Chapter 5 Personality and Individual Differences

Personality-job fit theory

a theory that identifies six personality types and proposes that the fit between personality type and occupational environment determines satisfaction and turnover

Person-organization fit

a theory that people are attracted to and selected by organizations that match their values, and leave when there is not compatibility

Personality

the total number of ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with the world around them

Personality traits

ensuring characteristics that describe an individual's behavior

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

a personality test that taps 4 characteristics and classifies people into 1 of 16 personality types

Big Five Model

a personality model that proposes five basic dimensions encompass most of the differences in human personality

Conscientiousness

A personality dimension that describes someone who is responsible, dependable, persistent, and organized

Emotional stability

A personality dimension that characterizes someone as calm, self-confident, secure (positive) versus nervous, depressed, and insecure (negative).

Extroversion

a personality dimension describing people who are outgoing, talkative, sociable, and assertive

Openness to experience

A personality dimension that characterizes someone in terms of imagination, sensitivity, and curiosity.

Agreeableness

A personality dimension that describes someone who is good natured, cooperative, and trusting.

Dark Triad

a constellation of negative personality traits consisting of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy

Machiavellianism

the degree to which an individual is pragmatic, maintains emotional distance, and believes that ends can justify means

Narcissism

the tendency to be arrogant, have a grandiose sense of self-importance, require excessive admiration, and have a sense of entitlement

Psychopathy

the tendency for a lack of concern for others and a lack of guilt or remorse when their actions cause harm

Core self-evaluation (CSE)

bottom-line conclusions individuals have about their capabilities, competence, and worth as a person

Self-monitoring

A personality trait that measures an individual's ability to adjust his or her behavior to external, situational factors.

Proactive personality

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

Situation strength theory

a theory indicating that the way personality translates into behavior depends on the strength of the situation

Trait Activation Theory (TAT)

a theory that predicts that some situations, events, or interventions "activate" a trait more than others

Ability

an individual's capacity to perform the various tasks in a job

Intellectual abilities

the capacity to do mental activities- thinking, reasoning, and problem solving

General mental ability (GMA)

an overall factor of intelligence, as suggested by the positive correlations among specific intellectual ability dimensions

Physical abilites

the capacity to do tasks that demand stamina, dexterity, strength, and similar characteristics

Values

basic convictions that some actions. andoutcomes are more morally, socially, or personally preferable than others

Value system

a hierarchy based on a ranking of an individual's values in terms of their intensity

Termina values

desirable end-states of existence; the goals a person would like to achieve during their lifetime

Instrumental values

Preferable modes of behavior or means of achieving one's terminal values