Deck 13: Case Studies 23-24 Burrhus Frederic Skinner: Contributions

Question 1

Compare Kelly's concept of a construct to a schema.

Answer 1

Kelly's concept of a construct and a schema are similar in that they are both hypothetical, cognitive structures that organize information.They are also similar in that they both influence thinking.In both cases, individuals can have a number of each type of structures.However, Kelly suggests that constructs are arranged in a hierarchical fashion, whereas schemas are not.

Question 2

What did Kelly mean by the commonality corollary? Find an example of it in the case study.

Answer 2

The commonality corollary suggests that people's constructs are similar.While Maria and Carlos differ somewhat about ideas on parenting, there is also a good deal of overlap.For example, they both thought it was important to play with their children.

Question 3

How could Skinner's radical behaviorism explain Maria's change in parenting style to encourage cooperation by her children? How does the focus of Skinner's theory differ from that of Kelly's?

Answer 3

Behaviorism can be used to explain Maria's change in parenting style through discussion of reinforcements and punishments.Maria found that her requests were ignored which was punishing.That behavior was therefore eliminated.When she made her requests into games, they were obeyed, which was rewarding and therefore encouraged that behavior.Skinner's theory differs from Kelly's in that Kelly's is much more cognitive in nature than Skinner's.Both theories, however, include the possibility of behavior being influenced by the environment: Skinner through his concepts of reinforcement and punishment; Kelly through his experience corollary.

Question 4

Does Philip's clergy construct appear to be permeable? Why or why not?

Question 5

What seems to be one of Maria and Carlos' important personal constructs? Explain the construct.

Question 6

Using Kelly's personal construct theory, analyze Philip's behavior by answering the following questions.
What is the organization of Philip's construct of clergy?

Question 7

Application Questions
Using Kelly's personal construct theory, analyze Maria's and Carlos's behavior by answering the following questions.
Explain how Kelly's theory could suggest that Maria is a scientist.

Question 8

What is the sociality corollary? Find an example of it in the case study.

Question 9

What did Kelly mean by the individuality corollary? Find an example of it in the case study.

Question 10

How is Philip's clergy construct the same as other people's? What corollary does this apply to?

Question 11

What are the two poles of Philip's clergy construct? What corollary does this apply to?

Question 12

Explain Maria's change in parenting style (e.g., her encouraging her children's cooperation by making requests into games after her requests were refused) using Bandura's concept of reciprocal determinism.How does Bandura's concept of reciprocal determinism

Question 13

What does Kelly mean by a permeable construct? What does the experience corollary mean? What does the modulation corollary mean? Are Carlos's and Maria's constructs permeable? Give an example of the experience and modulation corollaries.

Question 14

What did Kelly mean by the fragmentation corollary? Find an example of it in the case study.

Question 15

How is Philip's clergy construct different from other people's? What corollary does this apply to?

Question 16

What did Kelly mean by the dichotomy corollary? Find an example of it in the case study.