Kelly: Psychology of Personal Constructs

Question 1

A theory about theories

Answer 1

Metatheory

Question 2

The meanings or interpretations that people place on anticipated events; people look at their world through templates that they create and then attempt to fit over the realities of the world; primarily shapes behavior

Answer 2

Personal Constructs

Question 3

An assumption that all our interpretations of

the world are subject to revision or replacement; alternative interpretations are always available to people

Answer 3

Constructive

alternativism

Question 4

Assumes that human behavior is shaped by the way people anticipate the future

Answer 4

Basic postulate

Question 5

Although no two events are exactly alike, we construe similar events as if they were the same

Answer 5

Construction

corollary

Question 6

Because people have different experiences, they can construe the same event in different ways

Answer 6

Individuality corollary

Question 7

People organize their personal constructs in a hierarchical system, with some constructs in a superordinate position and others subordinate to them

Answer 7

Organization corollary

Question 8

People construe events in an either/or manner, e.g., good or bad

Answer 8

Dichotomy corollary

Question 9

People tend to choose the alternative in a dichotomized construct that they see as extending the range of their future choices

Answer 9

Choice corollary

Question 10

Constructs are limited to a particular range of convenience; that is, they are not relevant to all situations

Answer 10

Range corollary

Question 11

People continually revise their personal constructs as the result of their experiences

Answer 11

Experience corollary

Question 12

Only permeable constructs lead to change; concrete constructs resist modification through experience

Answer 12

Modulation corollary

Question 13

People’s behavior can be inconsistent because their construct systems can readily admit incompatible elements

Answer 13

Fragmentation corollary

Question 14

Our personal constructs tend to be similar to the construction systems of other people to the extent that we share experiences with them

Answer 14

Commonality corollary

Question 15

People are able to communicate with other people because they can construe those people’s constructions

Answer 15

Sociality corollary

Question 16

A pattern of behavior that stems from people’s understanding of the constructs of others

Answer 16

Role

Question 17

This role gives us a sense of identity

Answer 17

Core role

Question 18

These roles are less central to our self−concept

Answer 18

Peripheral roles

Question 19

Analogous to competent scientists who test reasonable hypotheses, objectively view the results, and willingly change their theories when the data warrant it

Answer 19

Normal people

Question 20

Like incompetent scientists who test unreasonable hypotheses, reject or distort legitimate results, and refuse to amend outdated theories

Answer 20

Unhealthy people

Question 21

The perception that one’s basic constructs may be drastically changed

Answer 21

Threat

Question 22

Requires an incidental rather than a comprehensive restructuring of one’s construct system

Answer 22

Fear

Question 23

The recognition that one cannot adequately deal with a new situation

Answer 23

Anxiety

Question 24

The sense of having lost one’s core role structure

Answer 24

Guilt

Question 25

Clients act out a predetermined role for several weeks; by playing the part of a psychologically healthy person, clients may discover previously hidden aspects of themselves

Answer 25

Fixed−role therapy

Question 26

A measuring instrument used to discover ways in which clients construe significant people in their lives; clients place names of people they know on a repertory grid in order to identify both similarities and differences among these people

Answer 26

The Rep Test or The Role Construct Repertory Test