38 Questions
What is personality defined as in the given text?
The sum total of ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with others.
Personality is a static concept.
False
What is the primary means of measuring personality according to the text?
Through self-report surveys
Personality is influenced by both _______ and environmental factors.
heredity
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Heredity = Refers to those factors that were determined at conception. Environment = Refers to external factors that influence personality.
What is the purpose of measuring personality in a workplace setting according to the text?
To forecast who is best for a job.
The Big Five personality traits are not relevant to OB.
False
What is conscientiousness most important for in an organizational setting?
Both front-line employees and managers
Emotional stability is most strongly related to job satisfaction and low stress levels.
True
What is the significance of values in an organizational behavior (OB) context?
Values are important in an OB context because they can influence an individual's behavior and job performance.
What is one downside of extraversion in the workplace?
One downside of extraversion in the workplace is that extraverts are more impulsive than introverts, leading to behaviors such as absenteeism, risky behavior, and lying during job interviews.
The text defines personality as a ________ concept, meaning it is changing all the time.
dynamic
Individuals who score high on openness to experience are more likely to be effective leaders and more comfortable with _______________________.
ambiguity and change
What is an alternative means of measuring personality besides self-report surveys?
Observer-ratings surveys
Match the following Big Five traits with their related characteristics:
Conscientiousness = More likely to set high standards and be persistent Emotional Stability = More likely to experience positive emotions and happiness Extraversion = More likely to take charge and be socially dominant Openness to Experience = More creative in science and art
What is a characteristic of individuals who score low on emotional stability?
They are more likely to be hypervigilant and experience stress.
Introverts are more likely to engage in risky behavior.
False
Extraverts are more likely to be _______________________ in their jobs and lives.
happier
What is one way in which conscientiousness contributes to organizational success?
Conscientiousness contributes to organizational success through persistence, attention to detail, and setting high standards.
What is a characteristic of extraverts in a group setting?
They are more likely to take charge and be socially dominant.
What is the comfort level with relationships in the Big Five personality model?
Extraversion
People who score high on conscientiousness are easily distracted and disorganized.
False
What is the range of interests and fascination with novelty in the Big Five personality model?
Openness to experience
The Big Five personality model includes the dimension of _______________________, which is a measure of reliability.
Conscientiousness
Match the following traits with their corresponding Big Five personality dimensions:
Outgoing, assertive, and sociable = Extraversion Responsible, organized, dependable, and persistent = Conscientiousness Calm, self-confident, and secure = Emotional stability
What is the primary focus of the Big Five personality model?
Identifying the primary traits that govern behavior
Research has shown no relationships between the Big Five personality dimensions and job performance.
False
What is the ability to withstand stress in the Big Five personality model?
Emotional stability
People who score low on agreeableness tend to be _______________________.
assertive and competitive
What is the purpose of studying the Big Five personality model in the context of job performance?
To predict job performance based on personality dimensions
What is a characteristic of individuals with high agreeableness?
They tend to do better in interpersonally oriented jobs
Agreeable individuals are less likely to get into accidents.
True
What is the term for desirable end states of existence?
Terminal Values
Values have both content and _______________ attributes.
intensity
What is a downside associated with agreeableness?
Lower levels of career success
Disagreeable individuals are more likely to get into accidents.
True
What is the term for a person's set of values ranked in terms of intensity?
Value system
Values have the tendency to be _______________.
stable
Study Notes
Personality Traits
- Researchers have studied thousands of sets of identical twins separated at birth to identify primary traits that govern behavior.
- Popular characteristics include shy, aggressive, submissive, lazy, ambitious, loyal, and timid, which are personality traits.
Big Five Personality Model
- The five basic dimensions of personality are:
- Extraversion: comfort level with relationships, being outgoing, assertive, and sociable (extroverts) or reserved, timid, and quiet (introverts).
- Agreeableness: individual's propensity to defer to others, being cooperative, compassionate, and polite (high agreeableness) or critical, ruthless, and suspicious (low agreeableness).
- Conscientiousness: measure of reliability, being responsible, organized, dependable, and persistent (high conscientiousness) or easily distracted, disorganized, and unreliable (low conscientiousness).
- Emotional Stability: ability to withstand stress, being calm, self-confident, and secure (high emotional stability) or nervous, anxious, depressed, and insecure (low emotional stability).
- Openness to Experience: range of interests and fascination with novelty, being creative, curious, and open-minded (high openness) or conventional and comfortable with the familiar (low openness).
Predicting Behavior at Work
- Research has shown relationships between the Big Five personality dimensions and job performance.
- Conscientiousness is crucial for managers and front-line employees, as it predicts job knowledge, persistence, and attention to detail.
- Emotional stability is strongly related to life satisfaction, job satisfaction, and low stress levels.
- Extraversion is a strong predictor of leadership emergence, but also associated with impulsiveness and risk-taking behavior.
- Openness to experience is related to creativity, leadership, and adaptability.
Defining Personality
- Personality is a dynamic concept that includes all components of the inner self and their interactions with others.
- Managers need to measure personality to inform hiring decisions and forecast job performance.
- Self-report surveys and observer-ratings surveys are common methods of measuring personality.
Factors Influencing Personality
- Personality is influenced by both heredity and environment.
- Heredity refers to factors determined at conception, while environment shapes personality through experiences and interactions.
Other Personality Traits
- Agreeable individuals are better liked, more satisfied in their jobs, and contribute to organizational performance, but may have lower levels of career success.
- People who are open to experience are more creative, adaptable, and effective leaders, but may be more vulnerable to workplace accidents.
Values
- Values represent basic convictions in a person, and are stable and influential in attitudes and behaviors.
- Terminal values refer to desirable end-states of existence, while instrumental values refer to the means of achieving those end-states.
- Values have both content and intensity attributes, and are important for understanding attitudes and motivation.
Learn about the Big Five personality traits and how they influence behavior. Understand the key characteristics and their implications on organizational decision making.
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