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