Prescott Lecky: pioneer in consistency theory and cognitive therapy

Prescott Lecky's theory of self-consistency consists of an organization of ideas that revolve around those of the self and a master motive that serves to preserve and modify the unity of ideas. Self-consistency theory anticipated several cognitive-phenomenological theories of personality and remains relevant to contemporary personality and clinical psychologists. Regrettably, Lecky left few details about the structure, processes, and development of personality. This paper first will review Lecky's career, theory, and influence. Next, the nuclear theory of the mind, attributed to Frederick Thorne, will be described. The nuclear theory refines and extends Lecky's work and will be evaluated on conceptual, empirical, and practical grounds.