Unit 2: The Meaning Of Work Flashcards
Define attitude
Evaluative statement or beliefs about something / someone
What are the 3 components of an attitude
🧠Cognitive thoughts ideas opinions responding to a stimuli
🤗Affective: emotional response occurring due to thoughts
🧍♀️Behavioural: reaction
Which of the 3 attitude components can be manipulated and measured
Behavioural
What are the 2 theories that link attitude and behaviours
Cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1957)
Theory of Planned behaviours (Aizenan & Fishbein)
What is cognitive dissonance theory
A theory linking attitudes and behaviours
Explains bhvrs that are congruent with attitudes (E.g. disliking the boss but going for coffee with him)
DISSONANCE: mental discomfort due to acting contrary to beliefs
- You change the outlook on situation (make the attitude match the behaviour; you’re going for coffee because it’s polite)
What is dissonance
Discomfort mentally due to acting contrary to beliefs
What is theory of planned behaviour
Links attitudes and behaviours
Background factors affect beliefs
(Individual: emotional, personality; Social: culture, background, Info (knowledge))
Behavioural beliefs —> attitude to bhvr
Normative beliefs —> subjective norm
Control beliefs —> perceived bhvr control
ALL affect intention —> behaviours
Actual behavioural control is a mediator
Define organisational commitment
The extent to which an individual feels a positive relationship w Their company
3 types of commitment
Affective commitment: Agree with philosophies of company
Continuance commitment: desire to stay due to no other/better options
Normative commitment: moral obligation
How does commitment affect an individual at work
Withdrawal (absence, low motivation)
Performance
How does commitment impact the organisation
Higher customer satisfaction
Higher product
More productive
Lower turnover
Fewer absences
What is employee engagement
Enthusiasm & active involvement
What is job involvement
Invested in their role for the company
What are the 2 theories of attitude change
ELM: Elaboration likelihood model
HSM: Heuristic systematic model
(Crano & Prislun, 2006)
What is elaboration likelihood model (ELM)
If you try to be rational/objective then you can achieve attitude change.
Interjust reliability: ‘if I’m the only one with this attitude maybe I’m wrong?’
What is heuristic/systematic model? (HSM)
Changing attitude due to presence of someone with power credibility and attractiveness.
You adopt their attitudes
What are the 3 general wider areas that affect behaviour at work
Emotion
Perception
Decision making
What is the theory for emotions affecting work behaviour
Affective events theory (Ashkansay & Daus, 2002)
What is the name of the theory for perception as a influence of work behaviours
Personal construct theory (Kelly, 1955)
What is the theory for decision making as an influence on behaviour at work
Bounded rationality theory (Simon, 1972)
What is affective events theory
How emotions affects work behaviours
States that work environment —> work events —> experienced emotion.
Experience emotion is also impact by personal dispositions (emotional stability etc)
Emotions affect
- affect driven behaviours (spontaneous acts of help etc)
- work attitudes (satisfaction, loyalty, commitment)
Outline personal construct theory
How perception affects work behaviour
SELECTIVE ATTENTION: ability to ignore/focus on stimuli
STEREOTYPING
HALO EFFECT: lasting initial impressions
CONTRAST EFFECT: compare people with others
SIMILAR-TO-ME effect
Outline bounded rationality theory
How decision making affects work bhvrs
Actions aren’t always rational bc limitations
LOSS AVERSION: choose risky option to avoid loss
INCOMPLETE INFO: to decide
COMPLEXITY
In what scenario is intuitive decision making appropriate ?
INDIVIDUAL has deep knowledge of context & domain area of the problem
PORBLEMS & it’s tasks are judgemental not intellectual
Why is it important to consider social influences on work behaviour
Because of the rise of group work
What is social facilitation
Better performance when people are present
What is drive theory
Presence of others can promote or inhibit behaviours
Explanations:
evaluation apprehension
Distraction-conflict theory
Outline the 2 explanations for drive theory
EVALUATION APPREHENSION: work hard to avoid negative outcome
DISTRACTION CONFLICT THEORY: avoid distractions & conflict in the brain
What is social loafing
Putting in less effort when part of a group. Effort higher when working alone
What is personal identity
Traits & individual differences that give you a sense of self
What is social identity
The way you perceive yourself due to being a member of a particular social group
What are the 2 theories/studies of social influence
Conformity: Asch lines
Obedience to authority: milgrams shock
What did ash’s lines study demonstrate
That being in the presence of a group can distort perception and response
Due to..
normative social influence
Information social influence
