Knowing Yourself the Scientific Way

What does that mean in the workplace?

[Personality] is the stable pattern 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 Eysencks and Cattells theories attempt to show the underlying personality traits
explaining human behaviour in various situations (Trait Theories)

Know Thyself: Eysencks 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 persons personality dimensions

Personality Dimensions
Scores on the dimensions are related to specific characteristics. Eysencks theory produces 4 main types of personality, combining these
Melancholic
Unstable-Introverted Choleric Unstable-Extraverted

Sanguine Phlegmatic Stable-Extraverted

Stable-Introverted

Extraversion Dimension
Extraverts are typically active, sociable, assertive and are carefree. Intraverts are the opposite
Intraverted
Activity Sociability Expressiveness Assertiveness Ambition Dogmatism Aggressiveness

Extraverted
High

Low

Costa & McCrae, 1995

Neuroticism Dimension
Neurotic personality is associated with high level of negative affect; ie worries, anxieties, irrationality and depression
Stable
Inferiority Unhappiness Anxiety Dependence Hypochrondia Guilt Obessiveness

Neurotic
High

Low

Costa & McCrae, 1995

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
Normal
Risk Taking Impulsivity Irresponsibility Manipulativeness Tough-mindedness Sensation-seeking Practicality

Psychotic
High

Low

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

Social Boldness Sensitivity Vigilance Abstractedness Privateness Apprehensiveness

Openness to Change Self-Reliance Perfectionism Tension

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

Global Factors
When the primary traits are factoranalysed 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 Eysencks and Cattells 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 Students 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