Personal Construct Theory
George Kelly was born
in
Perth, Kansas, USA
on
April 28,1905 His early education was in one-room
schoolhouse and was tutored by his parents.
Engineer
Finished college with a degree in Physics and Mathematics
Social Problems
1929, exchange scholar at the University of
Edinburg, Scotland
Enrolled in University of Kansas’ MA program in educational Sociology and labor relations
1930, degree in education from the university
Work closely with Sir Godfrey Thomson
1930, studied Psychology in Iowa State University
Clinical Psychology and Traveling clinics
2 observations:
accept and usually improves
way of viewing of situation
World War II – joined navy as Psychologist
With Julian B. Rotter, they developed a clinical psychology program
Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical
Psychology at
Ohio State University
In his 19 years at Ohio State, his theory of personality was refined and tested
He died on March 6, 1967
o All human beings can develop their own theory which allow them to anticipate in future events accurately.
o It is like making decisions and choosing alternative actions.
o More valid information about the person could be discovered if the person unravel himself. So, he devised Role Construct Repertory Test or Rep Test
Personal Construct
An intellectual hypothesis that we devise and use to interpret, explain, give meaning or predict life events.
Constructive Alternatives
We are not controlled by our constructs but are free to revise or replace them with other alternatives.
“A person’s processes are psychologically channelized by the ways in which he anticipates in events”.
Circumspection phase - possible interpretations that can be labeled cognitive trial and error are tried
Preemption phase - no. of constructs that seems especially relevant to the situation are chosen
Control phase - the choice is made and a course of action is established.
1. Construction Corollary Because repeated events are similar, we can predict or anticipate how we will experience such an event in the future.
3. Organization Corollary
We arrange our constructs in patterns, according to our view of their similarities and differences.
2. Individual Corollary
People perceive events in different ways.
4. Dichotomy Corollary
Constructs are bipolar and consist of pairs of opposite. Ex. Good - bad
5. Choice CorollaryA person chooses for himself that alternative in a dichotomized construct through which he anticipates the greater possibility for extension and definition of his system.
1 SubjectTeacher 1Past Secure Choice
Teacher 2NewAdventurous choice
6. Range Corollary
A construct is convenient for the anticipation of a finite range of events only.
7. Experience Corollary
We continually test our constructs against life’s experiences to make sure they remain useful.
9. Fragmentation Corollary
A person may successively employ a variety of construction subsystems which are inferentially incompatible with each other.
8. Modulation Corollary
We may modify our constructs as a function of new experiences.
friend versus enemy.
Psychology MajorSame interest with his
A sorority memberOpposite on his views
11. Socially Corollary
We try to understand how other people think and predict what they will do, and we modify our behavior accordingly.
10. Commonality Corollary
A person may successively employ a variety of construction subsystems which are inferentially incompatible with each other
MotivationHumans are born
motivated and every person is motivated for no other reason than that he
or she is alive.
Anxiety recognition that the events
with which one is confronted lie outside the range of convenience of one’s
construct system. WHEN WE CANNOT COSTRUE AN EVENT,
WE EXPERIENCE ANXIETY.
HostilityContinued effort to extort
validation evidence in favor of a type of social prediction
which has already proven itself a failure.
Aggression The active elaboration of one’s
perceptual field.
GuiltPerception of one’s apparent dislodgement from his core
role structure.
ThreatAwareness of imminent
comprehensive change in one’s core structures
FearResults when a peripheral element of one’s construct
system is invalidated
The Unconscious Constructs with low cognitive
awareness could be considered as unconscious.
LearningThe constant alteration of
one’s construct system with the goal of increasing its predictive efficiency. Any
change in in one’s construct system.
Primary goal of life is to reduce uncertainty.
We do not seek reinforcement of avoidance of pain instead we seek validation of our construct system.
Cognitive –emphasizes mental
event
Humanistic – gives importance on
creative power and determining personality
ENDPrepared by:
Ana Angelica Aldemita
Theories of Personality
Top Related