Kelly Flashcards
Considered as a metatheory or a theory about theories
Kelly’s theory of personal constructs
It holds that people anticipate events by the meanings or interpretations that they place on those events
Kelly’s theory of personal constructs
Assumes that alternative interpretations are always available to people
Constructive alternativism
Rejected the notion of phenomenology (only reality is what people perceive)
Philosophical position
People construe events according to their personal constructs rather than reality
Constructive alternativism
People look at their world through templates that they create and then attempt to fit over the realities of the world; shape a person’s behavior
personal constructs
Basic postulate
Assumes that human behavior is shaped by the way people anticipate the future
People see similarities among events and use a single concept to describe the common properties
Construction corollary
Construe the same event in different ways
Individuality corollary
Different people organize similar events in a manner that minimizes incompatibilities and inconsistencies
Organization corollary
Assumes that people construe events in an either/or manner, good or bad
Dichotomy corollary
People choose the actions that are most likely to extend their future range of choices
Choice corollary
States that constructs are limited to a particular range of convenience; that is, they are not relevant to all situations
Range corollary
Validate our existing constructs or restructure these events to match our experience
Experience corollary
Assumes that only permeable constructs lead to change; concrete constructs resist modification thru experience
Modulation corollary
People’s behavior can be inconsistent because their construct systems can readily admit incompatible elements
Fragmentation corollary
Suggests that out personal constructs tend to be similar to the construction systems of other people to the extent that we share experiences with them
Commonality corollary
People are able to communicate with other people because they can construe those people’s constructions
Sociality corollary
Refers to a pattern of behavior that stems from people’s understanding of the constructs of others with whom that person is engaged in a task
Role
Role that gives us a sense of identity
Core role
Role that is less central to our self-concept
peripheral role
Stubbornly cling to outdaed personal constructs, fearing validation of any new constructs that would upset their present comfortable view of the world
Abnormal development
Perception that one’s basic constructs may be drastically changed
threat
Specific and incidental restructuring in a person’s core structures
Fear
The recognition that one cannot adequately deal with a new situation
Anxiety
The sense of having lost one’s core role structure
Guilt
Goal of therapy
People should be free to choose the courses of action most consistent with their prediction of events
Help clients change outlook in life by acting out a predetermined role, first within the therapeutic setting and then environment beyond therapy
Fixed-role therapy
Purpose of this test is to discover ways in which clients construe significant people in their lives; client given a role title list and asked to designate people who fit the role titles by writing their names on a card
Rep test (role construct repertory test)
