Human Resources Training and Individual Development Personality Theories and Assessment March 3, 2004

Class Overview Personality defined Personality defined Measuring personality Measuring personality Personality theories Personality theories Personality traits Personality traits Your feedback Your feedback

Personality Defined “Every personality theory is concerned with differences as well as the similarities among people” (McCrae & Costa, 1990, p. 21.). “Every personality theory is concerned with differences as well as the similarities among people” (McCrae & Costa, 1990, p. 21.). The totality of a person’s psychological qualities which consistently influence a person’s behavior, emotional experiences and mental processes over time and across different situations The totality of a person’s psychological qualities which consistently influence a person’s behavior, emotional experiences and mental processes over time and across different situations

Measures of Personality Interviews Interviews Unstructured: “Tell me about yourself…” Unstructured: “Tell me about yourself…” Structured: Set list of questions Structured: Set list of questions Observation Observation Objective tests Objective tests Projective tests Projective tests

Personality Theories Psychoanalytic Psychoanalytic Humanistic Humanistic Biological Biological Behavioral, social learning and cognitive Behavioral, social learning and cognitive Trait theories Trait theories

Trait Theory Traits are dimensions of individual differences in tendencies to show consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings and actions. Traits are dimensions of individual differences in tendencies to show consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings and actions. Tendency Tendency Consistent Consistent Trait personality theories suggest that a person can be described on the basis of some number of personality traits Trait personality theories suggest that a person can be described on the basis of some number of personality traits

What is Personality? An individual’s personality is a relatively stable set of characteristics and tendencies that are reflected in traits. Traits that have been formed by An individual’s personality is a relatively stable set of characteristics and tendencies that are reflected in traits. Traits that have been formed by Genes Genes Early childhood Early childhood Is situation or personality more important? Is situation or personality more important? How is personality best measured? How is personality best measured? Does personality change? Does personality change?

Measuring Personality Traits Natural language and the lexicographical hypothesis Natural language and the lexicographical hypothesis Over the course of centuries, every important attribute or trait reflecting differences or similarities among individuals will have been noted and named Over the course of centuries, every important attribute or trait reflecting differences or similarities among individuals will have been noted and named Allport and Odbert (1936): 18,000 trait-descriptive terms in the English language Allport and Odbert (1936): 18,000 trait-descriptive terms in the English language Factor analysis and the Big Five factors Factor analysis and the Big Five factors

“Big Five” Personality Factors Neuroticism Neuroticism Whether a person is unstable and prone to insecurity Whether a person is unstable and prone to insecurity Facets: anxiety (fear), hostility (anger), depression, self- consciousness, impulsiveness, vulnerability Facets: anxiety (fear), hostility (anger), depression, self- consciousness, impulsiveness, vulnerability Extraversion Extraversion Whether a person is sociable, outgoing and affectionate Whether a person is sociable, outgoing and affectionate Facets: warmth, gregariousness, assertiveness, positive emotions, excitement-seeking, activity Facets: warmth, gregariousness, assertiveness, positive emotions, excitement-seeking, activity

“Big Five” Personality Factors Openness to Experience Openness to Experience Whether a person is open to new experiences Whether a person is open to new experiences Facets: fantasy, aesthetics, ideas, etc. Facets: fantasy, aesthetics, ideas, etc. Agreeableness Agreeableness Whether a person is cooperative, trusting, and helpful Whether a person is cooperative, trusting, and helpful Facets: trust, altruism, tender-mindedness etc. Facets: trust, altruism, tender-mindedness etc. Conscientiousness Conscientiousness Whether a person is disciplined and responsible Whether a person is disciplined and responsible Facets:competence, order, dutifulness, achievement- striving, self-discipline, deliberation Facets:competence, order, dutifulness, achievement- striving, self-discipline, deliberation

Measuring the FFM Traits Example: Extraversion Example: Extraversion How many close friends do you have? How many close friends do you have? How much do you enjoy parties? How much do you enjoy parties? Are you often the leader of a group? Are you often the leader of a group? How active and energetic are you? How active and energetic are you? Hoe much do you crave excitement Hoe much do you crave excitement Are you usually cheerful? Are you usually cheerful?

FFM and Performance Conscientiousness and neuroticism are the strongest personality predictors of job performance; extraversion predicts performance for some jobs Conscientiousness and neuroticism are the strongest personality predictors of job performance; extraversion predicts performance for some jobs Meta-analytic correlations: Meta-analytic correlations: r =.25 for conscientiousness and task performance r =.25 for conscientiousness and task performance r = -.15 for neuroticism and task performance r = -.15 for neuroticism and task performance Correlations are almost twice as strong for citizenship performance and counterproductive behaviors Correlations are almost twice as strong for citizenship performance and counterproductive behaviors

FFM and Job Satisfaction Judge, Heller, and Mount (2002) meta-analysis (163 samples): Judge, Heller, and Mount (2002) meta-analysis (163 samples): Two traits were consistently correlated with job satisfaction: Two traits were consistently correlated with job satisfaction: Neuroticism – r = -.29 Neuroticism – r = -.29 Extraversion – r =.25 Extraversion – r =.25 Two other traits were correlated with satisfaction but the relationships were more variable across studies Two other traits were correlated with satisfaction but the relationships were more variable across studies Agreeableness – r =.17 Agreeableness – r =.17 Conscientiousness – r =.26 Conscientiousness – r =.26 Why do these traits predict job satisfaction? Why do these traits predict job satisfaction?

FFM and Motivation Judge and Ilies (2002): meta-analysis of the relationships between personality and motivation as conceptualized by three theories: Judge and Ilies (2002): meta-analysis of the relationships between personality and motivation as conceptualized by three theories: Goal-Setting Goal-Setting Neuroticism – r = -.29 Neuroticism – r = -.29 Conscientiousness – r =.28 Conscientiousness – r =.28 Expectancy Expectancy Neuroticism – r = -.29 Neuroticism – r = -.29 Conscientiousness – r =.23 Conscientiousness – r =.23 Self-Efficacy Self-Efficacy Neuroticism – r = -.35 Neuroticism – r = -.35 Conscientiousness – r =.22 Conscientiousness – r =.22 Why do these traits predict motivation? Why do these traits predict motivation?

Personality and Leadership Meta-analysis by Judge, Bono, Ilies, and Gerhardt (2002) integrated 222 correlations reported in 60 studies (73 independent samples). Meta-analysis by Judge, Bono, Ilies, and Gerhardt (2002) integrated 222 correlations reported in 60 studies (73 independent samples). Neuroticismr = -.24 Neuroticismr = -.24 Extraversionr =.41 Extraversionr =.41 Openness to Experiencer =.24 Openness to Experiencer =.24 Agreeablenessr =.08 Agreeablenessr =.08 Conscientiousnessr =.28 Conscientiousnessr =.28 Ilies, Gerhardt, and Le (in press) showed that 17% of the differences between how likely are individuals to become leaders are is influenced genetic differences Ilies, Gerhardt, and Le (in press) showed that 17% of the differences between how likely are individuals to become leaders are is influenced genetic differences

Other Traits Positive self-concept Positive self-concept A favorable self-regard; its core is self-esteem A favorable self-regard; its core is self-esteem Core self-evaluations are “fundamental, subconscious conclusions individuals reach about themselves, other people, and the world” (Judge, Locke, Durham, & Kluger, 1998, p.18) Core self-evaluations are “fundamental, subconscious conclusions individuals reach about themselves, other people, and the world” (Judge, Locke, Durham, & Kluger, 1998, p.18) Affective traits Affective traits Positive affectivity Positive affectivity Negative affectivity Negative affectivity

Personality Feedback FFM traits FFM traits Positive and Negative Affectivity Positive and Negative Affectivity Core Self-Evaluations Core Self-Evaluations

Evaluating Trait Theory Trait theory, especially the FFM, is able to describe personality Trait theory, especially the FFM, is able to describe personality Cross-cultural studies find good agreement for the Big Five model in many cultures Cross-cultural studies find good agreement for the Big Five model in many cultures The FFM is useful in describing the aspect of personality that are important in the workplace The FFM is useful in describing the aspect of personality that are important in the workplace Problems with trait theory include: Problems with trait theory include: Explanation as to WHY traits develop Explanation as to WHY traits develop

Next Time Leadership development Leadership development Please complete the leadership survey Please complete the leadership survey Readings: Readings: Zalaznic (1992) Zalaznic (1992) Zemke and Zemke (2001) Zemke and Zemke (2001) Bass (1998) Bass (1998)