Individual Differences, Perception And Work Attitudes

Question 1

Define personality

Answer 1

Stable characteristic that explains why people behave the way they do.

Question 2

List the big five personality dimensions

Answer 2

•Openness to Experience
•Conscientiousnees
•Extroversion
•Agreeableness
•Neuroticism

Question 3

Describe what Conscientiousness is about.

Answer 3

Its about being careful, dependable,self disciplined.

Question 4

Describe what Agreeableness is about.

Answer 4

Courteous,caring,good natured

Question 5

Describe neuroticism

Answer 5

Anxious,hostile ,depressed

Question 6

Describe Openness to experience

Answer 6

•sensitive,flexible,creative,curious

Question 7

Describe extroversion

Answer 7

Outgoing, talkative, sociable, assertive.

Question 8

Define values

Answer 8

Stable life goals that people have

Question 9

List the types of values

Answer 9

-terminal values
-instrumental values

Question 10

Define terminal values

Answer 10

Refer to end states people desire in life.
They are like long term goals.For example leading a prosperous life.
Being a millionaire.

Question 11

Define instrumental values

Answer 11

These deal with views on acceptable modes of conduct such as being honest and ethical.Being kind etc.

Question 12

What is the importance of values?

Answer 12

•provide understanding of the attitudes, motivation and behaviors.
•influence our perception of the world around us.
•represent interpretations of “right” and “wrong”
•imply that some behaviours or outcomes are preferred over others.

Question 13

Define Perception

Answer 13

The process by which people select,organize,interpret and respond to information from the world around them.

Question 14

Define person perception

Answer 14

The process by which individuals attribute characteristics or traits to other people

Question 15

Define implicit personality theories

Answer 15

These are personal beliefs about the relationships among other’s physical characteristics,personality traits and specific behaviors.

Question 16

Define impression management

Answer 16

The attempt that people make to manipulate or control the impressions others form about them.

Question 17

List the common perceptual errors

Answer 17

•perceptual defense
•halo effect
•stereotyping
•projection
•expectancy effects

Question 18

Define perceptual defense

Answer 18

The tendency for people to protect themselves against ideas,objects or situations that re threatening.

Question 19

Define stereotyping

Answer 19

The tendency to assign attributes to some solely on the basis of the group in which they are a member of.

Question 20

Give an example of stereotyping

Answer 20

Automatically thinking that someone drinks because they belong to a group that drinks.

Question 21

Give an example of perceptual defense

Answer 21

For example someone continuing to smoke even if they see the package written smoking causes cancer.
In their head they tell themselves that….those are rare cases or it cannot happen to me or I have seen someone who has lived longer but they still smoke

Question 22

Define the halo effect

Answer 22

The process by which the perceiver evaluates another person solely on the basis of one attribute,either favorable or unfavorable

Question 23

Give an example of the halo effect

Answer 23

A manager might perceive an employee who is always punctual as highly competent in all areas of their job, even if their actual work performance is average.

Question 24

Define projection

Answer 24

The tendency for people to see their own traits in others.

Question 25

Give an example of projection

Answer 25

A manager who is often disorganized might criticize an employee for being unorganized, even if the employee is relatively efficient. The manager is projecting their own disorganization onto the employee to avoid confronting or accepting it in themselves.

Question 26

Define expectancy effects

Answer 26

Expectancy effects occur when an individual's expectations about another person or a situation influence their behavior, which in turn causes the person or situation to align with those expectations.

Question 27

What is the other name for expectancy effects?

Answer 27

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Question 28

Give an example of expectancy effects.

Answer 28

A teacher believes that certain students are more capable than others, so they give those students more attention, support, and encouragement. As a result, the students who receive more attention may perform better, confirming the teacher's initial belief. Conversely, students who are expected to perform poorly might not receive the same encouragement, potentially leading to lower performance, reinforcing the teacher's expectations.

Question 29

Describe contrast effects

Question 30

Define the attribution theory

Answer 30

When individuals observe behavior they attempt to determine whether it is internally or externally caused.

Question 31

List the categories of the attribution theory

Answer 31

•Distinctiveness •Consensus •Consistency

Question 32

Define consensus

Answer 32

Response is the same as others to same situation

Question 33

Define attitudes

Answer 33

individuals feelings towards other persons, objects or activities.

Question 35

List the components of attitudes

Answer 35

•Cognitive component (thinking) •Affective component (feeling) •Behavioral component (Conotive)

Question 36

What does the cognitive component have to do with?

Answer 36

How one thinks , evaluates and compares.

Question 37

What does the behavioral component comprise of?

Answer 37

Refers to intention to behave in a certain way

Question 38

List the sources of attitudes

Answer 38

•Family Members •Reference groups •Peer groups •Socialisation

Question 39

Explain reference groups as sources of attitudes

Answer 39

E.g celebrities, political and religious leaders

Question 40

List the types of attitudes in OB

Answer 40

Job satisfaction Job involvement Organizational commitment

Question 41

Explain job satisfaction as a type of attitude

Answer 41

Has to do with individual general attitude towards one's job. An individual with positive attitude is more likely to have more job satisfaction.

Question 42

Describe job involvement as a type of attitude

Answer 42

Has to do with the extent to which a person identifies with his or her job. Employees with high job involvement care about the work they are doing.

Question 43

Describe organizational commitment under types of attitudes

Answer 43

Refers to how an employee identifies with a particular organisation and it's goals and wishes to maintain membership. The employee shows loyalty

Question 44

What can improve organizational commitment?

Answer 44

Team briefing and organizational communication

Question 45

What are the factors that influence perception that are in the situation?

Answer 45

•time •work setting •social setting

Question 46

What are factors that are in the perceiver that influence perception?

Answer 46

•attitudes •motives •interests •experience •expectations

Question 47

What are the factors that are in the target that influence perception?

Answer 47

•novelty •motion •sounds •size •background •proximity •similarity

Question 49

List the types of attitudes

Answer 49

•positive •negative •neutral •egoistic •altruistic •open minded •closed minded