Personality

•Theories of personality
•Determinants of personality
•Major personality attributes influencing OB

Ref:OB- Suja R Nair

 Opening Case
AZIM PREMJI
His father started an oil mill in 1947 making vanaspati.
On his death, Azim Premji had to come back and look
after the business.
Today he has led Wipro to achieve the Software
Superpower status
His personality….
Premji is a champion of integrity.
Premji does not believe in unwanted extravaganza.
Premji is a picture of calm and has a quiet determination
about everything he does.
Premji always aims high.
“Personality is a dynamic organization within the individual of
those psychophysical systems that determines his unique
adjustment to his environment “
--Gordon Allport
Personality of an individual represents
personal characteristics and traits
which can lead to consistent patterns
of behaviour.

Behaviour is the outcome of a complex

interaction between the person and
the situation.
What
What is
is Personality?
Personality?
• Self concept ?
• Self esteem & self efficacy
 Theories of Personality

Type
theories

Self theory Personality Trait factor

theory

Socio- Psychoanalytic Theory

psychological
Theory
 A. Type Theories
1.Personality can be classified on the
basis of body build. Relationship can
be established between features of the
face or body and personality

Features Personality
• Short, plump person Sociable, relaxed & even-
tempered
Restrained, self-conscious,
•Tall, thin person
lonely (introvert)
Noisy, callous, fond of
•Heavy, muscular person physical activity
2. Personality can be classified on the
basis of psychological factors

Extroverts Oriented towards other

people, events and objects

Introverts Concerned about feelings

and are more happy dealing
with abstract things

Limitations:
1. Many people fall between the two extremes
2. More in the nature of continuum rather than
discreet separate types.
3. Does not explain complexities of personality
B. Trait Factor theory
Individual’s personality is composed of definite
predisposition attributes called traits

Assumptions:
1. Traits differ between people in absolute terms.
2. Traits are relatively stable & have fairly universal effects on
behaviour irrespective of the environment (or situation).
3. It is possible to infer about traits by measuring behavioural
indicators
Two Trait Theories
a. Allport’s trait theory
based on the distinction between common traits and
personal dispositions
Common Traits
Personal dispositions
Religious (eg:Spirituality)
Social, (eg: sociability)
Cardinal (most pervasive)
economic,
Central (unique and limited in
(eg: stingy/ extravagant)
number)
political,
Secondary
(eg: manupulativeness)
aesthetic, (Beauty)
Theoretical
Unique to the individual
(what you learn are the values)
Used to compare people
Raymond Cattell – developed traits using psychological
test measures. Through research an attempt has been made
to find a relationship & assorted behaviour.

Surface traits Source traits

35 in number clustered by 12 in number
correlation Ex. Affectothymia
Ex. Wise-foolish (good nature & trustworthy)
Affectionate-cold versus Sizothymia
(critical and suspicious),
Traits lie on the surface ego strength (mature, realistic)
of the personality and Versus emotionality and
are determined by the neuroticism (immature,
Underlying source traits evasive)
And so on.
Limitation:
1. More descriptive – not a comprehensive theory of
personality
2. Terms – difficult to define – no scientific reliability about
the results
3.Difficult to determine what is surface trait & source trait
Bill gates “ if you’re 20 years old Indian, and starting up,
you should be doing something that I’m not thinking about.
Because if I am thinking about it, then…” he shrugged.
Or “ How You can create a Microsoft out of India? There
can’t be two Microsofts, but I see some very
good unique product companies developing over
the next decade from India”.

What traits can be used to describe this powerful personality

C. Psychoanalytic Theory

works on the basis that human beings are motivated

more by unseen forces than their conscious and rational
Thoughts. Given by Sigmund Freud.

Specifically related to OB is Freud’s contribution

towards understanding of creative behaviour,
dissatisfaction, Group development, leadership
and its influence.
 Freud & Personality Structure
“Personality arises from conflict twist aggressive,
pleasure-seeking impulses and social restraints”

Satisfaction
without the guilt?

Super
Ego
Ego

Id
 Freud & Personality Structure
Id - energy constantly striving to satisfy basic drives
Pleasure Principle

Ego - seeks to gratify the Id in realistic ways

Reality Principle
Super
Ego
Ego Super Ego
- voice of conscience
that focuses on how
Id we ought to behave
D. Socio-psychological theory
A combination of sociological and psychological
aspects. On the one hand the individual strives to meet
the needs of the society and on the other hand, the
society helps the individual to attain his goal.

Different from psychoanalytic theory on two counts:

1. Social variables are the important determinants in

shaping an individual’s personality.
2. The behavioral motivation is a conscious effort.
E. Self Theory
Karl Rogers defines the self concept as an organised,
consistent and conceptual gestalt comprising of
perceptions in the form of ‘I’ or ‘me’ & the perception
of the relationships between ‘I’ or ‘me’ with others to
the various aspects of life along with the values attached
to these perceptions.
4 factors of self concept:
Self image- way one see oneself based on his belief
about himself
Ideal self- the way a person would like to be
Looking glass self-based on the perception of others
how you perceive yourself
Real self- what you actually are
 M
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Determinants of personality

Environment
The
The Big
Big Five
FiveModel
Model
 How Do the Big Five Traits Predict
Behavior?
• Research has shown this to be a better
framework.
• Certain traits have been shown to strongly relate to
higher job performance:
– Highly conscientious people develop more job knowledge,
exert greater effort, and have better performance.
– Other Big Five Traits also have implications for work.
• Emotional stability is related to job satisfaction.
• Extroverts tend to be happier in their jobs and have good
social skills.
• Open people are more creative and can be good leaders.
• Agreeable people are good in social settings.
4-22
 Major
Major Personality
Personality Attributes
Attributes Influencing
Influencing OB
OB
• Locus of control
• Machiavellianism
• Self-esteem
• Self-monitoring
• Propensity for risk taking
• Type A personality
Locus
Locus of
of Control
Control
Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism

Conditions
ConditionsFavoring
FavoringHigh
HighMachs
Machs
••Direct
Directinteraction
interaction
••Minimal
Minimalrules
rulesand
andregulations
regulations
••Distracting
Distractingemotions
emotions
Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem and
and Self-Monitoring
Self-Monitoring
Personality
Personality Types
Types
Personality
Personality Types
Types
 Risk-Taking
Risk-Taking
• High Risk-taking Managers
– Make quicker decisions.
– Use less information to make decisions.
– Operate in smaller and more entrepreneurial
organizations.
• Low Risk-taking Managers
– Are slower to make decisions.
– Require more information before making decisions.
– Exist in larger organizations with stable
environments.
• Risk Propensity
– Aligning managers’ risk-taking propensity to job
requirements should be beneficial to organizations.
Achieving
Achieving Personality-Job
Personality-Job Fit
Fit

Personality
PersonalityTypes
Types
••Realistic
Realistic
••Investigative
Investigative
••Social
Social
••Conventional
Conventional
••Enterprising
Enterprising
••Artistic
Artistic
 Holland’s
Holland’s
Typology
Typologyofof
Personality
Personality
and
and
Congruent
Congruent
Occupations
Occupations
Personality –Job fit theory

Realistic Investigative

Conventional
Social

Enterprising
Artistic
• By Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham
• A Conceptual model for understanding
human behaviour and for interpersonal
awareness .
A Johari Window consists of the following 56 adjectives used as possible
descriptions of the participant. In alphabetical order they are:

•intelligent •sensible
•able •dependable •patient
•introverted •sentimental
•accepting •dignified •powerful
•kind •shy
•adaptable •energetic •proud
•knowledgeabl •silly
•bold •extroverted •quiet
e •smart
•brave •friendly •reflective
•logical •spontaneous
•calm •giving •relaxed
•loving •sympathetic
•caring •happy •religious
•mature •tense
•cheerful •helpful •responsive
•modest •trustworthy
•clever •idealistic •searching
•nervous •warm
•complex •independent •self-assertive
•observant •wise
•confident •ingenious •self-conscious
•organized •witty
Incompetent intolerant inflexible timid cowardly

violent aloof glum stupid simple

insecure irresponsible vulgar lethargic withdrawn

hostile selfish unhappy unhelpful cynical

needy unimaginative inane brash cruel

ignorant irrational distant childish boastful

blasé imperceptive chaotic impatient weak

embarrassed loud vacuous panicky unethical

insensitive self-satisfied passive smug rash

dispassionate overdramatic dull predictable callous

inattentive unreliable cold foolish humourless