1. ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
Chapter 2
Foundations of
Individual
Behavior
ORB
Chapter 2

2. Ability, Intellect, and Intelligence
An individual’s capacity to perform the various tasks in a job
Intellectual Ability
The capacity to do mental activities
Multiple Intelligences
Intelligence contains four subparts: cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural
ORB
Chapter 2

3. Dimensions of Intellectual Ability
Number aptitude
Verbal comprehension
Perceptual speed
Inductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning
Spatial visualization
Memory
E X H I B I T 2–1
ORB
Chapter 2

4. Physical Abilities Physical Abilities
The capacity to do tasks demanding stamina, dexterity, strength, and similar characteristics
ORB
Chapter 2

5. Nine Physical Abilities
Strength Factors
Dynamic strength
Trunk strength
Static strength
Explosive strength
Flexibility Factors
Extent flexibility
Dynamic flexibility
Other Factors
Body coordination
Balance
Stamina
Source: Adapted from HRMagazine published by the Society for Human Resource Management, Alexandria, VA.
E X H I B I T 2–2
ORB
Chapter 2

6. Job’s Ability Requirements
The Ability-Job Fit
Ability-Job Fit
Employee’s Abilities
Job’s Ability Requirements
ORB
Chapter 2

7. Biographical Characteristics
Personal characteristics—such as age, gender, race and tenure—that are objective and easily obtained from personnel records
ORB
Chapter 2

8. Learning Learning Learning
Any relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience
Learning
Involves change
Is relatively permanent
Is acquired through experience
ORB
Chapter 2

9. Theories of Learning Classical Conditioning Key Concepts
A type of conditioning in which an individual responds to some stimulus that would not ordinarily produce such a response
Key Concepts
Unconditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response
Conditioned stimulus
Conditioned response
ORB
Chapter 2

10. Theories of Learning Operant Conditioning Key Concepts
A type of conditioning in which desired voluntary behavior leads to a reward or prevents a punishment
Key Concepts
Reflexive (unlearned) behavior
Conditioned (learned) behavior
Reinforcement
ORB
Chapter 2

11. Theories of Learning Social-Learning Theory Key Concepts
People can learn through observation and direct experience
Key Concepts
Attentional processes
Retention processes
Motor reproduction processes
Reinforcement processes
ORB
Chapter 2

12. Theories of Learning Shaping Behavior Key Concepts
Systematically reinforcing each successive step that moves an individual closer to the desired response
Key Concepts
Reinforcement is required to change behavior.
Some rewards are more effective than others.
The timing of reinforcement affects learning speed and permanence.
ORB
Chapter 2

13. Types of Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Providing a reward for a desired behavior
Negative reinforcement
Removing an unpleasant consequence when the desired behavior occurs
Punishment
Applying an undesirable condition to eliminate an undesirable behavior
Extinction
Withholding reinforcement of a behavior to cause its cessation
ORB
Chapter 2

14. Schedules of Reinforcement
Continuous Reinforcement
A desired behavior is reinforced each time it is demonstrated
Intermittent Reinforcement
A desired behavior is reinforced often enough to make the behavior worth repeating but not every time it is demonstrated
ORB
Chapter 2

15. Schedules of Reinforcement
Fixed-Interval Schedule
Rewards are spaced at uniform time intervals
Variable-Interval Schedule
Rewards are initiated after a fixed or constant number of responses
ORB
Chapter 2

16. Schedules of Reinforcement
Fixed-ratio
E X H I B I T 2–4
ORB
Chapter 2

17. Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement
E X H I B I T 2–5
ORB
Chapter 2

18. Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement
E X H I B I T 2–5 (cont’d)
ORB
Chapter 2

19. Behavior Modification
OB Mod
The application of reinforcement concepts to individuals in the work setting
Five Step Problem-Solving Model
Identify critical behaviors
Develop baseline data
Identify behavioral consequences
Develop and apply intervention
Evaluate performance improvement
ORB
Chapter 2