W3.2 Personality & Values

Question 1

Describe personality, the way it is measured, and the factors that shape it.

Answer 1

Personality: Enduring characteristics that describe an individual’s behavior/dynamic concept that describes the growth and development of a person’s whole psychological system, and is the sum of ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with others.

Measured through self-report surveys (inaccurate and subjective)

Factors that shape personality

• heredity (determined at conception)
• personality traits

Question 2

Discuss how the concepts of core self-evaluation (CSE), self-monitoring, and proactive personality contribute to the understanding of personality

Answer 2

CSE = Core Self -Evaluation → bottom line conclusions individuals have about their capabilities, competence and worth as a person

Self-Monitoring → measures an individual’s ability to adjust his or her behaviour to external, situation factors

Proactive Personality → people who identify opportunities, show initiative, take action and persevere until meaningful change occurs

Question 3

Describe how personality affects job search and unemployment.

Answer 3

Conscientiousness and extraversion are the two strongest predictors of job search behavior,Self-esteem and self-efficacy (parts of CSE) are also important

Question 4

Describe how the situation affects whether personality predicts behavior

Answer 4

Situation strength theory: indicates that the way personality translates into behavior depends on the strength of the situation.

Question 5

Contrast terminal and instrumental values

Answer 5

Values: basic convictions about what is right, good, or desirable.
–Value system: ranks values in terms of intensity.

Importance:

• Lay the foundation for understanding of attitudes and motivation.
• Influence attitudes and behaviors.

Terminal Values: desirable end-states of existence
Instrumental Values: preferred modes of behavior or means of achieving terminal values.

Question 6

Describe the differences between person-job fit and person-organization fit.

Answer 6

Person-Organization Fit

• People high on extraversion fit well with aggressive and team-oriented cultures
• People high on agreeableness match up better with a supportive organizational climate than one focused on aggressiveness
• People high on openness to experience fit better in organizations that emphasize innovation rather than standardization

Question 7

Compare Hofstede’s five value dimensions and the GLOBE framework.

Answer 7

Hodstede’s Framework 
Power Distance 
Individualism vs Collectivism 
Masculinity vs Femininity 
Uncertainty Avoidance 
Long-Term vs Short-Term Orientation
(PIMUL)

GLOBE
Global Leadership and Organizational Behaviour Effectiveness
- Hofstede + humane orientation (the degree to which a society rewards in dividuals for being altruistic, generous, and kind to others) and performance orientation (the degree to which a society encourages and rewards group members for performance improvement and excellence).