Week 2 - personality

Question 1

Overall Topics

Answer 1

• personality
• types & traits
• measuring personality (3)
• situational enablers and constraints (situation strength & trait activation theories)
• Myers-Briggs type indicator (4)
• Big 5 personality dimensions (5)

Question 2

personality

Answer 2

the sum total of ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with others.
hereditary and environment factors

Question 3

types

Answer 3

grouping and labelling of a combination of traits

Question 4

traits

Answer 4

enduring characteristics that describe an individual’s behaviour

Question 5

measuring personality

Answer 5

• self-reported surveys (impression management & mood)
• interviews
• observer-ratings (best predictor)

Question 6

Situation enablers and contraints

Answer 6

• situation strength theory

- trait activation theory

Question 7

situation strength theory

Answer 7

personalities predict behaviours more when situations are weak rather than strong
strong situation = high 4 C’s  Clarity, Consistency, Constraints, Consequences

Question 8

trait activation theory

Answer 8

specific personality traits may be activated or constrained depending on the situation/job e.g. extrovert will show those behaviours in sales job rather than software development

Question 9

myers briggs type indicator

Answer 9

a personality test that taps four characteristics and classifies people into one of 16 personality types (most widely used personality assessment – 16 personalities)

+ Helps increase self-awareness
+ Provides career guidance
o NT = researchers, lawyers
o SF = nurse, social worker

• Forces people into one personality type
• Self-reported; impression management
• Lacks strong supporting evidence – not predictive of job success so questionable as a selection tool

Question 10

myers briggs personality types

Answer 10

• Extroverted vs Introverted
• Sensing vs Intuitive
• Thinking vs Feeling
• Judging vs Perceiving

Question 11

Big 5 Personality Dimensions

Answer 11

a personality assessment model that has five basic dimensions

+ Can predict work performance - consciousness, emotional stability and openness to experience

• Agreeableness does not predict work performance – high = lower earnings and career success
• Extroversion does not predict work performance – extroverts are more impulsive and therefore more likely to engage in more risky behaviours and be absent from work
• The five factors are not independent
• Self-reported; impression management

Question 12

Big 5 personality dimensions (CANOE)

Answer 12

• conscientious
• agreeableness
• neuroticism/emotional stability
• openness to experience
• extraversion