George Kelly and His Personal Construct Theory

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George Kelly was an American psychologist who developed personal construct theory (PCT), also known as personal construct psychology (PCP). This theory suggests that each person has their own mental framework from which they see the world. People use these constructs, or schemas, to interpret information and experiences. Commonly referred to as the founder of cognitive clinical psychology, Kelly was influential in the early development of cognitive psychology.

According to George Kelly's personal construct theory (PCT), people interpret their world based on their personal constructs.

George Kelly's Early Life

Kelly was born near Perth, Kansas, in 1905 to farmers Theodore Vincent Kelly and Elfleda Merriam Kelly. During much of his early life, Kelly's education was limited to teachings from his parents. He had no formal education until 1918, when he attended school in Wichita, Kansas. At 16, he enrolled at Friends University.

Kelly never graduated high school but went on to earn his bachelor's degree in 1926, majoring in mathematics and physics.

Kelly initially planned on a career in engineering but shifted to educational sociology at the University of Kansas. Before completing his master's, however, he left to enroll at the University of Minnesota. After withdrawing because he was unable to pay tuition, he took a position teaching psychology at Sheldon Junior College in Iowa. In 1931, Kelly completed a PhD in psychology from the University of Iowa. He began teaching at Fort Hays State University in 1931.

In the midst of the Great Depression, Kelly applied his knowledge toward something he found useful: evaluating children and adults and developing his landmark theory.

Freudian Influences on PCT

As Kelly formed his theory, he studied the works of Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud for ideas and inspiration. Although Kelly appreciated Freud's work, he felt that the psychoanalyst's approach was problematic. Freud believed that the therapist's "correct" evaluation of the client's situation is the key to change. 

In contrast, Kelly used his observations to develop the idea he called constructive alternativism. In this approach, each individual has a unique construction, or perspective, of reality. Although some are better than others, no single interpretation is complete or totally accurate. Kelly suggested that every viewpoint has value, particularly in the situation, time, and place of the person who holds it. 

Personal Construct Theory

After World War II, Kelly taught psychology at the Ohio State University for almost 20 years. It was here that he formally developed his personal construct theory. He published two texts, The Psychology of Personal Constructs, Volumes I and II, which summarized the majority of his theory.

Kelly's personal construct theory suggests that the differences among people result from the different ways that we predict and interpret the world around us.

Personal constructs, Kelly suggested, are the unique ways in which each person gathers, evaluates, and develops interpretations, much like a scientist.

Much as a scientist forms a hypothesis, collects data, and analyzes the results, a person takes in information and performs their own "experiments" to test ideas and interpretations of events. The results of our everyday investigations influence our personalities and our way of interacting with our environment and the people around us.

Examples of Personal Construct Theory

Personal constructs are bipolar: They're composed of two opposing sides. Constructs are unique to each person because they develop in response to the individual's unique experiences. Thus, different people might approach the same experience in different ways.

Adventure vs. Risk

One person might view new experiences as exciting opportunities for adventure. Another person might view the same experience as a risky, frightening prospect that disturbs their peace. 

In this case, the first person has a construct for security vs. adventure in which they see security as boring and adventure as desirable. The second has a personal construct for security vs. risk in which they see security as desirable and safe, whereas risk represents fear and insecurity.

People often react differently in the same situation

Judy Hedding

Friendly vs. Unfriendly

Imagine that two friends are at the park when a dog runs toward them. One might have a personal construct that suggests dogs are friendly, lovable creatures. The other, however, believes that dogs are intimidating and potentially dangerous. Because of these two differing constructs, the first person responds by approaching the dog, while the other shrinks back and avoids the dog. Kelly suggested that these constructs can change—and the construct that works at one point in someone's life might need to change if the situation does.

Kelly's Contributions to Psychology

Kelly played an important role in the development of clinical psychology, both through his position at Ohio State University and through his leadership roles with the American Psychological Association.

His work is part of the early cognitive movement in psychology, and he is often described as one of the first cognitive theorists. Others identify him as a humanist thinker because his theory emphasized human potential and personal change, similar to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory.

Interestingly, Kelly disliked being regarded as a cognitive theorist. While his theory shared some elements similar to the work of other humanistic and cognitive theories, he felt that his personal construct theory was unrelated.

Kelly's view of people as natural scientists played a role in the development of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

A Word From Verywell

George Kelly was an influential psychologist who played an important role in the development of cognitive psychology. Despite having little formal education during his youth, he went on to earn a doctorate in psychology. 

His work drew from Freudian influences but also incorporated aspects of cognitive psychology and humanism. Kelly's personal construct theory suggests that people form unique mental frameworks about the world, which they then use to interpret information and experiences.

7 Sources
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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."