1. Repertory Grids and Factor Analysis Social Psychology Practical 4

2. Personal Construct Psychology: A Theory of Personality Kelly, G. 19955 Two key terms associated with Kelly’s work –Personal Construct Theory (PCT) –Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) The terms are used interchangeably but to be precise –PCT refers to the explicitly stated postulate and corollaries which provide the framework for this view of personality –PCP refers to how it all works in an individual

3. A Bit About Kelly Born in 1905, the only child of a Presbyterian minister and his wife 1926 received his BA in Physics and Maths As a student got more interested in social than mechanical areas 1928 did MA in Educational Sociology 1929 studied Education at the University of Edinburgh (on an exchange scholarship) 1931 awarded PhD for a dissertation on common factors in speech and reading disabilities

4. The Four Main Elements of PCT The underpinning philosophy The Person-Scientist Analogy Reflexivity – the applicability of the approach The Fundamental Postulate and Corollaries

5. The Philosophy PCT began in the realms of philosophy Kelly defines his philosophy as that of CONSTRUCTIVE ALTERNATIVISM, which comprises three prior convictions about the universe –That it is real and not a figment of our imagination –It all works together like clockwork –It’s going on all the time

6. The Philosophy (cont’d) In practice then: –A living being is always trying to make sense of the world, but in fact only constructs his or her own version of it However –The construction that is made is infinitely variable, but always real to that individual

7. Some additional points:- Each individual develops their own view of the world (based on a range of events/experiences…) The only limitation on a huge range of factors is the rules the individuals imposes on him/herself The rules are created personally and so can be altered by personal choice The view of the world created by the individual is INHERENTLY PERSONAL

8. Person-the-Scientist Generate a hypothesis Test the hypothesis Incorporate the finding into existing knowledge Re-evaluate previous knowledge

9. Reflexivity Reflexivity refers to the notion that PCT refers to everyone “It is a way of understanding how all humans operate psychologically, whether they do so effectively of whether they get into difficulties” (Dalton & Dunnett, 1999) So PCT provides us all with a psychological system of normal functioning, which when understood can help us fix bits when they go wrong

10. The Theory All psychological approaches to personality have theories behind them, though some have never been fully expounded PCT is on eof the most meticulously spelt out It consists of a Fundamental Postulate and eleven Corollaries

11. The Fundamental Postulate “A person’s processes are psychologically channelized by the ways in which he anticipates events” (Kelly, 1955)

12. What the FP means Person: Indicates the holistic approach to the individual Processes: Indicates that the person is continually in motion and that it is the motion itself that is being considered Psychologically: Indicates the processes are being conceptualised psychologically Channelized: Indicates that processes operate through a network of pathways which has a clear structure and is flexible. It both facilitates and restricts the persons range of action

13. What the FP means (cont’d) Anticipates: Kelly describes anticipation as both the push and pull of PCP. It accounts for the predictive and motivational elements of the theory Events: We are ultimately trying to anticipate real events. As Kelly said “It is the future that tantalises man. Not the past”

14. The 11 Corollaries Corollaries are essentially statements that follow on from one already made – in this case the Fundamental Postulate –Eg. The Dichotomy Corollary (4) “A person’s construction system is composed of a finite number of dichotomous constructs” i.e. They have 2 contrasting poles

15. How to elicit a grid Think of 6 people, including ME NOW and ME IN 5 YEARS TIME. The other 4 should be people you know well, and could include family members, friends and even an enemy. Write the names of the people (ELEMENTS), in the top 6 columns of your grid, and also one name on each OF THE 6 pieces of paper. Give the 6 pieces of paper to your partner. Partner – chose 3 pieces of paper at random and present them back

16. Ask one of the following questions: Tell me something that any of these two have in common which makes them different from the third? OR In what way are any two of these similar but different from the third? RECORD THE RESPONSE ON A SPARE PIECE OF PAPER THEN ASK How would you describe the others by contrast? (not opposite)

17. You should end with something like this: Fun lovingSerious HappySad CalmChaotic …….…….. …….…….. …….……..

18. Try “laddering” The purpose of laddering is to learn more about what the constructs mean to an individual LADDERING UP Ask “What kind of people do you prefer, Those who are ………(e.g. fun loving) or those who are ……… (e.g. serious) Then ask “WHY? LADDERING DOWN Ask “ Can you tell me more about people who are fun loving that make them different from people who are serious?”