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Personal construct theory and the emotions: An interpretation in terms of primitive constructs
Abstract
The Psychology of Personal Constructs (Kelly) is examined and found to suffer from an ‘Origin Problem’. In order to solve the Origin Problem, a new postulate, the ‘Origin Postulate’, is proposed and incorporated into the theory's assumptive structure. The Origin Postulate leads to a consistent account of the initial formation and elaboration of systems of personal constructs. It suggests that as a consequence of our biological evolution we begin life, not with a construct-free ‘tabula rasa’, but already in possession of a set of ‘primitive constructs' or constructional predispositions which serve as the starting-points for the elaboration of our personal constructs. It is then shown how the dimensions of the Semantic Differential, the process of imprinting, and even the Jungian archetypes can be understood in terms of the Origin Postulate and its primitive constructs. Another weakness in Kelly's theory is then pinpointed and, with some aid from the Origin Postulate, it yields to the ‘Emotion Corollary’. A general ‘interpretation’ of emotional phenomena results which incorporates and extends those conceptions originally put forth by Kelly (and later elaborated by McCoy). Emotions are hypothesized to be what occurs when a certain kind of primitive construct is employed in the appraisal of an event. In conclusion, some evidence in support of the proposed interpretation is adduced.
... Let us examine them in detail. Katz (1984) made an ambitious attempt at solving supposed problems with the internal logic of PCT and with its incapacity to provide an understanding of emotion. His first question concerned the origin of constructs, starting from Kelly's assumption that constructs are formed through the modification and extension of previously available constructs. ...
... After dealing with the origin problem, Katz (1984) turned to the "emotion problem" in PCT. In fact, "although Kelly defined emotions as diagnostic of certain transitional states of construction . . . he presented no single, explicit hypothesis as to the general nature of emotion by which one could distinguish that which is emotion from that which is not" (p. ...
... Emotion Corollary: To the extent a person perceives an event in terms of a primitive construct and, as a necessary consequence, reacts with a psychophysiological anticipation that is involuntary, transient, and phylogenetically predisposed, he experiences an emotion. (Katz, 1984, p. 321) Katz (1984) explained that the use of the term "anticipation" rather than "response" is aimed at emphasizing the essentially expectant nature of the reaction [sic], as well trying to be consistent with the language of PCT. ...
George Kelly's personal construct theory (PCT) has been accused of disregarding the role of emotion in human life. This charge originates from a misunderstanding of PCT's basic assumptions. Kelly deals with experiences commonly called “emotional” in terms of dimensions of transition according to a genuinely constructivist epistemology. A review of the literature shows few elaborations of Kelly's original formulation of constructs relating to transitions, and even some contributions critical of Kelly's approach to emotions. This article rebuts the criticisms while making clear the epistemological and theoretical bases of Kelly's treatment of transitional experiences, its peculiarities, and its role in the diagnostic/therapeutic process.
... Glaubt man Katz (1984), so handelt es sich bei der Theorie der persönlichen Konstrukte nach Kelly (1955) um eine Theorie über die Repräsentation individuellen Wissens in Form von Konstrukten. Castorina und Mancini (1992) verwenden aufgrund der aus ihrer Sicht großen Bedeutung dieses Zusammenhangs für die Bezeichnung entgegen des sonst üblichen Sprachgebrauchs den Begriff ‚Wissenssystem' anstatt ‚Konstruktsystem'. ...
... Castorina und Mancini (1992) verwenden aufgrund der aus ihrer Sicht großen Bedeutung dieses Zusammenhangs für die Bezeichnung entgegen des sonst üblichen Sprachgebrauchs den Begriff ‚Wissenssystem' anstatt ‚Konstruktsystem'. Aber die differenzierte Auseinandersetzung mit diesen Konstrukten liefert darüber hinaus interessante Einblicke in die Persönlichkeit des konstruierenden Menschen (Katz, 1984 (Warren, 2001). Aber auch Adams-Webber (1990) äußert Kritik an der durch ursprünglich vorgenommenen harten Abgrenzung von kognitiver Psychologie zu Kelly's Ansätzen. ...
Neben den hohen fachlichen Ansprüchen an die Expertise der Sportpsychologen stellt das Qualitätsmanagement in den letzten Jahren eine der wichtigsten Heraus-forderung der angewandten Sportpsychologie dar (Kleinert & Brand 2011).
Als Beitrag zu den Bestrebungen, dieses Qualitätsmanagement zu optimieren (vgl. z.B. Eberspächer, Immenroth & Mayer, 2002; Eberspächer, Mayer, Hermann & Kuhn, 2005; Kuhn, Hermann & Mayer, 2011), ist es das zentrale Anliegen dieser Arbeit, als Teil einer Tätigkeitsfeldanalyse die Sichtweise der Bundestrainer auf die sportpsychologische Betreuung in den deutschen Spitzenkadern zu erfassen. Ziel der primär explorativen Aufgabenstellung ist es, unter Berücksichtigung dienstleis-tungs- und leistungssportrelevanter Überlegungen Qualitätskriterien aufzudecken, die aus Sicht der Auftraggeber eine dafür wesentliche Rolle spielen.
Die Operationalisierung der Fragestellung erfolgt mit Hilfe der Repertory Grid
Technik. Die konstruktivistischen Grundlagen dieser Technik und die damit verbun-denen methodischen Besonderheiten werden vorgestellt und diskutiert.
Die vorgenommenen quantitativen Analysen ergeben eine insgesamt hohe Zufrie-denheit der deutschen Bundestrainer mit der Arbeit der Sportpsychologen. Weiterhin finden sich mit Hilfe von Clusteranalysen und qualitativen Analysen Verbesserungspotenziale auf Basis der Qualitätswahrnehmung der befragten Trainer. Diese lassen sich in die Schwerpunkte Prozessqualität / Aufgabenqualität bzw. Aufgabeninhalt / Rollenverständnis unterteilen. Parallelen zu Qualitätskriterien in typischen Dienstleistungsbranchen werden ersichtlich und durch Sportpsychologie-spezifische Kriterien ergänzt. Weitere, insbesondere auf bestimmte Sportarten bezogene, Erkenntnisse werden differenziert dargestellt.
Die abschließende Diskussion berücksichtigt insbesondere die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Repertory Grid Technik sowie die möglichen Konsequenzen der gefundenen Ergebnisse für die Qualität der angewandten Sportpsychologie.
... From a PCT perspective, these social deviances may be understood as attempts to cope with feeling anxious (Myles & Simpson, 1998;Stanghellini, 2001). According to PCT, anxiety may be experienced when an individual is attempting to make sense of a situation that seems alien and uninterpretable within his or her current construct system (such situations are referred to as "beyond the range of convenience" of the construct system; Katz, 1984;Kelly, 1955;McCoy, 1977;McWilliams, 1979). In an extension of Kelly's original work, McCoy (1977) proposed several emotion-focused PCT concepts, including the anxiety hypothesis. ...
... With this interpretation, experiencing anxiety in "unknown" situations is evolutionarily functional, as these situations may be dangerous (Katz, 1984). Although the potential for danger in most social situations is generally minimal, it is an individual's interpretation of the situation that is of importance in PCT. ...
Background Personal construct theory (PCT) is a constructivist approach to understanding human thought and action. Preliminary research focusing on applying PCT concepts and methodologies to understanding individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA) has suggested its utility for both research and clinical interventions. The developmental period of adolescence has also been outlined according to PCT. However, PCT has not been applied to the more specific subgroup of adolescents with HFA, despite various theoretical tenets suggesting its utility.Conclusions In addressing this research gap, we considered the following adolescent developmental tasks with particular reference to adolescents with HFA: (a) functioning within the increasingly complex world of adulthood, (b) identity development, and (c) development of higher order processing styles (including abstract thinking and flexible processing). These issues were described using PCT concepts. Finally, we considered ways to support individuals and families living with adolescents with HFA.
... The Repertory Grid was developed by psychologist George Kelly, and is based on his Theory of Personal Constructs. This theory emerged from his work counselling US university students in the 1930s and was first published in 1955 (Katz 1984). The theory of personal constructs is an attempt to understand and interpret what triggers emotions. ...
... Even where constructs are similar, the different individuals who have those similar constructs may have arrived at them through different experiences. Aggregation of repertory grid data may distort that (Katz, 1984). Grouping constructs from different individuals into categories may introduce researcher bias at the aggregation stage, although this could be minimised by using multiple researchers on the task of clustering constructs. ...
This paper examines a variety of examples of repertory grid research to assess how and why the technique is used. In particular, the authors focus on the strengths and weaknesses of using the repertory grid to explore the nature of close business-to-business relationships. Compared with the more frequently used technique of qualitative depth interviews, differences were found which suggest that further research is needed to identify what really drives supplier-buyer interdependence. The research indicates the value of the repertory grid in exploring topics that are not well defined and to identify the way that business decision-makers are making sense of their work environment.
... Theoretical extensions to the theory have also been suggested. Katz (1984) and Fisher (1990) have proposed and elaborated on a new emotion corollary, embracing the notion that the experience of an emotion involves the activation of a phylogenetically rooted primitive construct. It should also be recognised that some recently developed theories have a close affinity to PCT. ...
... It is also consistent with the notion of affect as primary in ontogeny and phylogeny (e.g. Izard, 1991) and with Katz (1984) and Fisher's (1990) proposal of emotions as phylogenetically rooted primitive constructs. Furthermore, in addition to the general notion of construals as affectively organised, the basic affective factors frequently found in personality research were also identified in the construals of car driving. ...
The purpose of the study was to examine the relation between mental construals of risk-related behaviour and self-reported behaviour performance (i.e. car-speeding). The study is integrative, theoretically building upon Personal Construct Theory and conceptual frameworks developed in emotion research. Construals of speeding and non-speeding were measured by 15 semantic differential scales, comprising both cognitive aspects (e.g. control and risk perception) and emotional aspects (e.g. fear, happiness) (N = 1075). Construals were found to be organised within a two-dimensional structure, interpreted as basically affective. Reported speeding behaviour was related to both dimensions of construal, and construals of both the risk behaviour and the alternative behaviour had independent effects upon behaviour (Multiple R = 0.65, P < 0.001). Interpretation of the results focuses on the underlying affective qualities of the construals as motivators in the process of risk behaviour generation. A Model of Affectively Construed Action (MACA), comprising the notion of emotional cybernetics, is proposed as a framework for understanding risk behaviour.
... The theory is based on fundamental assumption or postulate and has eleven different corollaries. The basic assumption is that an individual's psychological functions are guided in the manner we predict situations [54]. The corollaries identified are construction, individuality, organization, dichotomy, choice, range, experience, modulation, fragmentation, commonality, and sociality. ...
The concept of personality has been explored from a wide range of conceptual viewpoints. This research tries to bring the varied concepts of personality under one roof. The current research explains the concept of different personality theories along with the limitations of those theories, starting with psychoanalytical approach and concluding at cognitive approach. Various implications of these theories, and personality, in general have been discussed. Scope for future research is also mentioned in concluding remarks.
... Third, in neo-archetypal theory, archetypes are mental constructions that, when triggered, tend to elicit powerful emotional responses in those who are exposed to them. The archetype concept is predicated on a person's previous emotional encounters and interactions with similar characters or ideas (C. S. Hall & Lindzey, 1978;Jung, 1961Jung, -1963Jung, /1983Katz, 1984;Stewart, 1987). The emotional component of mental models can endure across experiences (Scherer, 1992) and even can extend to unfamiliar situations. ...
Modern mass media typically employ archetypes—prototypical characters—in their narratives. This research proposes that people’s affective reactions to and preferences for these characters in rich cultural media—their “resonance” to archetypes—may be an indicator of their own personality and life themes. In the first of two studies, a Rich Culture Archetype Scale (RCAS) was constructed based on media examples from popular music, movies, and classic art representing certain archetypes. In the second study, the RCAS was compared with other scales of personality and of archetypes. Results indicated that there exist five clusters of archetypes to which people resonate, and that people’s resonance predicts their personal life themes and media preferences.
Inquiring into human sexuality is difficult. Aside from investigations into the physiology of sex, some of the difficulty is due to work that requires venturing into personal—if not extremely intimate and, possibly, sensitive—areas; and this is the case whether the investigator is a clinician, researcher, or a theorist. Another obstacle to progress in sexuality research is related to the many diverse fields in which investigators receive their training. Each of the many fields spanning the humanities, social sciences, medical sciences, and natural sciences has a unique take on training in technique, methodology, and theory. In particular, terminologies, and understandings of common language, can be unique, and can impact conceptual clarity. Clarity, or at least consistency, is certainly lacking even concerning a common terminology, as Kauth (2005) and others have noted. The lack of clarity is a problem that might prove intractable for a number of reasons beyond the diverse backgrounds of professionals interested in sex, but it is not alone there. Other issues in sexology that remain very difficult, if not impossible, to overcome include institutional, community, sexual, and personal politics that seem to cloud every discussion. Bringing everyone who works on sexuality together under any banner is a daunting, if not impossible, project.
There is a substantial literature on PCP based applications in business and management. Contributions to the research methodology and methods and management and organizational learning and change fields in particular are strong. There is a significant presence also in the areas of human resource management, organization studies, and information systems. It is proposed that Kelly's (1962) observation that PCP is useful for those 'seeking access to an alien dimension of life' (p.89) provides renewed impetus for the use of PCP by business and management researchers and practitioners. PCP's powerful frameworks are sufficiently robust to challenge long-established orthodoxies and in particular, ideas of 'otherness'. Such areas include equality, diversity and social justice, leadership, and international business and management, especially relationships between the global north and the global south.
This is a methodological paper demonstrating the process of applying academic research in the audit of a strategic account management pilot in a global company in the marine design, systems and services sector. A review of the academic literature on best practice in strategic account management, included in this paper, was used as the basis for an in-company multi-method research project to review the pilot and identify enhancements to the programme for the next stage of its roll-out. The way that the company built on the literature to verify the best practice framework identified is discussed. The framework identified here, and the primary research methods to determine perceptions of the pilot, proved to be a useful approach to auditing a strategic account management programme. These findings are based on a single company case study. This paper contributes a case study of the process of auditing a strategic account management pilot. This contributes a case of using theory in practice to the important body of literature on strategic account management in the particularly interesting context of an industry sector badly hit by the 2008-2010 recession.
Among constructivist metatheoretical approaches, a strong version is defined as that which reveals reality to be actively and subjectively constructed rather than passively incorporated as objective environmental or innate “facts” by the subject. Given this definition, however, ambiguities arise concerning the potential and limits of construct integration over the course of development. Piaget's stronger constructivist model is offered as a means of clarifying and broadening the strong constructivist position on knowledge evolution. Piaget's genetic epistemology model places dramatic emphasis on the organizational capacity of the subject, specifying personal development as a strongly continuous and subsuming process. Discussion of commonalities between Piaget's position and Kelly's personal construct theory concludes this article.
The concept of self-esteem is examined as it relates to the theory and practice of personal construct psychology (PCP). William James's two perspectives on the self, as a knower and as an object of knowledge, are related to two PCP perspectives, the self as a construct and the self as an element. Various PCP concepts, such as core role constructs, range of convenience, and emergent poles, are interpreted in regard to self-esteem. Methods for changing self-constructions to enhance self-esteem are also described. A modified repertory grid format is recommended for the study of self-esteem, one that uses positive experiences as grid elements instead of people who fit selected roles.
A psychobiological model of emotions is proposed based on Katz's (1984) “origin postulate” and his concept of “primitive constructs.” Emotions are treated as phylogenetically available, evaluative sensorimotor constructs. It is proposed that this treatment of emotions falls within the range of convenience of Kelly's formulation of constructs. Phylogenetic arguments and neurophysiological findings are presented in support of a model of “primitive emotional constructs” grounded in the capacity to construct the fundamental distinctions of similarity and difference. Two sets of primitive emotional constructs are proposed. One set comprises emotions of difference, labeled as approach-avoidance and arousal-quiescence. The second set are emotions of similarity, labeled attachment-loss of attachment and intensity-quiescence. This model is discussed in terms of prototypical emotional experiences such as excitement (approach) and sadness (loss of attachment). Interrelations among personal identity, social and cultural factors, and the emotional construction of events are discussed, and the model is applied to a number of emotional states discussed by George Kelly and Mildred McCoy
Research on the impact of television has shifted from an emphasis in the 1960s on the passive viewer to current approaches that investigate active processing of the television medium. Although evidence is accumulating about the cognitive processes used to mediate television, the nature of the individual's concept of television has not been studied. The present investigation employs a computerized version of Kelly's Repertory Grid Test with 40 male and 40 female university students. Using Bannisters measure of intensity to index integration, the results provide supporting evidence for Kelly's individuality corollary in terms of substantial individual differences. In addition, intensity tvas related to genre selection. Persons with low-intensity scores, reflecting less integration, tended to prefer television genres offering social interaction or action. High-intensity individuals, with more integrated constructions of the television medium, showed a greater preference for informational genres
Previous accounts of the role of emotion in construct theory place insufficient emphasis on the constructive role of emotion as a “feeling toward.” Emotion is regarded either as an epiphenomenon of acts of construal or as an outcome of prior cognitive processes. It is argued in this paper that emotion performs an anticipatory role in pursuit of the current concerns of the self, a view that follows from a closer analysis of the function of anticipation. A revision of the control systems theory of Carver and Scheier (1981) is proposed, in which emotional anticipation at the level of the self is distinguished from schema-based anticipation at the level of behavior. Given the framework of personal construct theory as a method of analysis, this revised view of emotion enables a range of self-concept processes to be better understood.
George Kelly's The Psychology of Personal Constructs put forward a new psychology that viewed people as actively constructing and anticipating their worlds. This paper considers personal construct theory and its philosophy; personal construct assessment techniques; the personal construct view of psychological disorder and its treatment; and the wide range of other applications of personal construct theory. It is concluded that personal construct psychology remains a radical approach over half a century after Kelly published his magnum opus.
This thesis was designed to explore the experiences of psychologists in Australia who work as psychotherapists, and who have an interest in Buddhism. The core research question was: What are the professional and personal experiences and perspectives of psychologists in Australia who are informed by Buddhism in the way they conceptualise, approach, and conduct psychotherapy? Two related supporting questions were: How do Buddhist principles inform different aspects of psychotherapy (e.g., therapist self-care, client interventions)? and In what ways do therapists incorporate Buddhist concepts (e.g., compassion) and techniques (e.g., mindfulness) into psychotherapy? In Study 1, the qualitative core of the research, I explored the experiences and impressions of psychologists interested in bringing a Buddhist perspective to psychotherapy. Initial and follow-up interviews were conducted with 14 participants. Buddhist understandings, including suffering, compassion, and mindfulness, were discussed in relation to psychotherapy. Participant psychologists revealed that certain Buddhist ideas and techniques contributed to their perceived efficacy and wellbeing as therapists, as well as to good therapeutic processes and outcomes for clients. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, the two guiding principles of compassion and wisdom emerged from the interviews. Under the guiding principle of compassion, the two major themes that emerged were: the truth of suffering (sub- themes: an acknowledgement of suffering, causes of suffering, and suffering as a path), and compassionate engagement (sub-themes: empathy, openness, and hopefulness). The guiding principle of wisdom also incorporated two major themes: mindful presence (subthemes: a present orientation, the primacy of direct experience, and being with what is), and empowerment through understanding (sub-themes: responsibility, disclosure, and sustaining). The benefits participants perceived for themselves included being sustained by Buddhism, and having increased empathy and mindfulness during therapy. The Buddhist techniques and ideas that participants employed with clients were selected with discernment for their therapeutic benefits along with their compatibility with Western psychology. Participants also used their discretion to select those techniques and ideas that had wide applicability in that they were common to many philosophical and religious systems. Although some participants took an integrationist approach to drawing on Buddhism in psychotherapy, and others took an eclectic approach, all shared the concern of remaining client-centred. Attributing Buddhist sources and labels to concepts and techniques was considered unnecessary in most cases. Study 2 provided descriptive background information and gave support to the qualitative themes that emerged from Study 1. Members of the Buddhism and Psychology Interest Group, the Christianity and Psychology Interest Group, and the College of Counselling Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) completed a personal details survey, the Spiritual Orientation Inventory (SOI; Elkins, Hedstrom, Hughes, Leaf, & Saunders, 1988), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale – Short Form C (W. M. Reynolds, 1982), indicating their spiritual paths and religious affiliations, and the relative importance of different dimensions of spirituality. The main dimension on which the Buddhism and Psychology Interest Group scored higher than the other two groups was the Awareness of the Tragic dimension. The results are interpreted with reference to Buddhist, Christian, and secular understandings. The thesis concludes with a chapter on my personal reflections as researcher in the research process.
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