Human Psychology, Sociology & Behaviour Flashcards
Define the meaning of ‘Psychology’
Psychology is a study of the human personality
Define the meaning of ‘Sociology’
Sociology is the study of the history and nature of human society
What is meant by the following definitions:
Personality
Attitude
Aptitude
Motivation
PERSONALITY
The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individuals distinctive character. The main dimensions of personality are: Extroversion/Introversion, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and Openness to experience
ATTITUDE
Reflects how a person thinks or believes about something and this may then extend to how they behave.
APTITUDE
The ability of an individual to undertake a given task safely. Training and supervision usually increase aptitude.
MOTIVATION
Most people are generally motivated to avoid accidents and ill-health, although other motivators may conflict with this principle. For example, PPE may be uncomfortable and interfere with the task.
What are the key theories of Human Motivation?
Mayo (Hawthorne Experiments)
Maslow (Hierarchy of Needs)
Vroom (Expectancy Theory)
Blanchard
Explain the Mayo (Hawthorne Experiments)
This took place in 1927 at the Hawthorne Works of WEC in the USA.
The observers thought they could predict what was going to happen. The study involved looking at the “relation of quantity and quality of illumination to efficiency in industry”. To the surprise of the observers they found that output varied with no relationship to the amount of illumination.
The observers then realised that motivation of the individual is not just to do with money or the intensity of lighting.
A psychologist (Elton Mayo) conducted a series of experiments and found the following: Working in a small, harmonious group can have a significant effect on productivity and that having the chance to air grievances seems to be beneficial to working relationships.
Explain the Maslow theory (Hierarchy of Needs)
Abraham Maslow suggested five levels of human need, which he arranged in a hierarchy.
Self-Actualization Esteem Social Safety or Security Biological (ALL ENCLOSED WITHIN TASK NEEDS)
The order is significant due to it being the order in which they are said to appear in the normal development of the person AND it is the order in which they have to be satisfied and if earlier needs are not satisfied, the person may never get around to doing much about the later ones.
From this theory, you might expect that people in a poor society will be mostly concerned with physiological and safety needs, whereas those in an affluent society will manage to satisfy those lower needs in the hierarchy and, in many cases, will be preoccupied with the need for self-actualization.
Explain the Vroom (Expectancy Theory)
V H Vroom defined motivation as a process whereby the individual makes choices between alternative forms of voluntary activities. Employee effort leads to performance and performance leads to rewards; so the choices made by the individual are based on estimates of how well the expected results of a given behavior will lead to the desired results.
In Vroom’s analysis, motivation is based on three factors:
Expectancy that effort will lead to the intended performance
Instrumentality of this performance in achieving a particular result
The desirability of the result to the individual
Explain the Blanchard theory
Ken Blanchard says that people have a natural desire to grow, develop and do meaningful work.
The key psychological needs of an individual are autonomy, relatedness and competence. If these are satisfied in a workplace employees will become highly motivated and more engaged.
The Blanchard model identifies a spectrum with six motivational outlooks:
Disinterested - No value in task
External - Only participating for money
Imposed - Feeling pressured to participate
Aligned - Significant value if participating
Integrated - Life or work purpose
Inherent - Enjoyment of the activity
List the factors that may influence an individuals behavior
Experience
Social & Cultural Background
Education & Training
