IOP1601_MO001_3_2016_E

Chapter 18: Cognition and fundamental psychological concepts
The self-construct
One personal construct is found in virtually every construct system, namely the self-versus others.
However, this self-construct is often subordinated in different ways. One person may include self under
friendly, while another includes self under intelligent. Core roles are the roles people assume on the
basis of how they think others perceive their core constructs. Peripheral constructs are those less
relevant to a person's self.
Basic motivating forces
A person's basic motivating force is to interpret current events so that future events will be predicted with
greater accuracy. Confirmation and rejection of one's predictions have greater psychological significance
than rewards, punishments or drive reduction.
Festinger sees basic motivation as an attempt to reduce cognitive dissonance. Equity theory comes
into practice when an individual compares his/her input and output ratio with others. Basic
motivation is the need to maintain unity or self-consistency. Individuals have the need to maintain unity
(compare the concept of homeostasis).
The unconscious
Some constructs are not readily available to awareness:
• preverbal constructs (early childhood constructs)
• submerged constructs (non-conscious constructs)
• suspended constructs (incomplete constructs).
Although Kelly used concepts such as preverbal, submerged and suspended constructs, he claimed that
there was no unconscious in his theory. He identified a level of awareness that is highest when
construing in socially acceptable symbols, such as one's native language.
Defence mechanisms
An individual displays reaction formation when he/she reclassifies elements of a construct from one pole
to another pole of the same construct.
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