Does personality shape our behavior? The sum total of ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with others This is more of a dynamic concept describing the growth and development of a person’s whole psychological system

Measuring Personality A personality test measures those relatively enduring aspects of an individual which distinguish them from other people, making them unique Also permits a comparison between individuals ranging from intelligence, abilities, self esteem and emotional stability

The 3 Main Ways of Measurement Self Report Surveys Observer Rating Surveys Projective Measures (Rorschach Inkblot Test and Thematic Appreciation Test)

Personality Traits Enduring characteristics that describe an individual’s behavior Shy Aggressive Submissive Lazy Ambitious Loyal Timid When someone exhibits these characteristics in a large number of situations, we call them personality traits Here, Personality appears to be a result of both hereditary and environmental factors

Frameworks for Identifying and Classifying Traits The Myers – Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): It’s a 100 question personality test that asks people how they usually feel or act in particular situations. This test taps 4 characteristics and classifies people into 16 personality types. The Big Five Personality Model: It’s a personality assessment model that taps 5 basic dimensions. These dimensions underlie all others and encompass most of the significant variation in human personality.

Myers – Briggs Type Indicator The Four Characteristics are: Extraverted versus Introverted (E vs I) Sensing versus Intuitive (S vs N) Thinking versus Feeling (T vs F) Judging versus Perceiving (J vs P) Example: INTJs are visionaries (independent & determined) ESTJs are organizers (logical & analytical) ENTPs are conceptualizers (innovative) MBTI is a valuable tool for increasing self awareness and providing career guidance

The Big Five Personality Model The Five Dimensions are: Extraversion Agreeableness Conscientiousness Emotional Stability Openness to Experience These are related to job performance and hence can be used as a selection test for job candidates

Values Values represent basic convictions that a specific mode of conduct or an end state of existence is personally or social preferred to an opposite or converse mode of conduct or an end state of existence. They contain a judgmental element, in that they carry an individual’s ideas as to what is right, good or desirable. Values have both content and intensity attributes. The content attribute says that a mode of conduct or an end state of existence is important. The intensity attribute specifies how important it is.

Value System When we rank an individual’s values in terms of their intensity, we obtain that person’s value system. These set of values that forms our value system could be freedom, pleasure, self respect, honesty, obedience and equality.

Importance of Values Values are important because they lay the foundation for our understanding of people’s attitudes & motivation; and also because they influence our perceptions. Individuals enter an organization with preconceived notions which are not value free. And on the contrary, they contain interpretations of right and wrong. This implies that certain behaviors and outcomes are preferred over others. As a result, values cloud objectivity & rationality.

Example Suppose you enter an organization with the view that allocating pay on the basis of performance is right, while allocating pay on the basis of seniority is wrong. Now, how are you going to feel / react if it turns to be the other way round. You are likely to be disappointed and can lead to job dissatisfaction and there by decreasing your efforts toward your job. If your values were to be aligned with the organization’s policies, would your attitude and behavior be different.

Classification of Values There are two approaches to developing value typologies. Milton Rokeach created the Rokeach Value Survey (RVS) which consisted of two sets of values, each containing 18 individual items. These sets are: Terminal Values: Refers to desirable end states. These are the goals a person would like to achieve during his or her life time. Instrumental Values: Refers to preferable modes of behavior, or means of achieving the terminal values.

Terminal Values Self respect Family security Freedom A sense of accomplishment Happiness Mature Love Equality A world of peace Pleasure Salvation Social recognition True friendship Wisdom National Security A comfortable life An exciting life A world of beauty Inner harmony

Instrumental Values Obedient Forgiving Helpful Capable Honest Independent Courageous Cheerful Logical Loving Polite Responsible Self controlled Intellectual Ambitious Broad minded Clean Imaginative