Personality

Part 1 - Introduction & Determinants

Part 2 - Personality Traits Models
Model1- MBTI
Model2- Big Five

Part 3 - Major Personality Attributes Influencing OB

Part 4 - Linking An Individuals Personality to the workplace

Personality
The sum total of ways in which an individual reacts and
interacts with others.
Personality Traits
Enduring personal
characteristics that describe
an individuals behavior
which are exhibited in a
large number of situations.
Personality Determinants

Heredity / inheritance / Genetics
Environment
Situation
Heredity Situation Environment
Personality: a persons internally based characteristic way of acting
and thinking
Character: Personal characteristics that have been judged or
evaluated.
Temperament: Hereditary aspects of personality, including
sensitivity, moods, irritability, and distractibility
Personality Trait: Stable qualities that a person shows in most
situations
Personality Type: People who have several traits in common

1. Trait Theories
2. Psychoanalytic Theory
3. Social-Cognitive Theories
4. Humanistic Theories

Trait Theories: Attempt to learn what traits make up personality and how they
relate to actual behavior
Psychoanalytical Theories: Focus on the inner workings of personality,
especially internal conflicts and struggles
Humanistic Theories: Focus on private, subjective experience and personal
growth
Social-Cognitive Theories: Attribute difference in personality to socialization,
expectations, and mental processes
Jungs Theory of Two Types
Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist who was a Freudian disciple, believed that we are one
of two personality types:

Introvert: Shy, self-centered person whose attention is focused inward

Extrovert: Bold, outgoing person whose attention is directed outward

Eysencks Three Factor Theory
Hans Eysenck, English psychologist, believed that there are three
fundamental factors in personality:
Introversion versus Extroversion
Emotionally Stable versus Unstable (neurotic)
Impulse Control versus Psychotic


Psychoanalytic theory, as devised by Freud,
attempts to explain personality on the basis of
unconscious mental forces
Levels of consciousness: We are unaware of some
aspects of our mental states
Freud argued that personality is made up of multiple
structures, some of which are unconscious
Freud argued that as we have impulses that cause us
anxiety; our personality develops defense
mechanisms to protect against anxiety
Id: Innate biological instincts and urges; self-serving & irrational
Totally unconscious
Works on Pleasure Principle: Wishes to have its desires
(pleasurable) satisfied NOW, without waiting and regardless of the
consequences
The Id, Ego, and Superego
Ego: Executive; directs id energies
Partially conscious and partially unconscious
Works on Reality Principle: Delays action until it is practical and/or
appropriate
Superego: Judge or censor for thoughts and actions of the ego
Superego comes from our parents or caregivers; guilt comes from
the superego
Two parts
- Conscience: Reflects actions for which a person has been
punished (e.g., what we shouldnt do or be)
- Ego Ideal: Second part of the superego; reflects behavior
ones parents approved of or rewarded (e.g., what we should do
or be)
The Id, Ego, and Superego,
continued
Conscious: Everything you are aware of at a given moment
Preconscious: Material that can easily be brought into
awareness
Unconscious: Holds repressed memories and emotions and
the ids instinctual drives

Levels of Awareness
Graphic: Levels of Awareness
Freudian Theory
Levels of
consciousness
Conscious
What were aware of
Preconscious
Memories etc. that can
be recalled
Unconscious
Wishes, feelings,
impulses that lies
beyond awareness
Structures of
Personality
Id
Operates according to the
pleasure principle
Ego
Operates according to the
reality principle
Superego
Contains values and ideals
Self-system: the set of cognitive processes by which a person observes, evaluates, and
regulates his/her behavior. Bandura proposed that what we think of as personality is a
product of this self-system.
Children observe behavior of models (such as parents) in their social environment.
Particularly if they are reinforced, children will imitate these behaviors, incorporating
them into personality.
Bandura also proposed that people observe their own behavior and judge its
effectiveness. Self-efficacy: a judgment of ones effectiveness in dealing with
particular situations.
Social-cognitive theories tend to be overly-mechanical.
Overemphasizes environmental influences; gives little or no consideration to the
possibility of innate personality differences or the effects of genetics.
Does not recognize internal human qualities such as hope, aspiration, love, self-
sacrifice

Humanistic personality theories reject
psychoanalytic notions
Humanistic theories view each person as
basically good and that people are striving for
self-fulfillment
Humanistic theory argues that people carry a
perception of themselves and of the world
The goal for a humanist is to develop/promote a
positive self-concept
Humanistic Perspectives
Carl Rogers
We have needs for:
Self-consistency (absence of conflict between self-
perceptions
Congruence (consistency between self-perceptions
and experience)
Inconsistency evokes anxiety and threat
People with low self-esteem generally have poor
congruence between their self-concepts and life
experiences.
Abraham Maslow emphasized
the basic goodness of human
nature and a natural tendency
toward self-actualization.
Humanistic Perspectives

Situation 1 :-
Suppose that you are new to the organisation, and not familiar to
your colleague. You get a chance to interact with them in this
party.

What will you do in this situation?

a) You will take the initiative to talk
b) Feel strange and nervous so will not talk with others
c) You will wait for someone else to talk to you
d) you will stand and smile to others.
Situation 2 :-
If you go in a shopping mall, and you like one t-shirt, what
would be your action?
a) You will immediately buy it
b) You will take a trial before purchasing.
c) You will match the price with your budget and if it
matches than only you will purchase it.
d) You will look out for the discount shceme
Situation 3 :-
If you are going for an important meeting . On the way to
the office, you see an accident. How will you react in
this situation?

a) You will take the victim to the hospital
b)You will call the victims family member and inform
about the accident and will go away from there.
c) You will feel scared about it and will move away from
there.
d) Seeing such critical situation, you start crying up.
e) You wont even notice about the accident.
Situation 4 :-
Teacher makes an announcement in the class that today she is
going to take surprise presentation of the students for the
topic already been explained by her in the previous lecture.

a) you will readily accept and will present only if mam will
call you
b) you will take the initiative and start presenting
c) you will hide your face so that you are not being noticed
d) you will ask for some time to get information organized
and then will present.
e) you will get annoyed of not being informed earlier.
Situation 5 :-
If girl is crossing the road, a group of boys starts harassing her
by whistling or by passing comments or by making faces. If
you are that girl how will you react t that time?
a) you will go and slap that boy
b) you will complaint to the police authority
c) you wouldnt react and pass by
d) you will call your brother or friend or boyfriend to threaten
that group
Situation 6 :-
You have been given a group project. You have made a
mistake in between and only you are aware of it. How will
you react on it?

a) You will confess that you have made the mistake.

b) You will hold someone else responsible for the mistake

c) you will try to find out the solution for it.

d) you will keep mum all through out the project.
Style of
Decision Making
Judgmental (J)
Perceptive (P)
Preference for
Decision Making
Thinking (T)
Feeling (F)
Type of Social
Interaction
Introvert (I)
Extrovert (E)
Preference for
Gathering Data
Intuitive (N)
Sensing (S)
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Extraversion Introversion
Interest Orientation
Talkative,
Sociable,
Friendly,
Outspoken
Shy,
Reserved,
Quite,

Sensing iNtuition
Perception
Organised,
Practical,
Focus Detail.

Less Regular,
Unconscious,
Focus Big Picture
Thinking Feeling
Judgment
Reliability of
logical order
cause and
effect,
Apathy
Priorities based
on personal
importance
and values,
Sympathy
Judgment Perception
Environment Orientation
Judging
attitude
Control of
events and
systematic
planning
Spontaneity
Curious,
awaiting
events and
adapting to
them,
Flexible
ISTJ
Take Your Time
and Do It Right
ISFJ
On My Honor, to
Do My Duty
INFJ
Catalyst for
Positive Change
INTJ
Competence +
Independence =
Perfection
ISTP
Doing the Best I
Can With What
Ive Got
ISFP
Its the Thought
That Counts
INFP
Still Waters Run
Deep
INTP
Ingenious
Problem Solvers
ESTP
Lets Get Busy!
ESFP
Dont Worry, Be
Happy
ENFP
Anythings
Possible
ENTP
Lifes
Entrepreneurs
ESTJ
Taking Care of
Business
ESFJ
What Can I Do
For You?
ENFJ
The Public
Relations
Specialist
ENTJ
Everythings
Fine Im in
Charge
Extroversion
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Emotional
stability
Openness to
Experiance
The Big Five
Personality
Model
Openness to Experience
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Emotional Stability
The Big Five Personality Dimensions
Extraversion: Outgoing, talkative, sociable, assertive

Agreeableness: Trusting, good natured, cooperative, soft hearted

Conscientiousness: Dependable, responsible, achievement oriented,
persistent

Emotional stability: Relaxed, secure, unworried

Openness to experience: Intellectual, imaginative, curious, broad
minded


Research finding: Conscientiousness is the best (but not a strong) predictor
of job performance
As per 11
th
Edition
Other Key
Personality
Attributes
Locus
of Control
Self-Esteem

Risk
Propensity
Type A
Personality
Machiavellian
Personality
Self
Monitoring
Proactive Personality
As per 11
th
Edition
Locus of Control
Internal locus of control: belief that one controls key
events and consequences in ones life.

External locus of control: Ones life outcomes attributed
to environmental factors such
as luck or fate.
As per 11
th
Edition
How to measure ones LoC?
Scoring and Interpretation for the I, P, and C Scales
There are three separate scales use to measure ones locus of control: Internal
Scale, Powerful Others Scale, and Chance Scale. There are eight items on each
of the three scales, which are presented to the subject as one unified attitude scale
of 24 items. The specific content areas mentioned in the items are counterbalanced
so as to appear equally often for all three dimensions.

To score each scale add up the points of the circled answers for the items
appropriate for that scale. (The three scales are identified by the letters I, P,
and C). Add to the sum +24. The possible range on each scale is from 0 to 48.
Each subject receives three scores indicative of his or her locus of control on the
three dimensions of I, P, and C. Empirically, a person could score high or low on
all three dimensions.
Key Point
GIVE YOUR OPINION ON EVERY STATEMENT

If you find that the numbers to be used in answering do not adequately reflect
your own opinion, use the one that is closest to the way you feel.

Read each statement carefully. Then indicate the extent to which you agree or
disagree using the following responses:

If you agree strongly, respond +3
If you agree somewhat, respond +2
If you agree slightly, respond +1

If you disagree slightly, respond 1
If you disagree somewhat, respond 2
If you disagree strongly, respond 3

First impressions are usually best. Read each statement, decide if you agree or disagree
and the strength of your opinion, and then respond accordingly.
Levenson Multidimensional LoC
Inventory
1. (I) Whether or not I get to be a leader depends mostly on my
ability.
2. (C) To a great extent my life is controlled by accidental
happenings.
3. (P) I feel like what happens in my life is mostly determined
by powerful people.
4. (I) Whether or not I get into a car accident depends mostly
on how good a driver I am.
5. (I) When I make plans, I am almost certain to make them
work.
6. (C) Often there is no chance of protecting my personal
interests form bad luck happenings.
7. (C) When I get what I want, it is usually because Im lucky.

8. (P) Although I might have good ability, I will not be given leadership
responsibility without appealing to those positions of power.

9. (I) How many friends I have depends on how nice a person I am.

10. (C) I have often found that what is going to happen will happen.

11. (P) My life is chiefly controlled by powerful others.

12. (C) Whether or not I get into a car accident is mostly a matter of luck.

13. (P) People like myself have very little chance of protecting our personal
interests when they conflict with those of strong pressure groups.
Levenson Multidimensional LoC
Inventory (contd)
14. (C) Its not always wise for me to plan too far ahead because many
things turn out to be a matter of good or bad fortune.

15. (P) Getting what I want requires pleasing those people above me.

16. (C) Whether or not I get to be a leader depends on whether Im lucky
enough to be in the right place at the right time.

17. (P) If important people were to decide they didnt like me, I probably
wouldnt make many friends.

18. (I) I can pretty much determine what will happen in my life.
Levenson Multidimensional LoC
Inventory (contd)
19. (I) I am usually able to protect my personal interests.

20. (P) Whether or not I get into a car accident depends mostly on the other
driver.

21. (I) When I get what I want, its usually because I worked hard for it.

22. (P) In order to have my plans work, I make sure that they fit in with the
desires of people who have power over me.

23. (I) My life is determined by my own actions.

24. (C) Its chiefly a matter of fate whether or not I have a few friends or
many friends.
Levenson Multidimensional LoC
Inventory (contd)
INTERNALS EXTERNALS
Relationship Between LOC &
some other factors
LOC
Job Satisfaction
Absenteeism
Turnover
As per 11
th
Edition
FACTORS
INTERNALS

EXTERNALS

Job Satisfaction Satisfied More dissatisfied
Absenteeism Less absenteeism Depends on their
luck or chance
Turnover No clear
relationship
Depends on their
luck or chance
As per 11
th
Edition
COMPARISION BETWEEN INTERNALS
& EXTERNALS
INTERNALS

Better job
performance

Attempt to control
their environment

Good decision maker

Sophisticated task

Professional jobs

Managerial jobs

EXTERNALS

More compliant

Follow direction

Structured jobs

Routine jobs

As per 11
th
Edition

Named after Niccolo Machiavelli

Characteristics:-

Pragmatic
Maintain emotional distance
Believe that ends can justify the means

As 11th per Edition
Machiavellianism
Conditions Favoring High Machs
Direct interaction
Minimal rules and regulations
Emotions distract for others
Machiavellianism (Mach)
A person's tendency to deceive and manipulate others for personal gain.
The concept is named after renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolo
Machiavellim who wrote IL Principe (i.e. The Price)
MACH-IV Test
To what extent do each of the following statements accurately describe
you? Please indicate the degree to which you personally agree or disagree
with each of the following statements by choosing a number from the scale
below that reflects your opinion.

1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neutral, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree

1) Never tell anyone the real reason you did something unless it is useful to
do so.
2) The best way to handle people is to tell them what they want to hear.
3) One should take action only when sure it is morally right.
4) Most people are basically good and kind.


MACH-IV Test (contd)
5) It is safest to assume that all people have a vicious streak and it will come
out when they are given a chance.

6) Honesty is the best policy in all cases.

7) There is no excuse for lying to someone else.

8) Generally speaking, people won't work hard unless they're forced to do so.

9) All in all, it is better to be humble and honest than to be important and
dishonest.

10) When you ask someone to do something for you, it is best to give the real
reasons for wanting it rather than giving reasons which carry more weight.

MACH-IV Test (contd)
11) Most people who get ahead in the world lead clean, moral lives.

12) Anyone who completely trusts anyone else is asking for trouble.

13) The biggest difference between most criminals and other people is that the
criminals are stupid enough to get caught.

14) Most people are brave.

15) It is wise to flatter important people.

16) It is possible to be good in all respects.

17) P.T. Barnum was wrong when he said that there's a sucker born every
minute.
MACH-IV Test (contd)
18) It is hard to get ahead without cutting corners here and there.

19) People suffering from incurable diseases should have the choice of being
put painlessly to death.

20) Most people forget more easily the death of their parents than the loss of
their property.




High Machs


Manipulate more
Win more
Persuaded less
Persuade others more

High Machs persuaded by :-

Persuaded by 3 factors
1. Face-to-face interaction
2. Situation having minimum number of rules &
regulations ,allowing latitude for improvisation
3. Emotional involvement with details irrelevant


Job suitability

For High Machs
Job requiring bargaining skills (such as labor
negotiation)
Or that offer substantial rewards for winning (as
commissioned sales)