Chapter 2: Personality & Learning

Question 1

Personality

Answer 1

The relatively stable set of psychological characteristics that influences the way an individual interacts with his or her environment.

Question 2

Dispositional approach

Answer 2

Individuals possess stable traits or characteristics that influence their attitudes and behaviours.

Question 3

Situational approach

Answer 3

Characteristics of the organizational setting influence people’s attitudes and behaviour.

Question 4

Interactionist approach

Answer 4

Individuals’ attitudes and behaviour are a function of both dispostions and the situation.

Question 5

Trait activation theory

Answer 5

Traits lead to certain behaviours only when the situation makes the need for the trait salient. (p.46)

Question 6

Five-Factor Model of Personality

Answer 6

Extraversion, Emotional stability/Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to experience.

Question 7

Locus of control

Answer 7

A set of beliefs about whether one’s behaviour is controlled mainly by internal or external forces.

Question 8

Self-monitoring

Answer 8

The extent to which people observe and regulate how they appear and behave in social settings and relationships.

Question 9

Self-esteem

Answer 9

The degree to which a person has a positive self-evalution.

Question 10

Behavioural plasticity theory

Answer 10

People with low self esteem tend to be more susceptible to external and social influences than those who have high self-esteem.

Question 11

Positive affectivity

Answer 11

Propensity to view the world, including oneself and other people, in a positive light.

Question 12

Negative affectivity

Answer 12

Propensity to view the world, including oneself and other people, in a negative light.

Question 13

Proactive behaviour

Answer 13

Taking initiative to improve current circumstances or creating new ones.

Question 14

General self-efficacy (GSE)

Answer 14

A general trait that refers to an individual’s belief in his or her ability to perform successfully in a variety of challenging situations.

Question 15

Core self-evaluations

Answer 15

A broad personality concept that consists of more specific traits that reflect the evaluations people hold about themselves and their self-worth.

Question 16

Learning

Answer 16

A relatively permanent change in behaviour potential that occurs due to practice or experience.

Question 17

Operant learning

Answer 17

Learning by which the subject learns to operate on the environment to achieve certain consequences.

Question 18

Reinforcement

Answer 18

The process by which stimuli strengthens behaviour.

Question 19

Positive reinforcement

Answer 19

The application or addition of a stimulus that increases or maintains the probability of some behaviour.

Question 20

Negative reinforcement

Answer 20

The removal of a stimulus that in turn increases or maintains the probability of some behaviour.

Question 21

Performance feedback

Answer 21

Providing quantitative or qualitative information on past performance for the purpose of changing or maintaining performance in specific ways.

Question 22

Social recognition

Answer 22

Informal ackowledgement, attention, praise, approval, or genuine appreciation for work well done from one individual or group to another.

Question 23

Extinction

Answer 23

The gradual dissipation of behaviour following the termination of reinforcement.

Question 24

Punishment

Answer 24

The application of an aversive stimulus following some behaviour designed to decrease the probability of that behaviour.

Question 25

Continuous reinforcement and short delay of reinforcement lead to…

Answer 25

Fast acquisition

Question 26

Partial reinforcement and long delay of reinforcement lead to…

Answer 26

Persistence

Question 27

Social cognitive theory (SCT)

Answer 27

Emphasizes the role of cognitive processes in learning and in the regulation of people’s behaviour.

Question 28

Observational learning

Answer 28

The process of observing and imitating the behaviour of others.

Question 29

Self-efficacy beliefs

Answer 29

Beliefs people have about their ability to successfully perform a specific task.

Question 30

Self-regulation

Answer 30

The use of learning principles to regulate one’s own behaviour.

Question 31

Organizational behaviour modification (O.B. Mod)

Answer 31

The systematic use of learning principles to influence organizational behaviour.

Question 32

Employee recognition programs

Answer 32

Formal organizational programs that publicly recognize and reward employees for specific behaviours.

Question 33

Peer recognitions programs

Answer 33

Formal programs in which employees can publicly acknowledge, recognize, and reward their co-workers for exceptional work and performance.

Question 34

Training and development

Answer 34

Training is planned organizational activities that are designed to facilitate knowledge and skill acquisition to change behaviour and improves one’s current job; development focuses on future job responsibilities.

Question 35

Behaviour modelling training (BMT)

Answer 35

One of the most widely used and effective methods of training, involving five steps based on the observational learning component of social cognitive theory.

Question 36

5 BMT Steps

Answer 36

• Describe behaviours to be learned
• Display effective use of behaviours
• Provide opportunity for practise
• Provide feedback/reinforcement on practise
• Maximize behaviours in the job

Question 37

Career Development

Answer 37

An ongoing process in which individuals progress through a series of stages that consist of a unique set of issues, themes, and tasks.

Question 38

Determinants of self-efficacy beliefs

Answer 38

Performance mastery
Observation
Verbal persuasion and social influence
Physiological state