The psychology of personal constructs The psychology of personal constructs Volume two Clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy George A.Kelly In association with the Centre for Personal Construct Psychology, London First published 1991 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2003. © 1991 Gladys Kelly All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Kelly, George, 1905–1967 The psychology of personal constructs. 1. Man. Behaviour. Personal construct theory I. Title 155.2 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Kelly, George Alexander, 1905–1967. The psychology of personal constructs/George A.Kelly. p. cm. Reprint Originally published: New York: Norton, c1955. Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: v. 1. Theory of personality—v. 2. Clinical diagnosis & psychotherapy. 1. Personal construct theory. 2. Personality. 3. Personal construct therapy. 4. Psychotherapy. I. Title. BF698.9.P47K44 1990 155.2–dc20 90–39114 CIP ISBN 0-203-40598-6 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-71422-9 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0-415-03799-9 (Print Edition) ISBN 0-415-03797-2 vol. 1 ISBN 0-415-03798-0 vol. 2 Contents VOLUME ONE List of figures and tables viii Preface to Volume One xi Editor’s introduction xvii 1 Constructive alternativism 3 The underlying philosophical position is stated and specifications for a theory of personality are outlined. 2 Basic theory 32 A new theory of personality is proposed. The fundamental postulate is stated and is then elaborated by means of eleven corollaries. 3 The nature of personal constructs 74 The personal way in which constructs are used is described. Their formal aspects are related to a dimensional scheme. The manner in which constructs are altered is outlined. Their relation to experience and culture is defined. 4 The clinical setting 128 The clinical work setting in which a theory of personality ought to prove itself useful is described. Specifications for a clinically useful instrument are defined. 5 The Repertory Test 152 The structure, analysis, and clinical use of a new test are developed. 6 The mathematical structure of psychological space 189 The Repertory Test is generalized into a methodology having mathematical implications for the structure v Contents of psychological space and for the organization of society. The interweave of constructs and figures is described. 7 The analysis of self-characterization 239 Techniques arising out of the theoretical position are applied to a sample of clinical protocol. 8 Fixed-role therapy 268 A special psychotherapeutic technique, illustrating the exploitation of the theoretical position, is described in detail. 9 Dimensions of diagnosis 335 Design specifications for psychodiagnostic constructs are laid down, and a partial repertory of such constructs is proposed. 10 Dimensions of transition 359 The development of the repertory of psychodiagnostic constructs is continued with emphasis upon the transitions in a client’s life. Such terms as anxiety, hostility, and guilt are given consistent definitions. Bibliography 393 Index 395 VOLUME TWO List of figures and tables viii Preface to Volume Two xi 11 The role of the psychotherapist 3 The objectives of psychotherapy are discussed from the viewpoints of the persons involved, as well as from a systematic viewpoint. The qualifications and professional obligations of the therapist are set forth. 12 The psychotherapeutic approach 45 Relationships between client and therapist are discussed. Basic techniques of reassurance, support, and the control of transference are outlined in detail. 13 The appraisal of experiences 91 The role of experience in an anticipatory, as contrasted with a reactive, theoretical system is outlined. Culture is vi Contents discussed in relation to personal experience and techniques for the study of personal experience are described. 14 The appraisal of activities 124 The nature of spontaneous activity and techniques for observing it are described. A methodology for appraising the experience and activity record is offered. 15 Steps in diagnosis 153 A procedural outline for arriving at psychodiagnostic conclusions is presented. 16 Disorders of construction 192 Illustrative cases are described in terms of diagnostic axes systematically derived from the theory. 17 Disorders of transition 222 The use of the proposed repertory of diagnostic constructs is further illustrated. 18 Elaborating the complaint 265 The nature and functions of psychotherapeutic elaboration and the ways of dealing directly with complaint material are discussed. 19 Elaborating the personal system 292 Techniques for approaching the client’s construct system are described. 20 Loosening and tightening 329 Techniques, including free association and the exploration of dream recollections, are systematically discussed. Ways of tightening and loosening the client’s construction are described. 21 Producing psychotherapeutic movement 370 The use of interpretation and the criteria for timing and judging therapeutic movement are described. Ways of controlling anxiety and guilt are presented. The client’s psychotherapeutic experimentation is discussed. 22 Special techniques in psychotherapy 408 Enactment, group psychotherapy, and the clinical training of psychotherapists are discussed. Index 447 vii Figures and tables Figures Volume one 1 Diagram of chapter content xvi 6.1 An illustrative protocol 192–3 6.2 Sorting grid 192 6.3 Composition of the first construct factor, case A 194 6.3a Composition of the first factor in terms of figures 195 6.4 Major compositions of the second to sixth construct factors, case A 196 6.5 Worksheet 222–3 6.6 Composition of the first generalized person, case A 224 6.7 Composition of additional generalized figures, case A 225 6.8 Special identifications, case A 226 6.9 Identification loadings, case A 227 6.10 Comparison of the self-identifications of two women 228 6.11 Comparison of sex-role perceptions of two women 229 6.12 Situational resources protocol, case X 235 6.13 Situational resources protocol, case Y 236 Tables Volume one 3.1 Lyle’s factor table 76 5.1 Suggested sorts for the Role Construct Repertory Test 156 5.2 Raw protocol of Mildred Beal 169 5.3 Descriptions of figures 171 5.4 Construct constellations 172 5.5 The nature of the basic contructs used 172 5.6 Figures falling under the rubrics of the principal constellation 173 viii Figures and tables 5.7 Some figure constellations 173 5.8 Tallies 174 6.1 p-values for numbers of cell matches 207 Volume two 13.1 Role Construct Repertory Test Protocol, self-identification 94 ix