Personality Definition – Personality is the pattern of relatively enduring ways in which a person feels, thinks, and behaves

Determinants of Personality Nature: biological heritage, genetic make- up –No specific “personality” genes yet identified –Twin Studies –Genetic factors account for 50% of Personality

Determinants of Personality Nurture: life experiences, environmental influence –Culture, immediate environment, family, etc. –Personality can change, develop over time

Prentice Hall, 2001Chapter 44 Personality Attributes and Behavior RiskTaking Locus of Control Self-Esteem Type A Personality Self-Monitoring MachiavellianTraits

Personality Why do we care? Useful for explaining & predicting behaviors & attitudes at work. Matching your personality with the “organization’s”

ASA Benjamin Schneider ‘personalities’ of organizations are a product of the personalities of its workers Attraction—Selection—Attrition –Organizations attract and select individuals with similar personalities and lose individuals with dissimilar personalities

ASA (cont.) Implications –Person-Organization Fit –Southwest Airlines Consequences –Strong culture –If a particular personality type is a valid predictor of performance, may lead to improved individual and organizational performance

Locus of Control Internal –I have significant control over what happens –I can influence outcomes received External –I have little control or influence over what happens to me Perform better in highly structured jobs (little autonomy, prefer to follow directions) Higher absenteeism rates

Self-Monitoring High –Highly adaptable, pay attention to and exhibit behaviors that “fit” the particular situation Who would make a better expatriate? Low –Do not adapt behavior to fit situations (“This is the way I am”) –Risk: behavior may be inappropriate

Type A A –Tend to be impatient, do everything very fast (rapidly moving, eating) Potentially hostile –Emphasis on quantity & movement Willing to trade quantity for quality –Spend less time making decisions –Rarely creative –More susceptible to heart troubles

Type B Essentially the opposite of type A –More relaxed –Tend not to “toot their own horn” unless the situation requires it

Machiavellianism Believe the end justifies the means –“If it works, use it” –Emotionally distant –Tend to be manipulative –Successful in commission based sales jobs Close the deal, no matter what it takes