But the most precarious assumption made by test givers, according to
Kelly, is that people are ableto describe the constructs they use. Unfortunately,
the grid technique is subject to the inherent limits of our language. Although
clients may supply words that come close to what they mean, these words
may be inadequate. Kelly did not assume that words necessarily exist for
describing all constructs. In fact, he described “preverbal ”constructs, those
developed before we learn to speak. And even when clients do use appropriatewords, therapists may interpret those words differently. For example, a client ’s
definition of aggressive may be quite different from a therapist ’s. In this case
the therapist may still end up with a false impression of how the client viewsthe world.
STRENGTHS AND CRITICISMS OF THE COGNITIVE APPROACH
Strengths
One strength of the cognitive approach to personality is that many of the ideasevolved out of and were developed through empirical research findings. Mostof the cognitive structures used to account for individual differences have been
subjected to extensive investigation in controlled laboratory experiments. In
many cases personality psychologists have borrowed ideas and research proce-
dures from social and cognitive psychologists investigating similar phenomena.
Moreover, cognitive models of personality have been modified as investigatorsNames Construct Contrast
2, 3, 5
5, 7, 11
1, 10, 12
This is an abbreviated version of Kelly’ s Rep Test (the Minimum Context
Form). The test provides a quick idea of the constructs you use to organize
information about the people you know and meet. You may want to com-
pare your responses with those of other test takers. No doubt you will find a
few overlapping constructs, but also many you hadn ’t thought of. Of course,
these differences in personal constructs represent differences in personality
that should translate into individual differences in your behavior.
Scale: The Role Construct Repertory (Rep) Test
Source: The Role Construct Repertory (REP) Test from A Theory of Personality: The Psychology of
Personal Constructs by George A. Kelly. Copyright © 1955, 1963 by George A. Kelly, renewed
1983, 1991 by Gladys Kelly. Used by permission of W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.Strengths and Criticisms of the Cognitive Approach 431