Exam 4: Individual Behavior and Differences

The term cognitive dissonance describes a situation where there's a discrepancy between the affect and behavioral components of an attitude.

When attempting to attribute behaviors to either the person or the surroundings,Kelley proposed which of the following as criteria for consideation?

Researchers generally agreed that ___________.

Pat sees a new student on campus that is 6'11".Pat assumes that this student must be on the basketball team.Pat has just applied a ___________.

The fundamental attribution error occurs because it is easier to explain behavior in terms of traits than to a manager's style,system,or situation.

Individuals use five senses to experience the environment: sight,touch,hearing,taste,and smell.Organizing the information for the environment so that it makes sense is called "discernment."

There are three theoretical approaches to understanding personality.Describe each of these approaches.What are the shortcomings of the approaches? In your opinion which one is most appropriate?B.Cattell has studied personality traits,gathering many measures of traits through behavioral observation,records of people's life histories,questionnaires,and objective tests.On the basis of his research,Cattell has concluded that 16 basic traits underlie individual differences in behavior.The research resulted in the development of Cattell's 16 PF (16 personality factors)questionnaire,which measures the degree to which people have these traits.Among the traits he identified are reserved-outgoing,practical-imaginative,relaxed-tense,and humble-assertive.All 16 of Cattell's traits are bipolar; that is,each trait has two extremes (e.g.,relaxed-tense). Trait theories have been criticized as not being real theories because they don't explain how behavior is caused.The mere identification of such traits as tough-minded,conservative,expedient,reserved,or outgoing doesn't offer insight into the development and dynamics of personality.Furthermore,trait approaches haven't been successful in predicting behavior across a spectrum of situations,due to the fact that situations (the job,the work activities)are largely ignored in trait theories. Psychodynamic Personality Theories The dynamic nature of personality wasn't addressed seriously until Sigmund Freud's work was published.Freud accounted for individual differences in personality by suggesting that people deal with their fundamental drives differently.To highlight these differences,he pictured a continuing battle between two parts of personality,the id and the superego,moderated by the ego.

Three theoretical approaches to understanding personality are the trait approach,the psychological approach,and the humanistic approach.

Perception involves receiving stimuli,organizing them,and translating or interpreting the organized stimuli to influence behavior and form attitudes.

Behavior is anything a person does.

Most research studies indicate a clear link between satisfaction and performance.

A person that looks at personality as a dynamic interaction between two primary parts of personality is applying which of the primary theoretical approaches to personality?

Goleman suggested there are five components of EQ.Identify and describe these components.

To understand individual differences managers must ____________.

Mental abilities + span of knowledge = intelligence.

Pat,a two pack a day smoker,understands that smoking is dangerous to his health but when challenged states that it helps him study.Pat is using a ______ to reduce dissonance regarding his smoking.

Research has found ___________ between job satisfaction and job performance.

An attitude is a positive or negative feeling or mental state of readiness.

Cognitive dissonance occurs when there is conflict between _________ of an attitude.

Many culturally diverse groups from around the world are spread throughout the workforce.Which of the following statements regarding this diversity is correct?