'We are not disturbed by events, but by the view we take of them'. Thus spoke the Stoic philosopher Epictetus 2,000 years ago. George Kelly elaborated this position in Personal Construct
Theory, one of the foremost theories of personality in the twentieth century. Psychological disturbance is not caused by what happens to us - it is the product of our widely differing
interpretations of what happens. These interpretations form what George Kelly called a system of personal constructs, and is the key to all our thoughts, actions and feelings. His pragmatic
approach to psychology arose in his clinical practice and has been a strong formative influence on both clinical psychology and personality theory. In this accessible and fascinating
account of the theory, Trevor Butt takes us through the development of Kelly's work, setting it in its historical and philosophical context. The Psychology of Personal Constructs is
outlined, along with its implications for both assessing and modifying personal construct systems.
