Different psychologists defined the term personality in different ways. We can define personality as a relatively stable set of characteristics that influence an individual’s behavior. In other words, personality can be defined as the sum total of ways in which an individual react and interact with others.
Trait Theory:
Over the time, researches have developed a number of personality theories and no theory is complete itself. We can conventionally group these theories in to five heads:- Intrapsychic theory, Type theories , trait theories, self theory.
According to trait theory, all individuals have some traits, which help to develop their personality. We can summarize these traits in to five heads.
Openness to experience:
These types of people are imaginative, creative and conventional. They are open to experiment new ideas, and adventurous things.
Conscientiousness:
These type of traits a have a tendency to show self discipline, aim for achievement, and planned behavior rather than spontaneous behavior. Conscientiousness concerns the way in which we control regulate and impulse our controls. There are several advantages for this type of behavior as they positively regarded by others as intelligent and reliable.
Extraversion:
Extraversion includes Energy, urgency and tendency to seek stimulation and the company of others. Extraverts enjoy being with people, they are full of energy, and often experience positive emotions. They tend to be enthusiastic and action oriented individuals.
Introverts tend to be quiet, low-key and less dependent on social world. Their lack of social involvement should not be interpreted as shyness or depression.
Agreeableness:
This includes a tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others. This type of individuals prefers to getting along with others, they are friendly, generous, helpful and willing to compromise their interest with others. These types of people generally have an optimistic view of human nature.
Draw back of agreeableness nature is that, it is not useful in a situation that requires tough or absolute objective decisions.
Neuroticism:
This is a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily such as anger, anxiety etc. We can call this as depression or emotional instability. These types of individuals are emotionally reactive. They get easily upset with the emotional events that would not affect most people and their reactions tend to be more intense than others. These negative reactions tend to be persisting for long period of time; as a result they would be in a bad mood often.
This negative emotional reaction diminishes their ability to think clearly, make decisions and cope with stress situations.
Case Study
Ashish shah is the Managing Director of Sai Furnitures a medium sized house hold furniture manufacturing firm in Manipal. He holds a Bachelors Degree in engineering and a Masters Degree in management. He has been managing the company from its inception in 1982. For more than two decades, the company is doing reasonable well.
Of late, Mr. Shah has noticed that the workers are not working to their full potential. It is a well-known fact that they filled their days with unnecessary and unproductive activities and worked only for the sake of wages. About a year back, the situation has become quite alarming as the organisation began to crumble under the weight of uneconomical effort. The situation demanded prompt remedial measure to check the detrimental trend that was noticed in the last year. Mr. Shah knew very well that the only way to progress and prosper is to motivate workers to peak performance through various incentive plans.
Mr. Shah summoned the HR Manager and enquired – What is the problem with the workers? We pay the highest in the industry. Our working conditions are excellent. Our fringe benefits are the best in the industry. Still the workers are not motivated. Find out what the workers really want? Unless productivity increases we are doomed. The HR Manager made a detailed investigation and comes out with the following reply – The wages, fringe benefits and working conditions are not enough. Other things are equally important. I have found out from the workers that work and efficiency go unnoticed and unrewarded in the company. The promotions and benefit plans are tied to the length of service. Even unproductive workers enjoy all the benefits in the organisation, which in fact, according to the workers, should go only to those who work hard. As a result more and more workers are joining the bandwagon of non-performers. This has become quite alarming as workers refuse to perform.
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