Lec 9 (George A. Kelly) Flashcards
(12 cards)
What was Kelly’s theory of personal constructs?
- People are thinking beings
- People see the world in different ways
- People test and change their ideas like scientists
- We shouldn’t treat ppl as if they’re machines reacting to the enviro. around them
- We are thinkers who use our minds to understand and interpret the world => personal constructs (worth studying)
=> how they construct it is real, despite the outcome being subjective - people use their own experiences (Data) to see if their way of thinking (constructs) work (e.g. will modify to achieve higher accuracy)
Constructive alternativism
The idea that there is no single, absolute way to understand reality, the universe, or events
People interpret the same situation in different ways => we can’t “see” the whole thing, no “best” construction or interpretation
Idea of constructive alternativism in psychological theories
The theories have different foci and ranges of convenience
=> these theories lose their usefulness when applied beyond their range of convenience
Examples:
Learning theory - environmental contingency, animal learning
Humanistic theory - self-experience
Psychoanalysis - neurosis psychodynamics
Five-factor model - taxonomy of basic traits
Fundamental problems in psychological theories
Explaining human processes as a result of _____
The problem of _____
- Energy - people act bc of things outside of them (like rewards punishments) or pulled by things inside them (drives)
Like how an object moves if smth pushes or pulls them
(Criticism by Kelly on Skinner) - The problem of animism
Giving non-living things, or simple things, human-like motives or feelings
Do people hv control then?
=> ignores the person as a thinker and decision-maker, instead acts like there’s a little “controller” inside us pushing buttons (the homunculus idea)
Kelly’s view (fundamental postulates)
- Analyze people as people, not some inert objects
- PPl interpret things differently. Phenomenal field (each person’s unique experience/of the world) is worth-studying
=> helps psychology be more human - Ppl can change how they act (see things differently and change your behavior)
- People’s construction are influenced by their past experiences, but predicting the future is the focus
More fundamental problems in psychological theories and Kelly’s view on them
_______ in theory Design
F____ vs D______
- Individuality in theory design
- Nomothetic (how ppl are similar, group patterns)
- Idiographic (individual differences, how ppl are unique)
Kelly: they aren’t truly contradictory, a good theory should explain both, bc people are individuals and members of groups - Freedom vs Determinism
F: ppl choose what they do
D: ppl’s actions are caused by external forces
Kelly: can exist together, depends how you construe-look at them. Believed they are not absolute, and depends on interpretation
Kelly’s approach using dichotomous constructs (opposite poles)
2 opposite ways to look at something
Interpret events or ppl by putting them in opposite poles
A construct (interpretation) can be revealed by construing the the similarity and contrast
=> You need to know what IT IS and what IT IS NOT
Helps u to decide how to act or what to expect
The Mildred Beal case study
She was asked to describe key people, and the results showed she used similar words (constructs) e.g. hypercritical, hypersensitive, easygoing
And often compared people in pairs, e.g. her mother and sister as “hypercritical”
What was Kelly’s analysis?
Because she used the same words over and over, this suggests she had a simple and repetitive way of thinking about people
Using her constructs, he suggested that her core issue was stuck between always striving (trying hard) and wanting to just relax
She saw male and female figures in similar ways
Saw “friendly” and “hypercritical” as opposites
Her counselor:
- she talked a lot and tried to entertain, but didn’t use many different words
- wasn’t flexible in dealing with others
- she resisted suggestions => see as hypercritical, even if she didn’t say so directly
Simple vs Complex construct system
Simple: few and basic categories for everyone
=> don’t notice much difference between people
=> stereotype or oversimplify
Complex: many different constructs to understand people
=> see people in more realistic ways, even if some traits seem to contradict each other
=> handle complexity and change your view if you get new information
James Bieri’s hypothesis (1955)
- people who use more complex construct systems are better at predicting and understanding others
High-complex people (more open minded):
- try to use all the info, even if it doesn’t fit their first impression
- can see that people are complicated => related to the openness trait
- are better at understanding others’ points of view
Low-complex people:
- ignore or reject info that doesn’t fit their first impression
- stick to their original view of someone
Person-as-a scientist approach
Kelly believed that people are like scientists - we use our own constructs to make sense of the world
When the construct system doesn’t work, we might feel fear and threat
=> so we should expand our system by updating our ideas to fit the NEW experiences, don’t rationalize
How is Kelly’s theory used in therapy?
Our constructs shape how we act and what happens to us
Fixed-role therapy:
- the therapist asks you to “try out” a new way of being (new role) for a short-time (e.g. 2 weeks)
=> new experience should help you see yourself differently, change the way you think about things
=> create new ways of thinking, become better at predicting and handling life
Role of therapist:
- help you shift your ways of thinking
- challenge your “own” protective habits
- situations to encourage new experiences
Repertory test:
- see how simple or limited your ways of thinking might be
=> encourage you to think in more flexible ways
