Personality Traits

Week 3 Discussion Forum Contribution - Ver1

1) As defined Personality is the sum total of ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with others. Measuring of personality can be done through self-report surveys. These reports are based on a series of factors that the individual evaluates themselves on. Another means of measuring personality can be through observer-ratings surveys. These are independent assessments of personality which are carried out by an observer on an individual who may know or not know about the survey. The main factor that determines personality as shown by research is heredity. However to a lesser extent another contributing factor is the environment.

2) The Big Five personality traits are extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability and openness to experience. Extraversion is an impactful predictor of leadership emergence in groups. Agreeableness is a trait that shows individuals that are better liked by others and are more compliant, conforming and less likely to show deviant behaviour. Conscientiousness shows greater effort and persistence with more drive and discipline. These individuals show better organising and planning skills. Having a high emotional stability score implies being positive and optimistic in thinking. Scoring high for openness to experience is a trait that is effective for leaders. These are individuals that cope better with organisational change and more adaptable to changes.

3) Values are basic convictions that a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode of conduct or end-state of existence. They are important as they lay the foundation for our understanding of people's attitude and motivation and influence our perceptions. Terminal values refer to desirable end-states while instrumental values are the means of achieving the terminal values.

4) Due to limited research one cannot simply agree or disagree that values are different across generations and across cultures. A study by Holland shows that the Boomers generation have different values to the Millenials. However without adequate research, one cannot rule out the fact that some individuals in different generations and cultures may have similar values.