Knowing Yourself the Scientific Way

What does that mean in the workplace?

“[Personality] is the stablepattern of behaviour that characterises a

person” (Burns, 1997)

Impact of Personality in the Organisational Mix

• Personality and Personal Values play an important role in the workplace

• Eysenck’s and Cattell’s theories attempt to show the underlying personality traits – explaining human behaviour in various

situations (“Trait Theories”)

Know Thyself: Eysenck’s Personality Typology

• According to Eysenck, personality is structured across 3 dimensions:– Extraversion - Introversion– Neuroticism - Stable– Psychoticism - Normal

• The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was devised to objectively assess a person’s personality dimensions

Personality Dimensions

• Scores on the dimensions are related to specific characteristics.

• Eysenck’s theory produces 4 main types of personality, combining these

Sanguine

Choleric

Phlegmatic

MelancholicUnstable-

Introverted

Stable-Introverted

Stable-Extraverted

Unstable-Extraverted

Extraversion Dimension

• Extraverts are typically active, sociable, assertive and are carefree.

• Intraverts are the opposite

Costa & McCrae, 1995

HighActivity

SociabilityExpressivenessAssertiveness

AmbitionDogmatism

Aggressiveness

ExtravertedIntraverted

Low

Neuroticism Dimension

• Neurotic personality is associated with high level of negative affect; ie worries, anxieties, irrationality and depression

Costa & McCrae, 1995

HighInferiority

UnhappinessAnxiety

DependenceHypochrondia

GuiltObessiveness

NeuroticStable

Low

Psychotism Dimension

• Those who score highly on the psychotism dimension has the capacity for psychotic episodes

• They are also non-conforming, reckless, and unempathic, but also creative

HighRisk TakingImpulsivity

IrresponsibilityManipulativeness

Tough-mindednessSensation-seeking

Practicality

PsychoticNormal

Low

Cattell’s Way

• Cattell isolated 16 descriptive terms which are primary traits (source) of personality– Warmth – Reasoning – Emotional Stability – Dominance – Liveliness – Rule-

Consciousness

– Openness to Change

– Self-Reliance – Perfectionism – Tension

– Social Boldness – Sensitivity – Vigilance – Abstractedness – Privateness – Apprehensivene

ss

See for more info http://www.16pfworld.com/primaryfactors.html

Global Factors

• When the primary traits are factor-analysed you get Global Factors which describe personality at a broader level. – Extraversion – Anxiety – Tough-Mindedness – Independence – Self-Control

Relevance to Work Practice

• Both these theories have predictive usefulness in the occupational sphere

• In business and industry, for e.g.– They have implication for behavioural

preference and individual fit for certain work roles• Therefore, they can be used as methods for

increasing work contentment by means of personnel selection, and to also improve efficiency output and occupational successes

That is…

• Using these Eysenck’s and Cattell’s methods– You can choose the right job for you…

What are your personality dimensions?

• See for yourself• Go to:

– http://similarminds.com/eysenck.html– http://www.16pfworld.com/primaryfactors.html

References

• McKenna, E. (1994). Business & Organisational Behaviour: A Student’s Handbook. Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc Ltd, East Sussex

• Furnham, A. (2008). Personality & Intelligence at Work: Exploring and Explaining Individual Differences at Work. Routledge, East Sussex

• http://www.trans4mind.com/personality/• Jackson (2000). Structure of the EPP, Brit. J.

Psych, 91, 223 • Costa & McCrae (95). Primary Traits of the

Eysenck PEN System, J. Personality & Social Psych, 69, 308