Knowing Yourself the Scientific Way

Personality is the stable pattern of behaviour that characterises a person. Burns, 1997

Impact of Personality in the Organisation Mix

Eysenck’s & Cattel’s Theories

• Imply individuals are predisposed to certain personalities• More than that, personalities tend to be constant

(therefore difficult to change)

➡ Show underlying personality traits

➡ Explain human behaviour in various situations - trait

theories

Their theories attempt to:

How do they work?

Eysenck’s Personality Typology

Extraversion - Intraversion

Neuroticism - Stable

Psychoticism - Normal

Asssessed objectively by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)

Personality is structured across three dimensions:

Personality Dimensions

Personality dimension scores are related to specific characteristics

Extraversion Dimension

TraitsActivity

SociabilityExpressivenessAssertiveness

AmbitionDogmatism

Aggressiveness

Extraverts are typically active, sociable, assertive and are carefreeIntraverts are the opposite

ExtravertedIntraverted

Low

High

Costa & Mc Crae, 1995

Extraversion Dimension

Neurotic personality is associated with high level of negative effect; ie worries, anxieties, irrationality and depression

NeuroticStable

Low

High

Costa & Mc Crae, 1995

TraitsInferiority

UnhappinessAnxiety

DependenceHypochondriac

GuiltObsessiveness

Psychotism Dimension

High scores on the psychoticism dimension show capacity for psychotic episodes

PsychoticNormal

Low

High

Costa & Mc Crae, 1995

TraitsRisk TakingImpulsivity

IrresponsibilityManipulativeness

Tough-mindednessSensation-seeking

Practicality

and non-conforming, reckless, unempathic and creative traits

Cattel’s Way

• Similar to Eysenck, but instead of three primary traits• There are 16!

WarmthReasoning

Emotional StabilityDominanceLiveliness

Rule-Consciousness

Social BoldnessSensitivityVigilance

AbstractednessPrivateness

Apprehensiveness

Openness to ChangeSelf-ReliancePerfectionism

Tension

See more info www.16pfworld.com/primaryfactors.html address also available on links page

ExtraversionAnxiety

Tough-MindednessIndependenceSelf-Control

Global Factors

Global Factors were derived from the primary traitsThese describe the personality on a broader level

The 16PF Questionnaire is like the EPQ

Low and high scores on each Global Factor or Traits refer to different behaviours in certain situations

Measurement

• Both tools can provide foresight

- for behavioural preference

- individual fit for certain work roles

• Can be useful in personnel selection for roles

- helps improved efficiency + occupational successes = work contentment

Relevance to Work

That is Eysenck’s & Cattell’s methods

Help to find the right person for the job, and the right job for the person

http://similiarminds.com/eysenck.htmlwww.16pfworld.com/primaryfactors.html

See for yourself at:

What are your Personality Dimensions?

Addresses also available on links page

References

Burns, R.B. (1997). Psychology for effective managers. Warriewood: Business and Professional Publishing, Ch 3.

Costa & McCrae (1995). Primary Traits of the Eysenck PEN System, J. Personality & Social Psych, 69, 308

Furnham, A. (2008). Personality & Intelligence at Work: Exploring and Explaining Individual Differences at Work. Routledge, East Sussex

http://www.trans4mind.com/personality/Jackson, C.J., Furnham, A., Forde, L. & Cotter, T. (2000). Structure of the

EPP, Brit. J. Psych, 91, 223 McKenna, E. (1994). Business & Organisational Behaviour: A Student’s

Handbook. Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc Ltd, East Sussex