PPE 3003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Personal Construct Theory

• School: University of Florida
• Department: Psychology In Personality
• Course: PPE 3003
• Professor: Heesacker Martin

Document Summary

25: personal construct theory and the psychotherapeutic interview . Materialistic realism, according to kelly, is the hard-headed, obstinate view that psychotherapy can present the true, objective nature ( packaged reality ) of a person. Personal construct theory is the view that everyone understands the world differently, and that what guides their behavior is their interpretation of the surrounding environment. Constructs, peoples" interpretations of their personal experiences, give meaning to their memories and future plans: describe the components of the ideal client/therapist relationship from the viewpoint of a theorist. The therapist should be passive, accepting, and as nonjudgmental as possible; he/she should avoid dogmatism and realism (in kelly"s words, a special form of dogmatism that stifles clients" creative efforts). The therapist should try to change the client"s outlook through constructive alternativism, the theory that constructs are subject to multiple interpretations.