fei75766_ch19_610-639.indd 624  02/06/20 01:53 PM
Part VI    Learning-Cognitive Theories624
Applications of Personal  
Construct Theory
Likemost personality theorists, Kelly evolved histheoretical formulations from his
practice asapsychotherapist. Hespent more than20years conducting therapy before 
hepublished The Psychology of Personal Constructs in1955. Inthissection, welookat
hisviews ofabnormal development, hisapproach topsychotherapy, and,finally, his
RoleConstruct Repertory (Rep) Test.
Abnormal Development
InKelly’s view, psychologically healthy people validate theirpersonal constructs 
against theirexperiences withtherealworld. They arelikecompetent scientists who
testreasonable hypotheses, accept theresults without denial ordistortion, andthen
willingly altertheirtheories tomatch available data. Healthy individuals notonly
anticipate events butarealsoabletomake satisfactory adjustments when things do
notturnoutastheyexpected.
Unhealthy people, ontheother hand, stubbornly cling tooutdated personal 
constructs, fearing validation ofanynewconstructs thatwould upset theirpresent 
comfortable viewoftheworld. Such people aresimilar toincompetent scientists who
testunreasonable hypotheses, reject ordistort legitimate results, andrefuse toamend 
orabandon oldtheories thatarenolonger useful. Kelly (1955) defined adisorder as
“any personal construction which is used repeatedly in spite of consistent invalidation” 
(p.831).
Aperson’s construction system exists inthepresent—not thepastorfuture. 
Psychological disorders, therefore, alsoexistinthepresent; theyarecaused neither 
bychildhood experiences norbyfuture events. Because construction systems are
personal, Kelly objected totraditional classifications ofabnormalities. Using the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) oftheAmerican 
Psychiatric Association (2002) tolabel aperson islikely toresult inmisconstruing 
thatperson’s unique constructions.
Psychologically unhealthy people, likeeveryone else,possess acomplex con-
struction system. Their personal constructs, however, often failthetestofpermeabil -
ityinoneoftwoways: They maybetooimpermeable ortheymaybetooflexible. In
thefirstinstance, newexperiences donotpenetrate theconstruction system, sothe
person failstoadjust totherealworld. Forexample, anabused child mayconstrue 
intimacy withparents asbadandsolitude asgood. Psychological disorders result 
when thechild’s construction system rigidly denies thevalue ofanyintimate relation -
shipandclings tothenotion thateither withdrawal orattack isapreferred mode of
solving interpersonal problems. Another example isamanseriously dependent on
alcohol whorefuses toseehimself asaddicted toalcohol evenashisdrinking esca-
latesandhisjobandmarriage disintegrate (Burrell, 2002).
Ontheother hand, aconstruction system thatistooloose orflexible leads to
disorganization, aninconsistent pattern ofbehavior, andatransient setofvalues. 
Such anindividual istooeasily “shaken bytheimpact ofunexpected minor daily 
events” (Kelly, 1955, p.80).Final PDF to printer