Personality

The sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual.
The organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual.
Personality represents the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others.

It is A dynamic organization of all the psychological systems within an individual that

define unique adjustment with external environment.

Personality traits
Permanent characteristics that define patterns of behavior or adjustment of individual towards
external environment.
Examples; Talkative, courageous, shy, brave, responsible, committed etc.

Determinants of personality
1. Heredity/ inheritance
2. Environment / Social interaction
3. Situation

1. Heredity
All the biological or behavioral patterns adopted by an individual genetically at the time of birth
due to its parents and family characteristics.

2. Environment / social interactions

All the factors that are part of the specific surrounding where individual is grown up including
both the human and the other environmental factors.

3. Situation
The specific contingencies that serve as moderator towards the behavior of an individual.

How to measure personality

There are two approaches to measure personality:
A. Systematic approach
i. Myers-Big Type Indicator
ii. Big-Five Model
B. Projected approach

A. Systematic approach
A step by step analysis based on predetermined questionnaire that are useful in
collecting data on various behavioral patterns of an individual to identify its personality traits
and to determine its overall personality based on a careful assessment of the collected data.

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Self Rating Survey

Big-Five

Survey Method
Observer Rating Survey

Model

Self rating survey

The type of survey where the questionnaire are filled by the respondent himself by providing an
opinion about its own behavior.
Observer rating survey
The type of survey where an individual fills out the questionnaire regarding another person or a
third party being an independent observer.
Example: Student providing their opinion about teacher.

B. Projective approach
Various techniques or methods used by psychologists / experts to project the personality of an
individual by applying certain test including:
Make a picture story / maps
Inkblot test
Sentence completion test or story completion test
Blurred pictures / clouded pictures test

Myers-Big type indicators (MBTI)

In 1962 daughter (Katherine cook Briggs) and her mother (Isabella Briggs Myers)
developed 100 item scale indicators based on questionnaire each question carry scales like
agree, strongly agree, neutral etc. these indicators are known as Myers-Big type indicators. The
indicators and their basis on which these indicators are developed are as follows:

Extravert
Sensing
Thinking
Judging

vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.

Introvert
Intuitive
Feeling
Perceiving

(Dealing with others)

(Perception towards life)
(Decision making style)
(Life style)

Extravert
The individual who tend to share ideas with others, like to be open and feel easy
while interaction with others. The extraverted types learn best by talking with others. By
interacting with the physical world, extraverts can process and make sense of new
information. Traits are:
Talkative
Idea sharing
Meeting with others
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 Introvert
The individual who tends to stay alone, quiet and shy and do not feel easy while
interacting with others human beings. The introverted types prefer quiet reflection and
privacy. Information processing occurs for introverts as they explore ideas and concepts
internally. Traits are:
Quiet
Shy
Alone
Reserve

Sensing
A type of individuals who rely upon their five senses while making perception
about various objects in their external environment including people, things and
events. Sensing types enjoy a learning environment in which the material is presented in
a detailed and sequential manner. Sensing types often attend to what is occurring in the
present, and can move to the abstract after they have established a concrete
experience.

Intuitive
The type of individuals who rely on their inner feelings to perceive various
objects and tend to be more imaginary and unrealistic. Insight is valued higher than
careful observation, and pattern recognition occurs naturally for Intuitive types.

Thinking
The type of personality where individual tends to make decision after making a
logical analysis of all the situational factors and remain rational while making
decisions. Thinking types desire objective truth and logical principles and are natural at
deductive reasoning.

Feelings
The type of personality / individual where individual tends to remain bias and
make decision based on their emotions and moods instead of conducting a cost benefits
analysis.
(Bias means if there are certain emotional errors and the errors which are in our
behavior intentionally or unintentionally)

Judging
The type of personality where individuals prefer routine and order and tend to
be disciplined most of the time.

Perceiving
The individuals who tends to be spontaneous and flexible and dislike routine and
orders as part of their life.

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Big-Five Model (Five factors model)

Extraversion
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Openness to experience
Emotional stability

Extraversion
The degree to which an individual is sociable, talkative and tends to share ideas
with others. It reflects the tendency to seek stimulation in the company of others, and
talkativeness.
Traits includes
Talkative,
Energetic,
Assertive.

Agreeableness
The degree to which an individual tends to defer other by compensating them,
making peaceful adjustments and tends to avoid conflicts and arguments. A tendency to
be compassionate and cooperative rather
than suspicious and antagonistic towards
others. It is also a measure of one's trusting and helpful nature, and whether a person is
generally well tempered or not.
Traits includes
Sympathetic,
Kind,
Affectionate

Conscientiousness
The degree to which an individual is reliable and responsible and it can be
trusted when assigned with specific tasks. A tendency to be organized and dependable,
show self-discipline, act dutifully, aim for achievement, and prefer planned rather than
spontaneous behavior.
Traits includes
Organized,
Thorough, and
Planful.

Openness to experience
The degree to which an individual is creative and prefer to take risk by
experiencing new ideas in life instead of performing the routine activities. Openness
reflects the degree of intellectual curiosity, creativity and a preference for novelty and
variety a person has. It is also described as the extent to which a person is imaginative
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or independent, and depicts a personal preference for a variety of activities over a strict
routine.
Traits includes
Having wide interests,
Being imaginative
Insightful.

Emotional Stability/ Neuroticism

The degree to which an individual tends to deal with problematic situations and
remains calm and confident during the stressful situations. The tendency to experience
unpleasant emotions easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression, and vulnerability.
Traits includes
Tense,
Moody,
Anxious.

Person Job Fit

The process to access the personality of an individual and to assign that person the
specific job activities according to its personality type.
Effect of Person Job Fit on employee behavior:
Productivity

Absenteeism

Employee turnover

Citizenship

Work place deviance

Job satisfaction

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