Psychology Attribution Theory and Personality

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Questions and Answers

What defines personality according to Allport's definition?

A fixed set of traits associated with family background

A collection of behaviors influenced solely by situational factors

An arbitrary combination of psychological attributes unrelated to behavior

A unique organization of characteristics that determines interaction with the environment (correct)

Which of the following accurately describes the stability of personality traits?

They are relatively stable across time and situations. (correct)

They fluctuate based on environmental conditions only.

They are entirely fixed from birth and unchangeable.

They are variable and change dramatically over time.

What is NOT a method for assessing personality?

Astrological sign analysis

Projective tests

Standardized behavioral observations

Subjective interpretation of artistic expressions (correct)

Which of the following statements about the 'Big 5' personality dimensions is correct?

The Big 5 dimensions include traits that can predict behavior and performance. Signup and view all the answers

How does the interactionist approach to personality explain behavior?

It emphasizes the importance of both personal traits and situational influences. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'The Ambivert Advantage' suggest about personality?

Ambiverts balance assertiveness and comfort with social interactions. Signup and view all the answers

What does the interactionist approach in personality suggest?

Both personality traits and situational factors influence behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which dimensions are noted for their interactions in personality assessment?

Conscientiousness and Agreeableness Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the 'Big Five' personality dimensions, which trait is least associated with work performance?

Openness Signup and view all the answers

What does Situation Strength Theory explain?

How strong situations suppress individual traits. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following outcomes is most directly influenced by personality according to workplace studies?

Turnover rates Signup and view all the answers

What does Trait Activation Theory propose?

Certain traits are activated by specific situations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the person-situation debate in organizational behavior?

It contrasts the influence of personality versus environment on behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is the heritability estimate for Extraversion?

49% Signup and view all the answers

In the context of personality development, what does MZA stand for?

Monozygotic Adopted Signup and view all the answers

Which factor of the Big Five is associated with being efficient?

Conscientiousness Signup and view all the answers

Which component contributes the largest percentage to shared environmental influence on personality?

Shared Environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Twin Study Method in personality research?

To estimate the heritability of personality traits Signup and view all the answers

In which type of situations does personality have the strongest effect?

Weak situations Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of trait activation refer to?

The process of expressing traits in response to situational cues Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about the predictive validity of big five traits?

They are more predictive of job performance in weak situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a trait-relevant situational cue?

Attention to detail requirement Signup and view all the answers

How does autonomy interact with conscientiousness in job performance?

Job performance is influenced by the combination of autonomy and conscientiousness. Signup and view all the answers

What is attribution in the context of psychology?

Assigning motives to people’s behavior Signup and view all the answers

What are the three factors of Kelley’s Attribution Model?

Distinctiveness, Consensus, Consistency Signup and view all the answers

What does the self-serving bias in attribution refer to?

Both A and B Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT part of the Interactionist approach?

The Big Five Personality Dimensions Signup and view all the answers

In the interaction of trait and state, what do 'P' and 'E' represent?

Person and Environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of dispositional approaches in psychology?

The cause of behavior based solely on personality traits Signup and view all the answers

What is one characteristic of the actor-observer effect?

Actors are more likely to attribute their behavior to situational factors Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'distinctiveness' refer to in Kelley’s Attribution Model?

The variation in behavior across different contexts Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Attribution Theory

People make attributions to explain others’ behavior in terms of dispositional (internal) or situational (external) factors.
Kelley’s Attribution Model suggests judging motives based on distinctiveness, consensus, and consistency of behavior.

Attribution Biases

Fundamental attribution error: Overestimating dispositional factors and underestimating situational factors.
Actor-observer effect: Attributing our own behavior to situational factors and others' behavior to dispositional factors.
Self-serving bias: Attributing successes to dispositional factors and failures to situational factors.

Personality: Key Concepts

Personality is a unique and relatively stable set of psychological characteristics that influence an individual’s interaction with the environment.
It predicts behavior and performance through characteristic patterns of behavior and emotional reactions.

Personality Assessment Methods

Projective tests
Observational methods
Self-reports
MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)
Astrological Sign

The Big Five Personality Traits

The Big Five are a set of five broad personality dimensions:
- Conscientiousness: Efficient, organized, reliable, and responsible.
- Agreeableness: Cooperative, empathetic, and trusting.
- Emotional Stability/Neuroticism: Calm, secure, and even-tempered (opposite of Neuroticism- prone to anxiety, worry, and negative emotions).
- Openness to Experience: Curious, imaginative, and open to new experiences.
- Extraversion: Outgoing, assertive, and sociable.

Personality: Nature vs Nurture

Twin studies are used to investigate the heritability of personality traits by comparing monozygotic twins (MZA) raised apart and dizygotic twins (DZ).
Heritability estimates suggest that genetics play a significant role in all five personality dimensions.
Personality development results from a complex interplay of genes, shared environment, and non-shared environment.

Neurological Markers of Personality

Brain imaging studies suggest that the Big Five personality traits are associated with specific areas of the brain.

Personality and Organizational Outcomes

Personality influences individuals’ behavior, attitudes, and overall job performance.

Complexity: Nonlinear Effects

The Ambivert Advantage: Moderately extraverted individuals may be more effective than those who are extremely introverted or extroverted.

Complexity: Interactions

Interactions among Big Five dimensions can affect outcomes, for example, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness together can contribute to interpersonal skills.
Self-monitoring moderates the relationship between personality and job performance.

Situation Strength Theory

Strong situations (clear roles, rules, and consequences) have less impact from personality compared to weak situations.

Trait Activation Theory

Individuals are more likely to express their personality traits when confronted with situations that trigger them. This is called Trait Activation.

Interactionist Approach: Person-Situation Debate

The interactionist approach acknowledges that personality and situation both influence behavior.
The person-situation debate in OB focuses on the relative influence of personality and situations on workplace behavior.
Situation strength and trait activation theories contribute to the understanding of the interplay between personality and situations in predicting behavior.

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Description

Explore key concepts in attribution theory and personality psychology in this quiz. Test your understanding of biases, assessment methods, and Kelley's Attribution Model. Discover how these psychological principles influence behavior and interaction.