Learning Outcomes Chapter 3 Personality Perception and Attribution 1 Describe individual differences and explain why they are important in understanding organizational behavior 2 Articulate key personality traits and explain how they influence behavior in organizations 3 Discuss how personality theories may be applied in organizations 4 Define social perception and explain the factors that affect it 5 Identify five common barriers to social perception 6 Explain the attribution process and how attributions affect managerial behavior 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved 1 Learning Outcome Describe individual differences and explain why they are important in understanding organizational behavior 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Variables Influencing Individual Behavior 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Propositions of Interactional Psychology Behavior is a function of continuous multidirectional interaction between the person and the situation The person is active in this process and both changes situation and is changed by them People vary in many characteristics including cognitive affective motivational and ability factors Two aspects of a situation are important the objective situation and the person s subjective view of the situation 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved 2 Learning Outcome Articulate key personality traits and explain how they influence behavior in organizations 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Personality The relatively stable set of characteristics that influences an individual s behavior and lend it consistency 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Personality Theories Trait Theory understand individuals by breaking down behavior patterns into observable traits Psychodynamic Theory emphasizes the unconscious determinants of behavior Humanistic Theory emphasizes individual growth and improvement Integrative Approach describes personality as a composite of an individual s psychological processes 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Big Five Personality Traits 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Personality Characteristics in Organizations A strong situation can overwhelm the effects of individual personalities by providing strong cues for appropriate behavior 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Personality Characteristics in Organizations Strong personalities will dominate in a weak situation 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Personality Characteristics in Organizations Locus of Control Internal External I control what happens to me People and circumstances control my fate 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Beyond the Book What s Your Locus of Control Choose A or B for each item 1 a Becoming a success is a matter of hard work luck has little or nothing to do with it b Getting a good job depends mainly on being in the right place at the right time 2 a The average citizen can have an influence in government decisions b This world is run by the few people in power and there is not much the little guy can do about it 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Beyond the Book What s Your Locus of Control 3 a As far as world affairs are concerned most of us are the victims of forces we can neither understand nor control b By taking an active part in political and social affairs people can control world events 4 a With enough effort we can wipe out political corruption b It is difficult for people to have much control over the things politicians do in office Scoring Key The internal locus of control answers are 1a 2a 3b 4a The external locus of control answers are 1b 2b 3a 4b 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Self Efficacy beliefs and expectations about one s ability to accomplish a specific task effectively 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Personality Characteristics in Organizations Sourcesofofself efficacy self efficacy Sources Priorexperiences experiencesand andprior priorsuccess success Prior Behaviormodels models observing observingsuccess success Behavior Persuasion Persuasion Assessmentofofcurrent currentphysical physicaland and Assessment emotionalcapabilities capabilities emotional 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Self Esteem Failure tends to decrease self esteem Success tends to increase self esteem 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Self Monitoring Behavior based on cues High self monitors flexible adjust behavior according to the situation and the behavior of others can appear unpredictable and inconsistent Low self monitors act from internal states rather than from situational cues show consistency less likely to respond to work group norms or supervisory feedback 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO Low self monitors High self monitors Get promoted Change employers Make a job related geographic move 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved The Role of Affect Positive Affect an individual s tendency to accentuate the positive aspects of oneself other people and the world in general Negative Affect an individual s tendency to accentuate the negative aspects of oneself other people and the world in general 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved 3 Learning Outcome Discuss how personality theories may be applied in organizations 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Four Measures of Personality Projective Test elicits an individual s response to abstract stimuli Behavioral Measures personality assessments that involve observing an individual s behavior in a controlled situation 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Four Measures of Personality Self Report Questionnaire assessment involving an individual s responses to questions Myers Briggs Type Indicator MBTI instrument measuring Jung s theory of individual differences 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Myers Briggs Type Indicator Based on Carl Jung s theories People are fundamentally different People are fundamentally alike Population made up of extraverted and introverted types 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Myers Briggs Type Indicator Based on Carl Jung s theories Human similarities differences understood by combining preferences No preferences better than others Understand celebrate and appreciate differences 2011 Cengage Learning All rights reserved Myers Briggs Type Indicator In the 1940 s Myers and Briggs developed the MBTI to understand individual differences by analyzing the combinations of preferences 2011 Cengage Learning All rights