Psychology Chapter on Personality and Motivation

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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of emotional intelligence?

Strong reliance on external rewards

Tendency to be insecure under stress

Inherent artistic talent

Ability to process emotional information (correct)

Which of the following represents intrinsic motivation?

Completing a task for a bonus

Working overtime for higher pay

Enjoying a hobby for personal satisfaction (correct)

Participating in a competition for a trophy

According to Self Determination Theory, which need is NOT one of the three psychological needs for motivation?

Need for achievement (correct)

Need for competence

Need for autonomy

Need for relatedness

Which psychological resource is related to having deep, meaningful relationships?

Acceptance Signup and view all the answers

What could deplete psychological resources in an individual?

Experiencing negative feedback Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT included under emotional intelligence?

Stress management Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of extrinsic motivation?

Taking a job for a high salary Signup and view all the answers

What condition does NOT contribute to the competence aspect of psychological resources?

Failing to meet expectations Signup and view all the answers

What is one key restriction during a sprint in agile methodology?

The sprint goal cannot be impacted by changes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of a sprint retrospective?

Identifying areas of improvement for future sprints Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is least related to the evolutionary basis of group formation?

Improving cognitive abilities in isolated environments Signup and view all the answers

What key outcome is linked to the need for belonging in social psychology?

Development of internal mechanisms guiding social interactions Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the role of the product owner during a sprint?

The product owner has the right to cancel the sprint if necessary. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a project?

An activity with a beginning and an end and specific goals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a suitable scenario for using a project?

A repetitive task with consistent outcomes Signup and view all the answers

Which type of project focuses on creating a new product?

Product development projects Signup and view all the answers

What is one purpose of studying psychology in the context of project management?

To understand and enhance interpersonal relationships and team dynamics Signup and view all the answers

What is the first stage in the general project model?

Pre-study Signup and view all the answers

What is a common outcome when running projects within an organization?

Increased focus on singular goals and resource allocation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following fields is unlikely to involve project-based work?

Advocacy Signup and view all the answers

Why might businesses focus on psychology and organizational behavior?

To ensure the success of projects by managing human factors Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of well-being is least affected by the depletion of psychological resources over time?

Frequency of rest and breaks Signup and view all the answers

What unique value does the combination of COR and basic needs perspective add to our understanding of motivation?

It predicts well-being and stress, in addition to performance. Signup and view all the answers

What is one key factor that can lead to exhaustion in professional life?

Lack of rest and positive experiences Signup and view all the answers

Which situation reflects optimal predictability?

Understanding why you receive criticism Signup and view all the answers

What does the self-fulfilling prophecy suggest in relation to psychological resources?

A cycle of experiences can develop over time based on initial feelings. Signup and view all the answers

Which is NOT one of the basic needs according to self-determination theory?

Achievement Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary impact of negative experiences compared to positive experiences?

Negative experiences deplete more resources than positive experiences energize. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of feeling depleted in terms of competence?

Feeling helpless and unable to take responsibility Signup and view all the answers

How does conservation of resource theory relate to self-determination theory?

It combines psychological needs with resource management. Signup and view all the answers

What does equity theory primarily focus on in the context of workplace relationships?

The motivation for fair treatment based on comparisons to others Signup and view all the answers

According to social identity theory, what happens during the categorization stage?

Individuals recognize their own group and differentiate it from others Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does sociometer theory highlight regarding self-esteem?

It serves as a gauge for interpersonal acceptance and rejection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of feeling over-rewarded according to equity theory?

Tension due to perceived injustice Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of social identity theory involves having biases in favor of the in-group?

Identification Signup and view all the answers

What primarily drives the tension in equity theory when conditions are unequal?

A sense of injustice arising from unfair comparisons Signup and view all the answers

In social identity theory, what are individuals likely to do when they categorize themselves into a group?

Start to undervalue the out-group Signup and view all the answers

What factor does sociometer theory suggest can lead to decreased self-esteem?

Experiencing rejection or devaluation from others Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Neuroticism and Well-being

Neuroticism, characterized by nervousness, insecurity under stress and depression, has the strongest relationship to well-being.

Openness

Openness is characterized by curiosity, imagination, artistic sensitivity, and being receptive to new experiences.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to process and use emotional information in reasoning and other cognitive activities.
It encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, and empathy.
Higher emotional intelligence increases performance in negotiation, colleague and customer service, and motivation.

Motivational Needs

There are three psychological needs that motivate people:
- Need for relatedness: to feel connected and belonging
- Need for competence: to feel capable and effective
- Need for autonomy: to feel in control and independent

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation arises from internal factors, such as enjoyment or interest in the task.
Extrinsic motivation is driven by external factors, such as rewards, salary, or recognition.

Conservation of Resource Theory (COR)

COR holds that individuals strive to acquire, maintain, and protect resources that are valuable to them.
Psychological resources include motivation, emotions, and attention.

Building Psychological Resources

Resources are built through:
- Acceptance: feeling loved and accepted, treated with respect and compassion, and having deep and meaningful relationships.
- Competence: successfully achieving goals, feeling capable and in control, and receiving positive feedback.
- Optimal Predictability: understanding how to achieve success, understanding why others approve or disapprove, and understanding why things happen the way they do.

Depleted Psychological Resources

Resources are depleted by:
- Acceptance: feeling disliked and rejected, treated with disrespect or misunderstanding, and having superficial or meaningless relationships.
- Competence: failing to achieve goals, feeling helpless, receiving negative feedback or criticism.
- Optimal Predictability: not being able to predict success, not understanding others' approval or disapproval, not understanding why things happen the way they do.

Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

SDT is a framework that explains how factors affect intrinsic motivation and self-determination.
It suggests that humans have basic needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
When these needs are met, people are intrinsically motivated and don't need external incentives.

Projects

Projects are temporary activities with defined goals, a beginning and an end, limited resources, and a temporary organization.
Projects enable organizations to focus resources and competencies towards specific goals.
Projects can be used for new, unique, complex tasks, collaboration, development, change, and when specialized expertise or flexibility is needed.

Project Fundamentals

Projects can be classified by purpose (client orders, product development, change, events, research) and field (healthcare, IT, infrastructure, construction).

General Project Model

The general project model follows a sequence of stages: Idea > Pre-study > Planning > Execution > Closure > Impact.

Psychology and Organisational Behaviour (OB)

OB examines the impact of individuals, groups, and structures on behavior within organizations to improve human and organizational behavior.
It incorporates aspects of personal and social psychology (cognition, emotion, and behavior).

Why Psychology and OB Matter in Projects

Although technical skills are crucial, they are insufficient for project success.
Psychology and OB are essential in understanding, influencing, and controlling human factors:
- Develop personal and people skills.
- Anticipate team members' perspectives and internal motivations.
- Address psychological needs (acceptance, competence, optimal predictability).

Leadership Effectiveness

Leaders are effective to the extent that they can influence others' minds, including motivation, emotions, attention, opinions, worldviews, and behaviors.

Sprint Methodology

A sprint is a short iteration lasting 1–4 weeks, utilizing pre-determined time and quality levels, with the ability to adapt content for new insights.
Sprints prioritize focused execution, preventing changes that jeopardize goals, but allowing renegotiations and clarifications with stakeholders.
Sprint reviews evaluate completed work, while retrospective sessions identify improvement areas for future sprints.

Personality psychology focuses on the individual and how their traits influence their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Social psychology focuses on the influence of the social context and group interactions on feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

Reasons for Group Formation

Humans have a long history of group membership (over 150,000 generations).
Forming groups has evolutionary benefits:
- Increased survival rates
- Enhanced reproductive success

The Need for Belonging

This strong evolutionary need is driven by internal mechanisms that encourage individuals to join groups and form lasting relationships.
Social comparisons can have positive effects (admiration, inspiration, compassion) and negative effects (envy, anxiety, contempt).

Equity Theory

We compare ourselves to others and seek fair treatment.
We compare performance/effort ratios with relevant others.
When ratios are equal, equity exists – no tension arises.
When conditions are unequal, tension arises due to perceived injustice.
Over-rewarding or being under-rewarded motivates action to restore perceived fairness.

For every group we belong to, there is an opposite group.
When groups form, we automatically favor our in-group and devalue the out-group.
This occurs through three stages:
- Categorization: dividing people into groups
- Identification: associating with a particular group
- Bias: favoring in-group, devaluing out-group

Sociometer Theory

Self-esteem acts as a “sociometer” measuring our level of acceptance or rejection by others.
High self-esteem reflects feeling valued and accepted, while low self-esteem signals perceived devaluation or rejection.

Negative Behavior in “Good” People

People may be afraid to do the right thing due to:
- Fear: potential consequences for standing up for values.
- Contextual pressures:
  - Authority bias: assuming authority figures are right.
  - Conformity bias: assuming majority behavior is acceptable.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in psychology, including neuroticism, emotional intelligence, and motivational needs. It delves into how personality traits influence well-being and the differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Test your knowledge of these essential psychological theories and their applications.