What is a key concept of Kelly's personal construct theory regarding people’s psychological processes?

The key concept of Kelly's personal construct theory that suggests people will be psychologically similar if they construe events similarly highlights the idea that individuals interpret and make sense of their experiences according to their personal constructs. These constructs are mental frameworks or categories that individuals use to understand their world and form predictions about future experiences. When people share similar interpretations of events, their emotional responses and behaviors may become aligned, leading to psychological similarities.

This aspect of Kelly's theory underscores the relational nature of human psychology and suggests that our perspectives and experiences, while influenced by various factors, ultimately shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in comparable ways when we view the world through similar lenses. It emphasizes the social and cognitive elements of human interaction and the ways in which shared understandings can lead to congruent psychological experiences.

On the other hand, the uniqueness of people's psychological processes does not negate the shared frameworks that lead to similar psychological outcomes. While outside factors and age can influence individuals, the core idea here is that the construal of similar events is fundamental in producing psychological similarities among individuals.