1. PowerPoint by: Brittany Philip and Brad Comfort
Constructivism
Jesse Delia

2. • Theory in a Nutshell
-Interpersonal Theory
-Grand Theory
-Deterministic
Individuals who are more cognitively complex in their perceptions of
others have the mental capacity to construct sophisticated message
plans that pursue multiple goals. They then have the ability to deliver
person-centered messages that achieve the outcomes they desire.

3. RCQ
(Role Category Questionnaire created by Walter Crockett)
1. Pick 2 people you know well – one you don’t like, one you do
like.
2. Take a moment to mentally compare and contrast them in
terms of personality, habits beliefs and the way they treat
others. Think about them all. Do not limit yourself to just the
similarities and differences.
3. 5 minutes – explain the person you like so that a stranger
would understand what he or she is like. DO NOT do physical
characteristics. List attributes, mannerisms, defining
characters etc.
4. 5 minutes –DO the same thing for the person you do not like.
FLIP PAPER OVER

4. What does the RCQ find?
Designed to sample the interpersonal constructs in our
mental toolbox that we bring to construction site of
meaning – the central processing function of our
minds.
Cognitive Complexity: The mental ability to distinguish subtle
personality and behavior differences among people.
-Trying to determine our degree of this as we form
impressions of other people and analyze social situations.
Differentiation: The main component of cognitive complexity is measured by
the number of separate personal constructs used on the RCQ.

5. Constructs
• The core assumption of Constructivism is “persons make
sense of the world through systems of personal
constructs”.
• Constructs:
– The cognitive template or stencils we fit over reality, to
bring order to our perceptions.
– Contrasting features we have available to classify other
people. (warm, cool)
– People with large set of interpersonal constructs have
better social perceptions skills, than those whose set of
mental templates is relatively small.

6. Skills with High Cognitive Complexity
• Ability to out others personality traits, where they stand in
relationship to us, what they are doing, and why they are
doing it.
• Better able to create an impression within relational
development.
• Better to take the role of the other person.
• Those who have high levels are comparative experts when
it comes to understanding people and events in their social
world.
VIDEO

7. Scoring
Chris Alex
• Sharp +1 •Hurried +1
• Competent+1 •Never has time +1
•Good Ol’ Boy +1
• Totally Sincere +1
•Tall +0
• Irish +0
•COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY is shown by the combined
# of Constructs, for both descriptions.
• ^ score – more elaborate is the structure within your mind.
•Any score over 25: Considered reliable indicator of a high
interpersonal cognitive complexity.

8. Person Centered Messages
NUTSHELL:
The speaker is able to anticipate how different individuals
might respond to a message, and adjust his or her
communication accordingly.
Sophisticated Communication: A person-centered message that
accomplishes many goals.
MUTE AHEAD OF GAME
•Alcohol •Stakes are high
•Fatigue •Emotions run deep
•Pressure to conform

9. DEAD MAN WALKING

10. Goals-Plans-Action Model
-James Dillard
GOALS
•To express revulsion so the harassment stops
•To keep her job (2 goals)
*She needs to find a way to do both.
* HIGH COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY does this better

11. Plans
• Knows what she wants (goal)
• Devise a message plan using
– Procedural records: recollection of an action taken in a specific
situation paired with its consequences . Remember something that has
happened before. (if –when- then)
Example:
HER PROCEDURAL RECORD IS
- IF I want to avoid getting physical and not offend a guy
(goals)
-WHEN he makes an improper sexual suggestion (situation)
-THEN I should pretend he’s kidding (action)

12. Action
• The message Laura crafts somewhat ignores
her boss’s unwelcome advances, salvages her
job, and saves both of their faces.