Individual Differences

1
Individual Differences

• Lewin B f(P,E)
• In order to understand human behavior we must
  know something about the person and something
  about the situation.

2
The Person

• Skills and Abilities
• Personality
• Perceptions
• Attributions
• Attitudes
• Values

3
The Situation or Environment

• Organization (structure design)
• Work Group (size, norms, cohesive)
• Job (complexity, variety, feedback)
• Personal Life (work/family conflict)
• Other Situational Factors

4
Personality Defined

• Relatively stable pattern of behaviors and
  consistent internal states that explain a
  person's behavioral tendencies
• Personality is shaped by both heredity and
  environment

5
Biological Basis - Heredity

• Traits associated with temperament and
  sociability traced to genetics
• Preferences in clothing, food, habits, appearance
• Tendencies toward extroversion leadership,
  dominance
• resistance to stress, work ethic, achievement

6
Environmental or Situational Basis

• Examples of situational influences include
  family, cultural, educational influences, the way
  we are rewarded and punished etc.
• Traits like aggression, risk aversion, need for
  intimacy and comfort

7
Measuring Personality

• Projective tests pictures, abstract images,
  photos, Ink blot
• Behavioral measures observing behavior in a
  controlled situation where you can record
  occurrences
• Self-report questionnaire (MMPI) (NEO) (MBTI)

8
General Conclusions

• Behavior is a function of the person interacting
  with his/her environment. Both play almost equal
  parts.
• Personality traits are less evident in situations
  where social norms, rules, reward systems, or
  consequences constrain behavior

9
General Conclusions Cont

• Personality tests were widely used in selection
  40 years ago
• Research began to report a weak relationship
  between those tests and actual job performance
• Tests might unfairly discriminate against some
  groups of people

10
General Conclusions Cont

• In the last 10 years some personality traits have
  regained some credibility in predicted
  work-related behaviors, stress reactions, and
  emotions
• In general, personality tests are not good
  predictors of job performance

11
Personality Variables in OB Research

• Big Five
• MBTI
• Locus of Control
• Self-Monitoring
• Self-Esteem Self-Efficacy
• Negative/Positive Affect

12
Big Five Personality Dimensions

• Conscientiousness (h,l) careful, dependable,
  self-disciplined
• Agreeableness(h,l) courteous, good-natured,
  empathic, caring
• Emotional Stability/Neuroticism poised, secure,
  calm anxious, hostile, depressed
• Openness to experience(h,l) (most complex) -
  Sensitive, flexible, creative, curious, less
  resistant to change
• Extroversion/Introversion outgoing, talkative,
  sociable, assertive quiet, cautious, often shy

13
MBTI Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

• Extroversion Energy directed outward toward
  people and things. Focus change the world.
  Seeks variety and action.
• Introversion Energy directed inward toward
  concepts and ideas. Focus understand the
  world. Seeks quiet for concentration.

14
Sensing/Intuition

• Sensing mode of perception is the five senses,
  reliance on experience and data. Focus is
  practical and reality. Prefers using learned
  skills, pays attention to details and facts.
• Intuition mode of perception is intuition, what
  is possible. Focus is on the future, innovation.
  Prefers adding new skills, looking at complex
  patterns.

15
Thinking/Feeling

• Thinking Mode of decision making is based on
  logic. Focus is on things, truth, principles
  solving problems. Treats others fairly, less
  personable, more businesslike.
• Feeling Mode of decision making is on human
  values and needs. Focus is on people, harmony,
  being supportive. Acts more personable, friendly.

16
Judgment/Perception

• Judgment lifestyle involves planning. Focus is
  being decisive, purposeful. Closure is
  important, completing tasks, making decisions.
• Perception lifestyle is more spontaneous.
  Focus is curious, flexible, and adaptable.
  Considering possibilities, gathering information,
  postpone decisions.

17
Locus of Control and Self-Monitoring

• Locus of control
• Internals believe in their effort and ability
• Externals believe events are mainly due to
  external causes
• Self-monitoring (high, low)Extent to which
  people base their behavior on cues from other
  people and situations

18
Self Monitoring

• Self Monitoring Situational appropriateness,
  Self expression and Self presentation. High SMs
  use situational cues or social information to
  regulate their own verbal and nonverbal self
  presentation. Low SM act more from internal,
  dispositional states. Their behavior is more
  consistent.

19
Self Esteem and Self Efficacy

• Self Esteem a belief about ones own worth
  based on an overall evaluation
• Self Efficacy a persons belief about her
  chances of successfully accomplishing a specific
  task

20
Negative/Positive Affect

• Negative Affect a temporary mood state or a
  more chronic tendency toward negative
  emotionality and self concept.
• Positive Affect a mood/disposition to focus on
  the positive aspects of themselves, others and
  the world in general