George Kelly The Cognitive Movement

History Formed theory from clinical experience Formed theory from clinical experience Clients in counseling centers Clients in counseling centers Able to discuss concerns rationally Able to discuss concerns rationally Express problems in intellectual terms Express problems in intellectual terms Depends heavily on cognitive information processing abilities Depends heavily on cognitive information processing abilities

Personal Construct Theory Each person creates a set of cognitive constructs about the environment Each person creates a set of cognitive constructs about the environment Interpret and organize events in a pattern Interpret and organize events in a pattern Use this to guide behavior and make predictions about others’ behavior Use this to guide behavior and make predictions about others’ behavior

Personal Construct Theory Construct: Construct: Unique way of looking at life Unique way of looking at life Intellectual hypothesis Intellectual hypothesis Dichotomous Dichotomous Constructive alternativism: Constructive alternativism: Free to revise/replace constructs Free to revise/replace constructs

Corrollaries Fundamental principle: Psychological processes are directed by the ways in which we anticipate life events Fundamental principle: Psychological processes are directed by the ways in which we anticipate life events 11 Corrolaries 11 Corrolaries

Corrolaries Construction Construction Individuality Individuality Organization Organization Dichotomy Dichotomy Choice Choice Range Range Range of convenience Range of convenience Experience Experience

Corrollaries Modulation Modulation Permeability Permeability Fragmentation Fragmentation Commonality Commonality Sociality Sociality

Assessment Interview Interview Self-characterization sketches Self-characterization sketches Used to assess personal construct system Used to assess personal construct system Role Construct Repertory Test Role Construct Repertory Test Used to assess constructs we apply to important people in our lives Used to assess constructs we apply to important people in our lives Fixed Role Therapy Fixed Role Therapy Act out constructs Act out constructs Abandon old for new, more effective constructs Abandon old for new, more effective constructs

Research REP test: REP test: Constructs remain stable over time Constructs remain stable over time Pattern becomes more complex across the lifespan Pattern becomes more complex across the lifespan We seek friends with constructs similar to our own We seek friends with constructs similar to our own Married couples with more similar constructs report greater happiness Married couples with more similar constructs report greater happiness

Outgrowth of Kelly’s Theory Cognitive Styles Cognitive Styles Differences in how we perceive elements of the environment Differences in how we perceive elements of the environment Styles: Styles: Cognitive complexity Cognitive complexity Better able to make predictions about others’ behavior Better able to make predictions about others’ behavior Increases with age Increases with age Cognitive simplicity Cognitive simplicity

Contributions of Kelly Unique theory Unique theory Gaining acceptance Gaining acceptance

Criticisms of Kelly Exclusion of emotional aspects Exclusion of emotional aspects Biased sample Biased sample

Spontaneity Survey Components of spontaneity: Components of spontaneity: Moreno (1953) characterized spontaneity in terms of the “variable degree of adequate response to a situation of variable degree of novelty” (p. 722). Moreno (1953) characterized spontaneity in terms of the “variable degree of adequate response to a situation of variable degree of novelty” (p. 722). One component of spontaneity is the absence of both rigidity and impulsiveness. Impulsive individuals, however, act too quickly, and their solutions are not appropriate to the situation. One component of spontaneity is the absence of both rigidity and impulsiveness. Impulsive individuals, however, act too quickly, and their solutions are not appropriate to the situation. Howell (1992) suggested that experts often operate at the level of unconscious competence - where one has practiced the skill for so long that one no longer need to think about using them effectively. Howell (1992) suggested that experts often operate at the level of unconscious competence - where one has practiced the skill for so long that one no longer need to think about using them effectively. Flow Flow

Spontaneity Survey Spontaneity defined: (a) it is novel and creative; (b) it is immediate; (c) it is adequate and appropriate; (d) it occurs easily and effortlessly; (e) the individual acts with total involvement; and (f) the individual is in control of his/her actions. Spontaneity defined: (a) it is novel and creative; (b) it is immediate; (c) it is adequate and appropriate; (d) it occurs easily and effortlessly; (e) the individual acts with total involvement; and (f) the individual is in control of his/her actions. Former research on the PAS II – R gives us some idea of where you fall on the concept of spontaneity. Former research on the PAS II – R gives us some idea of where you fall on the concept of spontaneity.

Results The PAS II-R has a mean score of and a standard deviation of (N=544). The PAS II-R has a mean score of and a standard deviation of (N=544). Mean score for males was and standard deviation 29.50; Mean score for males was and standard deviation 29.50; Mean score for females was and standard deviation Mean score for females was and standard deviation High scores on the PAS II-R indicate an aptitude for spontaneity, and a likeliness to be spontaneous often and in across a broad spectrum of situations. High scores on the PAS II-R indicate an aptitude for spontaneity, and a likeliness to be spontaneous often and in across a broad spectrum of situations. Low scores on the PAS II-R indicate a spontaneity limitation. The person with low spontaneity scores is unlikely to be spontaneous and may only be able to spontaneous under certain circumstances. Low scores on the PAS II-R indicate a spontaneity limitation. The person with low spontaneity scores is unlikely to be spontaneous and may only be able to spontaneous under certain circumstances. Mean score for Psy 257 = SD = Range of scores = 180 – 263. Mean score for Psy 257 = SD = Range of scores = 180 – 263.

Results