choice corollary

the proposition that people select between alternatives in dichotomized constructs in making their judgements about reality

commonality corollary

the proposition that similar constructs in different individuals lead to similarities in their behavior

constellatory construct

tyoe of construct that allows its elements to belong to other constructs concurrently; however, once identified in a particular way, these element are fixed. for example, an individual may have a stereotypic construct of a fat person as lazy, dirty, and slovenly. these elements or traits could also belong to some of the indivudal's other constructs- for example, homeless person, coal miner. however, once the individual applies the fat person construct to a person in a particular situation the traits are automatically and inflexibly attributed to that person. 

constructive alternativism

fundamental assumption that human beings are capable of changing their interpretations of events

constructs

ways of representing our experiences; they are abstractions that are defined in terms of the similarities and contrasts of their poles

controlled elaboration

therapeutic technique in which clients are encouraged to clarify and think through their problems in consultation with the therapist; this process enables them to revise or discard old constructs and to fomulate new and more effective ones 

 core constructs 

important beliefs that are part of the individual's personal identity

core role constructs

set of beliefs associated with important role relationships that constitue the person's social identity

enactment sketch

a description of a role that clients are asked to play that provides an opportunity for them to behave in way that constrast with the self-characterization sketch. for example, a person who characterizes herself as as shy plays the role of someone who is assertive

fixed role therapy

therapuetic procedure used by Kelly to produce personality changes in clients by constructing roles for them that help them overcome their weaknesses and, in the process, enable them to reconstrue themselves and their life situations

fragmentation corollary

the proposition that an individual's personal construct subsystem may be disjointed and mutually incompatible, and that the person is often unaware of the inconsistency

individuality corollary

the propostition that people differ in the constructions of reality

loose constructions

beliefs that are unstable, weak, and poorly defined and that lead to erratic and often invalid predictions about how the world operates

organization corollary

the proposition that the individual's constructs are arranged in particualr ways within his or her personal system

peripheral constructs

beliefs that are relatively unimportant and that can be changed rather easily

permeability

the degree to which new elements will be admitted within the boundaries of a construct

preemptive construct 

type of construct that includes only its own elements and maintains that these elements cannot apply to other constructs

propositional  construct

type of construct that leaves all of its elements open to modification

range of convenience

the scope of a construct; the number of other constructs to which it is related

Role Construct Repertory Test (RCRT)

test devised by Kelly to assess an individual's personal construct system; also known as the REP test

self chracterization sketch

initial step in fixed role therapy, in which clients are asked to write a brief character outline of themselves as it might be written by an intimate and sympathetic friend

sociality corollary

the proposition that constructive interpersonal relationships depend on mutual understanding of each other's construct system

subordinate construct

construct that is controlled by other constructs

superordinate construct

construct that controls many other constructs