Construction corollary
We anticipate future events according to our interpretations of recurrent themes.
(Construing replication of events leads to anticipate events)
Individuality corollary
Individual differences lie in different systems of constructs
Organization corollary
We organize our personal constructs in a hierarchical system, with some constructs superordinal vs subordinal. This allows us to minimize incompatible constructs.
(Developing a construct that embraces ordinal relationship)
Dichotomy corollary
We construe events In an either/or manner
Composed of dichotomous constructs
Choice corollary
We choose the alternative in a dichotomies construct that we see as extending our range of future choices
(Choice that leads to the best prediction of events)
Range corollary
Constructs are limited to a range of convenience, not relevant to all situations
(Constructs only allow for anticipation of finite number of events)
Experience corollary
We continually revise our personal constructs as a result of experience
Modulation corollary
Variation in a persons construct system is limited by the permeability of their constructs
Fragmentation corollary
Behavior is sometimes inconsistent because the construct system can readily admit incompatible elements.
(New bets might not match old bets: Systems accommodate to new realities to make life consistent) **depends on permeability of superordinal construct!
Commonality corollary
Two people with similar construction of experiences (construct systems) will most likely have similar psychological the processes
Socialite corollary
If we can accurately predict how others will act through understanding their system of constructs, we can adjust ourselves to their behavior and vice versa
Psychopathology
When person’s system of construct fails to help them predict future events
Anxiety: system of construct fails to help account for an event experienced or understand an event they are experiencing
Hostility: person refuses to modify system to accommodate new data and instead tries to change data
Strengths
Considers context and environment in shaping persons thoughts/behaviors
Provides framework to understand the drives and guides of thoughts/behaviors
Limitations
Abstract concepts: hard to test:validate
Excludes individuals not capable of perspective taking/mental operations required to anticipate events
What about biology and genetics?
Influence on other theories
Cognitive: schema to predict events
Behavior: reinforcements and punishments to predict events
Existential: theme of self-consistency
