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Chapter 2 Perspectives onChapter 2 Perspectives onIndividual behaviorIndividual behavior

Week 1Week 1-- 12/09/200812/09/2008

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Lecture PlanLecture Plan

Demographic characteristicsDemographic characteristics

AbilityAbility

Individual behavior and personalityIndividual behavior and personality

What is personality?What is personality?Personality theoriesPersonality theories

Personality in the organizationPersonality in the organization

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Individual behaviorIndividual behavior

Both innate factors and EnvironmentalBoth innate factors and Environmentalfactors affects our behavior.factors affects our behavior. (Lewin, 1951)(Lewin, 1951)

B=f (P, E)B=f (P, E)

where: B=Behaviorwhere: B=Behavior

P=Person (innate), andP=Person (innate), and

E=EnvironmentE=Environment

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Individual behavior and WorkIndividual behavior and Work

EfficiencyEfficiency

Perceptions Learning

Demographic

Ability

Personality

Attitude

Need

Motivation

BehaviorStimulus

Wor

k efficiency

Evaluation

Personality

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AbilityAbility

What isWhat is AbilityAbility?? An individualAn individuals capacity to perform the various tasks in a job.s capacity to perform the various tasks in a job.

Intellectual AbilitiesIntellectual Abilities That required to do mental activities (e.g., number aptitude,That required to do mental activities (e.g., number aptitude,

verbal comprehension, memory, reasoning, spatialverbal comprehension, memory, reasoning, spatialvisualization).visualization).

Physical AbilitiesPhysical Abilities That required to do tasks demanding stamina, dexterity,That required to do tasks demanding stamina, dexterity,

strength, and similar characteristics.strength, and similar characteristics.

The AbilityThe Ability -- Job FitJob Fit

Employee performance and job satisfaction are enhancedEmployee performance and job satisfaction are enhancedwhen there is a high abilitywhen there is a high ability -- job fitjob fit

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Types of AbilityTypes of Ability

Intellectual AbilityIntellectual Ability Verbal AbilityVerbal Ability

Numerical AbilityNumerical Ability

Reasoning AbilityReasoning Ability

Deductive AbilityDeductive Ability

MemoryMemory

Spatial AbilitySpatial Ability Perceptual AbilityPerceptual Ability

Physical AbilityPhysical Ability Motor Skills (e.g. reactionMotor Skills (e.g. reaction

time, dexterity)time, dexterity)

Physical Skills (e.g.Physical Skills (e.g.strength, endurance)strength, endurance)

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Managing Ability in OrganizationsManaging Ability in Organizations

AbilityAbility--Job FitJob Fit using Humanusing Human

Resource ManagementResource ManagementSelectionSelection

PlacementPlacement

TrainingTraining

RewardsRewards

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Individual behavior and personalityIndividual behavior and personality

What is personality:What is personality:

characteristic patterns of behaviour and modes ofcharacteristic patterns of behaviour and modes of

thinking that determine a personthinking that determine a persons unique way ofs unique way ofinteracting with the environmentinteracting with the environment

Theoretical models:Theoretical models:

Trait, HumanisticTrait, Humanistic,, PsychoanalyticPsychoanalytic,, TypeType

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What Determines Personality?What Determines Personality?

Heredity (nature)Heredity (nature): sets the limits on the: sets the limits on the

development of personalitydevelopment of personalitycharacteristics.characteristics.

Environment (nurture)Environment (nurture): determines: determines

development within these limitsdevelopment within these limitsAcross all characteristics there is aboutAcross all characteristics there is about

a 50a 50--50 heredity50 heredity--environment split.environment split.

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What determines personality? (cont.)What determines personality? (cont.)

Key environmental factors in personalityKey environmental factors in personality

development.development.

Cultural values and norms.Cultural values and norms.

Situational factorsSituational factors (high constrained vs. low(high constrained vs. low

constrained)constrained)..

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Personality TestsPersonality Tests

Personality tests are used forPersonality tests are used for::

selection training workersselection training workers

for team workfor team work

career developmentcareer development

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Trait theoriesTrait theories

The Big Five Model:The Big Five Model:

ExtraversionExtraversion -- sociable, talkative and assertive.sociable, talkative and assertive.AgreeablenessAgreeableness -- goodgood--natured, cooperative andnatured, cooperative and

trusting.trusting.ConscientiousnessConscientiousness -- responsible, dependable,responsible, dependable,

persistent and achievement oriented.persistent and achievement oriented.Emotional stabilityEmotional stability -- calm, enthusiastic, securecalm, enthusiastic, secure

(positive)(positive)Openness to experienceOpenness to experience -- imaginativeness, artisticimaginativeness, artistic

sensitivity and intellectualism.sensitivity and intellectualism.

Online test : http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/Online test : http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/

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The Humanistic ApproachThe Humanistic Approach

Developed by Carl RogersDeveloped by Carl Rogers (b. 1902(b. 1902-- d. 1987)d. 1987)

States that individual feel a need forStates that individual feel a need forpersonal growth and fulfillment, what hepersonal growth and fulfillment, what hetermsterms self actualizationself actualization..

SelfSelf--concept, how people perceiveconcept, how people perceivethemselves, is very important in thethemselves, is very important in thehumanistic approach and has a stronghumanistic approach and has a stronginfluence upon the individualinfluence upon the individuals development.s development.

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Psychodynamic TheoryPsychodynamic Theory Psychodynamics is the "systematized study and theory ofPsychodynamics is the "systematized study and theory of

the psychological forces that underlie human behavior,the psychological forces that underlie human behavior,emphasizing the interplay between unconscious andemphasizing the interplay between unconscious andconscious motivation".conscious motivation".

Behaviour can be driven by unconscious or hiddenBehaviour can be driven by unconscious or hidden

personality factors which can be used to explain irrationalpersonality factors which can be used to explain irrationalbehaviors.behaviors.

Sigmund Freud says behavior and personality beingSigmund Freud says behavior and personality beingdetermined by a constant struggle between the id, thedetermined by a constant struggle between the id, thesuperego and the ego.superego and the ego.

Id (basic drive which act irrationally and on impulse;Id (basic drive which act irrationally and on impulse;

Superego: environmental influences on the mind or conscienceSuperego: environmental influences on the mind or conscience

Ego : balance the conflicting directions f the id and superego.Ego : balance the conflicting directions f the id and superego.

Behavioral characteristics: denial, compensationBehavioral characteristics: denial, compensation

Criticisms: It is unscientific and mostly unproven.Criticisms: It is unscientific and mostly unproven.

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JungJungs Personality Theorys Personality Theory

JungJungs personality theorys personality theory

Extrovert/ Introvert; Sensing/intuitive;Extrovert/ Introvert; Sensing/intuitive;Thinking/Feeling; Judging/PerceivingThinking/Feeling; Judging/Perceiving

Led to the development of the MyersLed to the development of the Myers--Briggs TypeBriggs Type

Indicator (MBTIIndicator (MBTI--basis for personality testing)basis for personality testing)http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgihttp://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi--win/JTypes1.htmwin/JTypes1.htm

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Major Personality AttributesMajor Personality Attributes

Influencing OBInfluencing OB Locus of ControlLocus of Control

MachiavellianismMachiavellianism -- pragmatic, emotional distance, endspragmatic, emotional distance, ends

justify means.justify means. SelfSelf--EsteemEsteem -- A belief about oneA belief about ones worth based on ans worth based on an

overall selfoverall self--evaluation,evaluation, liking or disliking of themselves.liking or disliking of themselves.

SelfSelf--MonitoringMonitoring -- adjust behavior to external, situationaladjust behavior to external, situationalfactors.factors.

RiskRisk--TakingTaking Type A PersonalityType A Personality

Type B PersonalityType B Personality

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Personality in the OrganizationPersonality in the Organization::Locus of ControlLocus of Control

Locus of control: an important personalityLocus of control: an important personalitycharacteristic in individuals working incharacteristic in individuals working inorganizations.organizations.

Locus of Control: is the extent to which a personLocus of Control: is the extent to which a person

feels able to control his or her own life and it isfeels able to control his or her own life and it isconcerned with a personconcerned with a persons internals internalexternalexternal

orientation.orientation.

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Locus of ControlLocus of Control (continued)(continued)

Locus of controlLocus of control::

Internal locus of control.Internal locus of control.People believe they control their own destiny.People believe they control their own destiny.

External locus of control.External locus of control.

People believe that much of what happens to themPeople believe that much of what happens to themis determined by environmental forces.is determined by environmental forces.

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Locus of ControlLocus of Control (continued)(continued)

External Locus of Control:External Locus of Control:

In general, externals are more extroverted in theirIn general, externals are more extroverted in their

interpersonal relationships and are more oriented towardinterpersonal relationships and are more oriented toward

the world around them. Internals tend to be morethe world around them. Internals tend to be moreintroverted and are more oriented toward their ownintroverted and are more oriented toward their ownfeelings and ideasfeelings and ideas

Internal Locus of Control:Internal Locus of Control:

Internals tend to do better on tasks requiring complexInternals tend to do better on tasks requiring complexinformation processing and learning, as well as initiative.information processing and learning, as well as initiative.Many managerial and professional jobs have these kinds ofMany managerial and professional jobs have these kinds of

requirementsrequirements..

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Type A and Type BType A and Type BType A PersonalityType A Personality

Always moving, walking, and eating rapidlyAlways moving, walking, and eating rapidly

Feel impatient with the rateFeel impatient with the rate

Strive to think or do two or more things at onceStrive to think or do two or more things at once

Cannot cope with leisure timeCannot cope with leisure timeObsessed with numbersObsessed with numbers

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Type A and Type B (cont..)Type A and Type B (cont..)

Type B PersonalityType B Personality

Never suffer from a sense of time urgencyNever suffer from a sense of time urgency

Feel no need to display or discuss either theirFeel no need to display or discuss either theirachievements or accomplishmentsachievements or accomplishments

Play for fun and relaxationPlay for fun and relaxation

Can relax without guiltCan relax without guilt

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Personality and national culturePersonality and national culture

A countryA countrys culture influences the dominants culture influences the dominantpersonality characteristics of its population.personality characteristics of its population.

Locus of controlLocus of control:: In North American people believe thatIn North American people believe thatthey dominate their environment; in some other societies, suchthey dominate their environment; in some other societies, suchas Middle Eastern countries, believe that life is essentiallyas Middle Eastern countries, believe that life is essentially

preordained.preordained.

Type A personalityType A personality:: 50% of the North American50% of the North Americanpopulation is Type A; in culture such as Sweden and France,population is Type A; in culture such as Sweden and France,where materialism is less revered, a smaller proportion of Typewhere materialism is less revered, a smaller proportion of Type

A personality.A personality.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONDISCUSSION QUESTION

1.1. Identify two leading characters who have beenIdentify two leading characters who have beenin the news during the last two weeks andin the news during the last two weeks andidentify their behavioral characteristics andidentify their behavioral characteristics and

personality traits, drawing on material frompersonality traits, drawing on material fromchapter two. What are their main differenceschapter two. What are their main differencesand why?and why?

2.2. Personality tests have no value in terms ofPersonality tests have no value in terms ofcontributing to the recruitment process. Discuss.contributing to the recruitment process. Discuss.