Problem 3 - An Introduction to Theories of Personality

Question

Give an example to illustrate each of the following: (a) Construing an event based on prior experiences. (b) A permeable construct. (c) An impermeable construct. (d) A preemptive or constellatory construct.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Examples: (a) A dog that has been hit by a car would be scared of a moving car. (b) A belief that people can change, able to be influenced by witnessing change. (c) Belief that all cats are fiercely independent, resistant to change. (d) The belief that all failures are non-recoverable, leading to discontinuation of attempts after first failure.

Step 1: Example for 'Construing an Event Based on Prior Experiences'

Example: A dog that has been hit by a car previously would likely be scared of a moving car. The past painful experience with the moving car determines its reaction to the situation.

Step 2: Example for 'Permeable Construct'

Example: A belief that people can change is a permeable construct. It is open for new evidence and allows changes to the construct. If you have a permeable construct about a person's ability to change, you would adjust that belief as you witness them making behavioral changes.

Step 3: Example for 'Impermeable Construct'

Example: A belief that all cats are fiercely independent is an impermeable construct. If you possess this construct, even meeting a particularly friendly and dependent cat might not change your belief.

Step 4: Example for 'Preemptive or Constellatory Construct'

Example: An example of a preemptive construct could be the belief that all failures are non-recoverable and necessitate a discontinue. If someone holds this preemptive construct, they would likely stop all attempts after the first failure, despite potential evidence that failure might be part of the learning process.

Key Concepts

Personal Constructs

Personal constructs represent how we perceive and interpret the world around us. These constructs are developed through our experiences and influence our behavior and reactions to situations.
They operate as cognitive lenses, shaping how we view our circumstances.
For instance, if an individual has experienced betrayal in the past, they might have a personal construct that perceives new social relationships with caution, as seen in the exercise example with the dog reacting to cars based on past experiences.

Personal constructs are unique and subjective, which means they can vary greatly from one person to another.

• Based on individual experiences.
• Influence how we anticipate future events.
• Act as filters on incoming information.

These constructs can be flexible or rigid, determining how easily a person can adapt to new information and change their beliefs.

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes, including how people think, perceive, remember, and learn.
It encompasses a range of cognitive functions such as understanding, decision making, and problem-solving.
In the framework of constructivist theory, cognitive psychology highlights the role of internal processes in shaping an individual's perception of reality.

Key areas explored in cognitive psychology involve memory and perception. These areas are crucial in understanding how personal constructs develop and evolve:

• Memory: How we store and recall past experiences, influencing our personal constructs.
• Perception: How we interpret sensory information through the filter of our existing beliefs.

Thus, cognitive psychology provides insight into the mental activities that underpin the construction and alteration of personal constructs.

Construct Permeability

Construct permeability refers to the flexibility of a construct to allow new experiences to influence it.
A permeable construct is open to new information and can be adjusted if new evidence presents itself.
This concept ties directly into how adaptable our belief systems are when confronted with new situations or information, just like the example of believing people can change.

Permeability is important for personal growth and adaptation:

• Allows for the updating of beliefs based on new evidence.
• Facilitates learning from new experiences.
• Encourages openness and adaptability in thinking.

In contrast, an impermeable construct is resistant to change, often leading to rigid thinking patterns and difficulty in accepting new information.

Behavioral Psychology

Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, focuses on the study of observable behaviors and the processes that drive them.
It emphasizes the role of environmental stimuli in shaping behavior, suggesting that behavior is learned and influenced by reinforcement and punishment.
In the context of personal constructs, behaviorism looks at how external events and consequences shape our constructs, particularly those that are impermeable.

Core principles of behavioral psychology include:

• Stimulus-response learning: How behaviors are acquired through interactions with the environment.
• Reinforcement and punishment: Mechanisms through which behaviors are encouraged or discouraged.

Understanding these processes helps explain why certain constructs remain rigid or change, as seen in impermeable constructs like the belief that all cats are independent, regardless of counterexamples.