Chapter 4 Decoding Human Behavior and Personality

Objectives Describe the major influences on individual behavior in organizations Discuss the Big 5 Model of personality and summarize the research on the model Identify the four dimensions of the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -1

…Objectives Discuss the interactionist approaches to personality and use them to discern the roots of individual behavior Diagnose the causes of a “difficult” employee’s behavior and identify appropriate responses Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -2

What Influences Behavior? Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -3

Personality - Defined Personality is defined as an individual’s relatively stable characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior, and the psychological mechanisms that support and drive those patterns Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -4

Personality Development Influences NATURE Genes AND NURTURE Environmental and situational aspects like family, culture and geographical location Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -5

Traits - Defined Broad, relatively regular dimensions of individual behavior Examples: extroverted, aggressive, confident Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -6

Trait Models/Theories Emphasize components of personality Highlight importance of individual characteristics in determining behavior De-emphasize role of situation or environment Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -7

The Big 5 Model Also called Five-Factor Model Personality = “OCEAN” dimensions Openness to experience Conscientiousness Extroversion Agreeableness Neuroticism (or emotional stability) Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -8

…The Big 5 Model Openness to experience Conscientiousness Extroversion Seeking new and varied experiences Aware of one’s thoughts, feelings and impulses Conscientiousness Dependable / trustworthy Conform to social norms Extroversion Outgoing Sociable Assertive Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -9

…The Big 5 Model Agreeableness Neuroticism (or emotional stability) Likeable Considerate Cooperative Neuroticism (or emotional stability) Worry Insecurity Self-pity Poor self-image Mood swings Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -10

The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Based on Jung Key personality components: Extroversion/Introversion (E/I) – Social interaction Sensing/Intuiting (S/I) – Collection of information Thinking/Feeling (T/F) – Evaluation of information Judging/Perceiving (J/P) – Decision making Limited research evidence Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -11

Other Common Personality Traits Self-esteem – degree of regard people have for themselves; high vs. low Machiavellianism – “the end justifies the means,” manipulation, emotionally distant Locus of control – inner-oriented and in control of one’s destiny versus outer-oriented at the mercy of fate or luck Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -12

Interactionist Models/Theories Behavior is determined by: Individual’s nature and personality and Situational factors that influence their responses Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -13

The Conditional Reasoning Approach A contingency model that assumes that individuals interpret what happens in their social environment differently based on their individual dispositions Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -14

Cognitive-Affective Processing System (CAPS) Cognitive-affective Unit (CAU) Interpretations of people and situations, goals, expectancies, memories and feelings Affected by genetic, cultural, societal, and developmental factors Personality Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -15

…Cognitive-Affective Processing System (CAPS) Psychological features of situations Cognitive affective personality system If-then behavior profiles Behavioral consequences Biological history Cognitive social learning history Genetic background Culture and society Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -16

Guidelines for Dealing with Difficult People Create a rich picture of: The problem person Yourself The situation Reframe your goals What do you want to accomplish? Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -17

…Guidelines for Dealing with Difficult People Stage the encounter Face-to-face meeting Acknowledge the person’s value Describe problem behavior objectively Discuss possible solutions Follow Up Monitor and reward progress Take corrective action Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach 8/E Joyce S. Osland, David A. Kolb, Irwin M. Rubin and Marlene E. Turner 4 -18