1. Psychology Personality and attitudes
Interactive lecture ii
Dr Jolanta Babiak
Winter semester 2018/2019

2. Assigned reading
Gerrig, R. J. (2012). Psychology and Life, New Jersey, Pearson Education, Inc. – chapter 13
Whetten, D. A., Cameron K. S. (2011). Developing Management Skills. New Jersey: Person education, Inc. – chapter 1

3. What is personality?
“the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustment to the environment” Gordon Allport
Personality – ways in which an individual reacts to environmental stimuli and interacts with others
Personality – enduring characteristics that describe individual behavior across situations and over time, e.g. energetic, enthusiastic, charismatic, decisive, ambitious, adaptable, courageous, and industrious
Personality – the psychological qualities of an individual that influence a variety of characteristic behavior patterns across different situations and over time
Best way to describe personality: measurable traits

4. Measuring personality
Self-report surveys
Weaknesses:
Lying
impression management
Accuracy: bad mood effect
Observer-rating surveys
If both surveys are strongly correlated the result might be a good predictor of success on the job

5. Personality determinants
Is personality a result of heredity or environmental forces?
Heredity approach: personality is the molecular structure of the genes located in the chromosomes
Genetics account for about 50% of the variation in personality
Can personality change?
More changeable in adolescence
More stable in adulthood
Environment accounts for about 40% of the variation in personality

6. Dominating personality model: The Big Five Dimensions Paul Costa and Robert McCrae
Conscientiousness – degree to which a person is dependable, responsible, organized, and forward looking
Extraversion/Introversion – degree to which a person is sociable, talkative, assertive, active, and ambitious
Openness to experience – degree to which a person is imaginative, broad minded, curious, and seeks new experiences
Emotional stability (Neuroticism) – degree to which a person is anxious, depressed, angry, and insecure
Agreeableness – degree to which a person is courteous, likable, good- natured, and flexible

7. Openness to experience
The five-factor model
Low end point
Factor
High end point
Quiet, reserved and shy
Extroversion
Talkative, energetic and sociable
Cold, quarrelsome and cruel
Agreeableness
Sympathetic, kind, and affectionate
Careless, frivolous and irresponsible
Conscientiousness
Organized, responsible and cautious
Stable, Calm and contended
Neuroticism
Anxious, unstable and temperamental
Simple shallow and unintelligent
Openness to experience
Creative, intellectual and open minded

8. Do you know such people?
Have you come across people who always need to be the center of attention?
Are self-important?
Seem unable to think about others?
Are selfish and self-absorbed?
Difficult colleagues?

9. Narcissism Arrogance Exploiting others Grandiosity
Inability to tolerate criticism
Indifference to others
Lack of empathy
Preoccupation with power
Trouble with relationships

10. Narcissism as a “normal” trait
Narcissism in the extreme is a disorder
Narcissism also describes the range of normal behaviors
Confidence
Healthy self-esteem
Skill in “using” power

11. Locus of control are you a master of your own fate?
Refers to the attitude people develop regarding the extent to which they are in control of their own destinies
Internal locus of control: interpreting the reinforcements as being contingent upon one’s own action
External locus of control: interpreting the reinforcements as being the product of outside forces

12. Characteristics of persons with internal locus of control
Internals are more self-motivated
Are in better control of their own behavior
Participate more in social activities, including politics
More actively seek information
Are better able to handle complex information
More achievement oriented
More likely try to influence others
More likely to seek and assume leadership positions

13. Self-esteem
Self-esteem may be defined as an individual’s assessment of self-worth
has important consequences on our feelings about ourselves
negative self-concept may lead to
anxiety disorders
obsessive-compulsive disorder
depression
eating and personality disorders
in general low self-esteem decreases well-being

14. Core self-evaluation
Differences in scores on the five personality aspects can be explained by a more foundational personality factor: the fundamental evaluation each person has developed about him/herself - core self-evaluation
Core evaluations influence people’s appraisals about themselves, the world, and others, but they operate subconsciously: for the most part people are not aware of their own core self-evaluations

15. Components of core self-evaluation
core self-evaluation sometimes referred to as positive self-regard;
comprised of four components:
self-esteem,
generalized self-efficacy,
neuroticism,
locus of control
In combination these 4 factors create a single, powerful latent attribute that lies at the foundation of personality manifestations

16. Effects of core self-evaluation
Each factor has a slightly different meaning but the shared meaning among them, core self-evaluation, assess the extent to which one possesses positive self-regard, feels valuable, capable, stable and in control
High CSE tend to be more satisfied with their jobs, perform more successfully on the job, have higher level of task motivation, persistence, productivity in the task, goal setting and commitment, and energized work behavior
Core self-evaluation is a strong predictor of personality differences, job satisfaction, job performance, and life happiness

17. Questions to think about?
Which of the personality characteristics are most desirable in leaders?
Which of the personality characteristics are most desirable in followers?
Is there such phenomenon as an ideal personality profile?
Can such personality characteristics as narcissism, Machiavellianism, autocratic and dogmatic behaviors be ever useful I n specific contexts?

18. Assigned reading