Who goes to work?

Individuals: Unique?
Personality & Individual
differences
Skulkerewathana 2022/2023
 Overview
• Defining the self of a person

• Discuss important elements of a person

• Reflect on the implications of the complexity of a person’s behaviors

in an organization
 Defining The Self

Our self-concept comprises our sense of identity, the set of beliefs

we hold about what we are like as individuals.
(Baumeister, 1998)

The broader notion of self-concept includes entire sum of a

person’s impression about himself/herself, which includes
physical self, active self, social self and psychological self.
(Kendall, 2011)
 A PERSON
Personality

Values

Attitude Cognitive Style

 PERSONALITY
• Inherent traits  personality  behavior

• Unified and consistent – e.g. independent, broad-minded, fun-loving,

gregarious.

• Enduring and stable - Once your personality is formed, your

’programming’ has been fixed for the future (it becomes part of your
nature).

• Personality change is seen as something which only occurs as the result

of some major life events or the result of some planned interventions
like therapy.
 The Big Five Personality Dimensions

A basis for a general classification of personality

• Extroversion - sociability, assertiveness

• Emotionality- anxiety, insecurity

• Agreeableness - conforming, helpful to others

• Conscientiousness - persistent, organized

• Intellect - curiosity, openness to experience

 Personality Traits

Locus of Control

Type A & B Personality Profiles

 Personality Traits

Locus of Control
The extent to which people believe that they, rather than external forces,
determine their own lives.

People who believe that individuals are in control of their lives have internal
locus of control

People who think that forces beyond their control dictate what happens to them
have an external locus of control
 Personality Traits

Type A & B Personality Profiles

Type A tend to be more:

competitive
irritable
aggressive
work faster
impatient
 Self- A result of Interaction

• C.H Cooley – Looking Glass Self

– We see ourselves by how we think others perceive us.
– We use other people’s responses to establish a self-concept
– Others are like mirror. We look into it and it reflect back to us who we are.

• G.H Mead – Two Aspects of Self

– I: is the immediate response of an individual to others. It is incalculable, unpredictable, and
creative aspect of the self. “I” makes (social) change possible

– Me: is the organized set of attitudes of others which one assumes. It is through the “me” that the
society dominates the individual.

– Mead sees no conflict between “I” and “Me”, as both are needed to form the social self
 A PERSON
Personality

Values

Attitude Cognitive Style

I make decision based on facts and I am quite intuitive (i.e. I can sense things
information rather than feelings. without need of facts or proof.

I am more logical than emotional. Friends consider me a creative person.

I always try to understand how others

I plan my day and get things done. would feel.

I prefer structure and certainty. I am the one who ‘harmonizes’ relations

in my group.
 A Whole Brain Model TM

• A Whole Brain Model is a metaphorical representation of

our thinking preferences.

• Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) measures

the degree of dominance that has developed among the four
thinking structures of the brain.
A Whole Brain Model TM
 A Whole Brain Model TM
Cerebral

Right
Left

Limbic
 The Rational Self
Analyses
Job Choices:
Financiers
Quantifies
Accountants
Is Logical
Engineers
Is Critical
Chemists
Is Realistic
Technicians
Likes Numbers
Doctors
Knows About Money
Dentist Hobbies:
Knows How Things Work Computer games
Decision Making: Model making
Specifications Home improvements
Performance Making things
Precision
Cost
Bottom line Example:
Efficiency Person who examines all the specifications in the manual
before deciding to buy the refrigerator.
 The Safekeeping Self
Job Choices: Hobbies:
Manager Travel
Administrator
Project manager
Fishing Decision Making:
Camping After sales service
Travel agent Spectator sports Guarantee
Reading Resale value
Safety
Takes Preventive Action Practicality
Establishes Procedures Features
Gets Things Done
Is Reliable Example:
Organizes Person whose pantry is
Is Neat organized alphabetically.
Timely
Plans
 The Feeling Self
Job Choices: Hobbies: Decision Making:
Social Workers Reading Feel
Teachers Listening to music Look
Trainers Travel Comfort
HR professionals Walking Sound system
Sales people Chatting with friends Extra features

Is Sensitive to Others
Example: Likes to Teach
Person who travels with her 3 teddy bears, Touches a Lot
each of whom has a passport. Is Supportive
Is Expressive
Is Emotional
Talks a Lot
Feels
 The Experimental Self
Infers
Job Choices: Hobbies:
Imagines
Self employed Speculates
Outdoors Takes Risks
Entrepreneur
Experimental Is Impetuous
Artist
Artistic Breaks Rules
Designer
Photography Likes Surprises
Advertising
Marketing Is Curious/Plays

Decision Making:
Image Example:
Impact Person who buys a new car on an impulse only to
Impulse discover that his golf bag does not fit into the
boot.
 Brain Dominance

• Brain dominance affects how information is received and

processed.

• As brain matures, it acquires preferences as a result of the

individual’s life experience.