Deck 3: Individual Characteristics

Question 1

People with high neuroticism often experience difficulties when dealing with stress.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Person-job fit is the fit between a person's abilities and the demands of the job.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A person who is upbeat and optimistic, has an overall sense of well-being, and can see things in a positive light is said to possess positive Machiavellianism.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A manager with strong emotional intelligence is able to overcome his or her empathy when dealing with others.

Question 5

The fit between a person's abilities and the demands of the job is referred to as

A) a complementary contract.
B) employment alignment.
C) person-job fit.
D) workplace balance.
E) job security.

Question 6

A person's locus of control is the extent to which a person believes circumstances are a function of either his or her own actions, or of external factors beyond his or her control.

Question 7

Personality attributes are usually considered to be unstable and fluctuating.

Question 8

Personality attributes are usually considered to be unstable and fluctuating.

Question 9

A person's self-efficacy is that person's beliefs about his or her capabilities to perform a task.

Question 10

Individual differences are personal attributes that vary from one person to another person.

Question 11

People who possess the personality trait of Machiavellianism support delegation of authority, power and control to subordinates.

Question 12

A person who tries to gain power and control over others in the workplace scores high in Machiavellianism.

Question 13

The extent to which personality attributes are inherited from our parents or shaped by our environment is called __________ by psychologists.

A) individual differences
B) psychological contributions
C) nature versus nurture
D) psychological contract
E) psychological inducements

Question 14

Openness involves the ability to get along with others on the job.

Question 15

Authoritarianism is the belief that power and status differences are not appropriate within hierarchical social systems such as organisations.

Question 16

Empathy, managing emotions, and social skill are components of emotional intelligence.

Question 17

The Big Five personality traits are a set of fundamental traits that are not especially relevant to organisations.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the role of circumstances in assessing individual differences?

A) Circumstances are more important in judging newer employees than they are in judging older employees.
B) Individual differences may shape circumstances, but circumstances cannot shape individual differences.
C) Managers can assess circumstances, but they cannot assess individual differences.
D) Whether specific differences that characterise a person are good or bad depends on circumstances.
E) Circumstances become more important the more unique the employee.

Question 19

Managers with high emotional intelligence are expected to perform well in jobs that require a high degree of interpersonal interaction.

Question 20

Agreeableness includes being

A) gentle.
B) cooperative.
C) understanding.
D) forgiving.
E) All of these are correct.

Question 21

Zubair truly believes that he can achieve his goal of selling 10 cars each month.This belief reflects Zubair's

A) self-efficacy.
B) risk propensity.
C) attitude.
D) self-esteem.
E) Machiavellianism.

Question 22

Managers with a low tolerance for ambiguity tend to be more __________ with their staff and don't empower them to make their own decisions at work.

A) flexible
B) directive
C) passive
D) open
E) None of these are correct.

Question 23

Being tolerant of ambiguity is related to which of the following?

A) creativity
B) positive attitudes towards risk
C) orientation to diversity
D) All of these are correct.
E) None of these are correct.

Question 24

If you have the ability to understand how others feel, even without being told, you have the ability to

A) manage your emotions.
B) show empathy.
C) motivate yourself.
D) get along with others.
E) be promoted in your job.

Question 25

Jane is relatively calm, poised and secure.Jane's boss is more excitable, insecure and reactive.Jane and her boss differ in their level of which personality trait described in the Big Five personality framework?

A) Self-efficacy
B) Agreeableness
C) Locus of control
D) Neuroticism
E) Openness

Question 26

If you accept orders from your supervisor solely because he or she is the boss, you are highly

A) authoritarian.
B) self-monitoring.
C) perceptual.
D) motivational.
E) dogmatic.

Question 27

The ____ is among the most popular personality selection instruments used today in business.

A) MBO
B) MBTI
C) TQMI
D) JDI
E) PAQ

Question 28

People with a high level of __________ are willing to listen to new ideas and to change their own ideas, beliefs and attitudes in response to new information.

A) agreeableness
B) conscientiousness
C) openness
D) extroversion
E) negative emotionality

Question 29

Which of the following statements regarding assessing employees' Big Five personality traits is true?

A) The Big Five personality traits are based primarily on research conducted in the United States.
B) Managers are basically uninterested in the Big Five personality traits.
C) Rigorous and valid measures of personality allow for their accurate assessment.
D) Managers should be very confident about their assessment of employees' personality traits.
E) Personality traits are poor predictors of virtually all employee behaviours.

Question 30

George believes that he was promoted and given a raise based upon his hard work on the job.George has

A) self-efficacy.
B) an internal locus of control.
C) emotional intelligence.
D) high self-esteem.
E) an external locus of control.

Question 31

Personality affects which of the following?

A) Choice of career
B) How long we stay with an employer
C) Job satisfaction
D) Job performance
E) All of these are correct.

Question 32

A supervisor who experiments with new ideas, takes a chance with new products, and leads his or her department in new directions has high

A) locus of control.
B) risk propensity.
C) self-monitoring.
D) self-esteem.
E) competencies.

Question 33

____ is behaviour directed at gaining power and controlling the behaviour of others.

A) Authoritarianism
B) Positive affectivity
C) Machiavellianism
D) Selective perception
E) None of these are correct.

Question 34

Mangers should place individuals with a _______ tolerance for ambiguity in well-defined and regulated tasks.

A) low
B) medium
C) high
D) None of these are correct.
E) All of these are correct.

Question 35

Individuals who score high in __________ tend to take their jobs seriously and act responsibly at work.

A) agreeableness
B) conscientiousness
C) openness
D) extroversion
E) negative emotionality

Question 36

If you are proud of your accomplishments yet look forward to achieving higher levels of performance and are confident in your abilities, you have high

A) risk propensity.
B) locus of control.
C) conformity.
D) self-esteem.
E) self-monitoring.

Question 37

Emotional intelligence includes all of the following EXCEPT

A) self-awareness.
B) emotion management.
C) locus of control.
D) self-motivation.
E) social skills.

Question 38

__________ reflects a tendency to perceive or interpret information marked by vague, incomplete, fragmented, multiple, inconsistent, or contradictory meanings as actual or potential sources of psychological discomfort or threat.

A) Low tolerance for ambiguity
B) High tolerance for ambiguity
C) High risk propensity
D) Low risk propensity
E) Machiavellianism

Question 39

Mzi has the ability to balance anxiety, fear and anger, and still get the job done.Mzi possesses which component of emotional intelligence?

A) Social skill
B) Locus of control
C) Managing emotions
D) Empathy
E) Motivating oneself

Question 40

Research has found that __________ people tend to be higher performers in a variety of jobs.

A) extroverted
B) introverted
C) conscientious
D) open
E) All of these are correct.

Question 41

Eighty-one percent of bullying behaviour is done by whom?

A) Administrative assistants
B) Human resource workers
C) Women
D) Supervisors
E) Younger employees

Question 42

Which of the Big Five personality dimensions is associated with being polite, good-natured, cooperative and forgiving?

A) Conscientiousness
B) Agreeableness
C) Extroversion
D) Neuroticism
E) Openness

Question 43

Which type of personality has been defined as someone who 'tends to be rational and unemotional, may be willing to lie to attain personal goals, puts little emphasis on loyalty and friendship, and enjoys manipulating others' behaviour'?

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Machiavellian
D) Avoidant
E) Passive-aggressive

Question 44

People who are relaxed and easy-going are said to have which personality type?

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Machiavellian
D) Sociopathic
E) Open-minded

Question 45

People with an internal locus of control, as compared to those with an external locus of control, tend to be __________ socially integrated at work and report __________ favourable relationships with their supervisors.

A) less, less
B) more, more
C) more, less
D) less, more
E) equally, equally

Question 46

Individuals targeted by bullies sometimes suffer from which of the following?

A) Debilitating anxiety
B) Panic attacks
C) Clinical depression
D) Post-traumatic stress
E) All of these are correct.

Question 47

High Type A's need __________ stimulation than Type B's and are __________ likely to over-schedule themselves.

A) more, more
B) less, less
C) less, more
D) more, less
E) neither more nor less, equally

Question 48

Which of the Big Five personality dimensions refers to being sociable, assertive, talkative and energetic?

A) Agreeableness
B) Conscientiousness
C) Openness
D) Extroversion
E) Neuroticism

Question 49

Which percentage of the South African workforce reports either being bullied at work or witnessing bullying?

A) 21.3
B) 30
C) 50
D) 77.8
E) 94.5

Question 50

Which of the Big Five personality dimensions is associated with being careful, thorough, responsible, organised, hardworking, achievement-oriented and persistent?

A) Conscientiousness
B) Agreeableness
C) Extroversion
D) Neuroticism
E) Openness

Question 51

People who are impatient, competitive, ambitious and uptight are said to have what personality type?

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Machiavellian
D) Disagreeable
E) Closed-minded

Question 52

Which of the Big Five personality dimensions is associated with being anxious, depressed, angry and insecure?

A) Agreeableness
B) Conscientiousness
C) Openness
D) Extroversion
E) Neuroticism

Question 53

Which term refers to the degree to which a person generally considers herself responsible for the things that happen to her?

A) Authoritarianism
B) Neuroticism
C) Extroversion
D) Self-esteem
E) Locus of control

Question 54

Workplace bullying can include which of the following?

A) Verbal abuse
B) Threats
C) Intimidation
D) Sabotage
E) All of these are correct.

Question 55

Which term refers to a repeated mistreatment of another employee through verbal abuse, conduct that is threatening, humiliating, or intimidating, or sabotage that interferes with the other person's work?

A) Workplace bullying
B) Sexual harassment
C) Organisational politics
D) Machiavellianism
E) None of these are correct.

Question 56

Highly Machiavellian people are __________ ethically sensitive than are lower Machiavellian people and agree __________ with ethical policies or rules of behaviour.

A) less, less
B) more, more
C) less, more
D) more, less
E) neither more nor less, just as much

Question 57

A/an __________ locus of control is related to passivity and learned helplessness and a/an __________ locus of control has been positively related to confidence in one's ability to successfully perform tasks.

A) undefined, defined
B) negative, positive
C) positive, negative
D) internal, external
E) external, internal

Question 58

The concept of Machiavellianism is based on what publication?

A) The Princess Diaries
B) The Prince
C) The Frog Prince
D) The Little Prince
E) The Princess and the Pea

Question 59

Bullying costs employers through which of the following?

A) Higher turnover
B) Higher workers' compensation costs
C) Higher disability insurance rates
D) A tarnished reputation
E) All of these are correct.

Question 60

People who are __________ seem to be more likely to be bullied.

A) more introverted
B) less agreeable
C) less conscientious
D) more emotionally unstable
E) All of these are correct.

Question 61

Linguistic intelligence is most important for whom?

A) Doctors
B) Photographers
C) Translators
D) Musicians
E) Scientists

Question 62

In South Africa, workplace bullying can be positioned in the context of which of the following?

A) Organisational culture
B) Poor management
C) Culture restructuring
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question 63

__________ people are detail-oriented and want facts.

A) Intuitive
B) Sensing
C) Extroverted
D) Introverted
E) Judging

Question 64

Bodily-kinaesthetic intelligence is most important for whom?

A) Managers
B) Engineers
C) Doctors
D) Authors
E) Firefighters

Question 65

General mental ability involves which of the following?

A) Reasoning
B) Remembering
C) Understanding
D) Problem-solving
E) All of these are correct.

Question 66

Interpersonal intelligence is most important for whom?

A) Philosophers
B) Chefs
C) Inventors
D) Scientists
E) Teachers

Question 67

__________ people are decisive and like to plan whereas __________ people are adaptable, spontaneous, and curious.

A) Thinking, feeling
B) Feeling, thinking
C) Perceiving, judging
D) Judging, perceiving
E) Sensing, intuitive

Question 68

Logical-mathematical intelligence is most important for whom?

A) Beauty consultants
B) Sculptors
C) Statisticians
D) Salespeople
E) Radio hosts

Question 69

What is personality a product of?

A) Heredity only
B) Environment only
C) Both heredity and the environment
D) Neither heredity nor the environment
E) Scientists do not know

Question 70

Which term refers to the capacity rapidly and fluidly to acquire, process and apply information?

A) Information-processing capacity
B) General mental ability
C) Verbal ability
D) Analytical ability
E) Emotional intelligence

Question 71

General mental ability tests examine which of the following?

A) Verbal reasoning
B) Mathematical reasoning
C) Logic
D) Perceptual ability
E) All of these are correct.

Question 72

__________ value fairness, and decide things impersonally based on objective criteria and logic.

A) Perceivers
B) Feelers
C) Thinkers
D) Extroverts
E) Introverts

Question 73

When situational pressures are __________, we are better able to be ourselves and let our personalities guide our behaviours.

A) created by managers
B) created by the organisation
C) weak
D) strong
E) long-lasting

Question 74

__________ need quiet time to recharge their batteries.

A) Perceivers
B) Feelers
C) Thinkers
D) Extroverts
E) Introverts

Question 75

​How many personality types are there according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 8
D) 16
E) 32

Question 76

Which term refers to the manner in which individuals process and organise information during learning?

A) Emotional intelligence
B) General mental ability
C) Verbal ability
D) Analytical ability
E) Information-processing capacity

Question 77

__________ people like to get things decided quickly while __________ people prefer to stay open to new information and options.

A) Thinking, feeling
B) Feeling, thinking
C) Perceiving, judging
D) Judging, perceiving
E) Intuitive, sensing

Question 78

The motto of a/an __________ is 'ready, aim, aim', whereas the motto of a/an __________ is 'ready, fire, aim'.

A) thinker, feeler
B) feeler, thinker
C) extrovert, introvert
D) introvert, extrovert
E) judger, perceiver

Question 79

Spatial-visual intelligence is most important for whom?

A) Lawyers
B) Artists
C) Accountants
D) Salespeople
E) Politicians

Question 80

Which of Gardner's multiple intelligences refers to self-awareness?

A) Musical
B) Bodily-kinaesthetic
C) Intrapersonal
D) Interpersonal
E) Logical