PERSONALITY

What is Personality?
 Personality means how people affect others and how they
understand and view themselves, as well as their pattern of inner
and outer measurable traits and the person situation interaction.
- Luthans
 It is the dynamic organization within an individual of those
psychophysical systems that determine its unique adjustment to
his environment.
- Robbins
 Nature of Personality
 Personality refers to the set of traits & behaviors that
characterize an individual.

 It refers to the relatively stable pattern of behavior &

consistent internal state & explains an individual’s
behavioral tendencies.

 Personality has both internal (thoughts, values & genetic

characteristics that is inferred from observable behaviors)
& external (observable behaviors) elements.

 Personality of an individual is relatively stable in nature.

 Personality is both inherited as well as it can be shaped

by the environment.
 Importance of Personality in OB
 Law of Behavior: “People are different”

 To ensure high performing employees in an

organization.

 To manage workforce diversity.

 Summarizing person’s behaviors & attitudes in

relation to a wide range of events.

 Personality consists of characteristics or traits that

describe how people are likely to behave in a given
situation.
 Importance of Personality in OB
 Personality is useful in predicting & understanding
the general feelings, thoughts and behaviors of
individuals at the workplace.

 Contribution of various personality theories.

 Personality Determinants
Determinants of
Personality

Heredity Environment

Nature: It advocates that

Part of personality finds its Nature: It advocates that
Origins in biology (heredity) Part of personality finds its
Origins in biology (heredity)

Situational
 Heredity and environment
 Heredity sets the limits on the development of personality
characteristics.

 Environment determines development within these limits. 

 About a 50-50 heredity-environment split.

 Cultural values and norms play a substantial role in the

development of personality.

 Social factors include family life, religion, and many kinds of

formal and informal groups.

 Situational factors reflect the opportunities or constraints

imposed by the operational context.
 Personality Traits

 Enduring characteristics that describe an individual’s

behavior.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

The Big Five Model

https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-te
st
 The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
A personality test that taps four characteristics and
classifies people into 1 of 16 personality types.

Personality Types
• Extroverted vs. Introverted (E or I)
• Sensing vs. Intuitive (S or N)
• Thinking vs. Feeling (T or F)
• Judging vs. Perceiving (P or J)
 Extroverted vs. Introverted

Extroverted individuals are outgoing, sociable, and assertive. Introverts are quiet
and shy.

 Sensitive vs. Intuitive

Sensing types are practical and prefer routine and order. They focus on details.
Intuitive rely on unconscious processes and look at the “big picture”.

 Thinking vs. Feeling

Thinking types uses reason and logic to handle problems. Feelings types rely on
their personal values and emotions.

 Judging vs. Perceiving

Judging types want control, and prefer their world to be ordered and structured.
Perceiving types are flexible and spontaneous.
Myers-
Briggs
Sixteen
Primary
Traits
© 2005 Prentice Hall Inc. All rights 4–
reserved. 12
The Big Five Model