Ch. 7: Cognitive Aspects of Personality
(Kelly’s Theory of Personal Constructs)
constructive alternativism = the assumption
that all people are capable of changing or
replacing our present interpretation of events
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Every person as scientist
personal constructs = a mental
representation used to interpret events
Constructs are bipolar
emergent pole
(similarity pole)
implicit pole
(contrast pole)
Qualities of Constructs:
1. Role of Recurrences
2. Range of convenience
3. Permeability of a construct
4. Focus of convenience
5. Elaboration and change
1.
definition - ordinary use of a
construct.
2.
extension = using construct to
predict or construe an event for which it
hasn’t been used before.
Organization/Structure of Construct Systems
superordinate levels - higher level of
abstraction
subordinate levels - lower level of
abstraction
E.g. Food
meat
hamburger and sausage and ham
These are not permanently fixed:
1.
Superordinate construct can change
in what subordinate constructs it
includes
2.
Two constructs can switch places in
a heirarchy.
3.
Although organization of constructs
is fluid, at any one time, the organization
will place constraints on your construals.
For example, using a superordinate trait
will channel you toward subordinate
constructs that fall under it.
E.g. Person calls to see how you are
doing after surgery. If you see that
person as a “good” person, you will
interpret this behavior as thoughtful and
considerate. If you see that person as
“bad” or “manipulative” you will see
that gesture as insincere and an effort to
find out more about your suffering.
E.g. Person laughs at you when you fall
down. Your construals of yourself and
the other person will change how you
interpret their laughter.
In-class integration:
Compare Kelly’s theory of personality
with the learning theories and the trait
theories. Consider especially similarities
and differences in structure, process
(drives/motivation/change), and growth.
You will be asked to share at least one
point with the class.
Assessment
Kelly’s Role Construct Repertory Test
Several problems that he faced trying to
understand people’s constructs:
1. can’t engage in behavioral
observation because any given
behavior could stem from a number
of different constructs.
2. Can’t ask people about constructs
because
A. many are intuitive or
preverbal
B. may not be good at describing
what they mean even if they can
put into words
C. People are often too general in
their descriptions.
Rather than have people verbalize their
constructs, he had them actively engage in
construals.
Rep Test - uses a grid
across columns on top - significant people in
one’s life
across rows on sides - each set of construals to
be made
1. Role title list to develop columns of people:
20 to 30 roles that are universally important.
Person names someone from their life for
each role.
2. Consider groups of triads. Compare the
three people on particular constructs. Put
two people that are the same in the
simmliarity pole (emergent pole), put
different person on the constract pole
(implicit pole).
For each row, you think of an important
characteristic that makes two of those three
people similar to each other and different from
the third.
Two that are similar are marked in emergent
pole. Dissimilar person goes in implicit pole.
See overhead example. Provide handout of
brief rep test.
Two problems:
1. does word used to identify the construct
mean the same thing to each person?
2. May only report on constructs that are
easily verbalized even if those are not the
most important ones.
Normal Functioning:
Involves the successful anticipation and
interpretation of events.
Psychological Distress
Problems happen when we have difficulty
interpreting or predicting events.
1. May confront events that differ from
any you have experienced. Therefore
you do not have constructs that seem
relevant to the event.
2. You are trying to construe an event
with a construct that is not very
predictive.
Both of these will cause anxiety = feel
uncertain and helpless when we don’t have
adequate constructs.
E.g. job interview, going to college, crosscultural interactions, divorce, victims of crimes,
storms, fires, earthquakes, etc.
Fear - when a new construct is going to enter
your system
Threat - happens when we discover that are
construct system may be completely wrong.
May need extensive changes in our system.
More massive changes bring threat.
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May need to reorganize your construct system.
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can reduce the range of convenience
of a construct - make it more limited
or may need a broader range
or may need a re-organization
Primary symptom of problems is the
dissatisfaction that goes with poor prediction
of events.
Conditions favoring change:
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atmosphere of experimentation
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maintain idea of theory rather than
fixed entity
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provision of new elements - free
from old constructs
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validating data available
Fixed role therapy:
Induce person to change overt behavior.
This will force person to generate new
construals of the events.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A fictional person is created. This
person has some positive characteristics
of the client and has certain
characteristics that are deemed helpful
for the client but that the client does not
yet posses.
Client then acts as if he or she were
that person for a set period of time
Little risk since you are just acting
But does force person to make new
construals.
Aim is personality restructuring, not
minor adjustments.
E.g. Bob sees himself as shy, awkward, passive,
and interpersonally inadequate.
He is asked to take on role of someone who
is quiet but “deep” - a person that others find
interesting and valuable but who doesn’t always
show those characteristics openly because he is
interested in learning from others rather than
displaying his own knowledge.
Changes the construal of quietness from
negative to positive, rearrages his construal
system.