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Chapter 4: Individual Traits and Differences
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which one of the following is not part of what makes an individual unique?
a. heredity
b. genes
c. gender
d. athletic ability
2. The interactionist view of individual differences suggests:
a. the environment determines who we are
b. genes are the most important factor in making people who they are
c. heredity and the environment both influence individual differences
d. culture is one of the key factors in determining how people behave
3. Although female babies tend to develop language skills earlier than males, parents speak more to girls
than boys and schools expect girls to be proficient in language. This is an example of:
a. the interactionist approach
b. sexism in our society
c. typical problems boys face in their development
d. the importance of parental influence
4. The primary reason boys are more competitive and aggressive than girls is that:
a. boys are genetically more aggressive
b. boys watch more violent movies and play more video games
c. typical male genetic traits are reinforced by society
d. parents spend less time with boys than with girls
5. Personality is best defined as:
a. a person’s traits based on their genes
b. a set of traits that make a person unique
c. how people behave based on their values
d. behaviors that make people different
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6. Which of the following is not part of the definition of personality?
a. personality is stable over an extended period of time
b. personality is a set of traits
c. personality determines what we do
d. personality is influenced by genes and the environment
7. Jose believes in being honest in all situations. This is a reflection of Jose’s __________.
a. values
b. personal choice
c. culture
d. temperament
8. ___________ are natural aptitudes, whereas __________ are acquired talents.
a. Personality traits; behaviors
b. Abilities; skills.
c. Leadership skills; management skills
d. Values; cultural tendencies
9. Abilities tend to be:
a. stable over an extended period of time
b. related to culture
c. based on values
d. related to leadership
10. Individual difference characteristics affect a person’s behavior most when:
a. the situation provides clear guidelines
b. the situation is loosely structured
c. the person is strong willed
d. the person is flexible
11. Christie is a lively, informal, and outgoing person who just started a new job. She quickly realizes
that her new company is formal and very subdued. Christie adjusts her behavior and tones down her
natural enthusiasm to adopt a more quiet style. This is an example of:
a. weak personality
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b. conformity pressure
c. responding to situational cues
d. the acceptance of company rules
12. When people are encouraged to behave outside their zone of comfort, they are likely to:
a. learn and grow even though the behavior is threatening to them
b. develop leadership skills
c. become frustrated
d. resist change and revert to the comfort zone at all costs
13. Which of the traits generally cannot be acquired through time and appropriate experience?
a. knowledge of industry
b. self-confidence
c. intelligence
d. honesty
14. Which one of the following influences a person’s value system?
a. abilities
b. skills
c. leadership
d. culture
15. Which of the following have been found to be relatively universal values?
a. Individuality and Individual dignity
b. Personal achievement and performance
c. Fairness and honesty
d. Desire for recognition and rewards
16. Japanese managers are likely to reward team effort over individual achievement. This is because:
a. the Japanese culture values community
b. individuals tend to perform less well in Japan
c. the Japanese are less competitive
d. individual achievement is only rewarded in special cases
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17. Which of the following cultures value the leader’s ability to conform to social order?
a. the United States
b. Germany
c. Japan
d. The Philippines
18. One of your Navajo employees quits after you surprise him with having won the company’s most
valuable employee performance award which is advertised on the company web site, newsletter, and
local television. His quitting is likely to be due to:
a. his shyness and personal reserve
b. his culture’s emphasis not standing out
c. the lack of individual recognition
d. unknown factors that often influence a person’s behavior
19. Hard work, patriotism and frugality are values typically held by people in which of the following age
groups?
a. Those over 65
b. Those from 50 to 65
c. Those 35 to 50
d. Those 25 to 35
20. Non-conformity, idealism, and distrust of the establishment are values typically held by people in
which of the following age groups?
a. Those over 65
b. Those from 50 to 65
c. Those 35 to 50
d. Those 25 to 35
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21. Ambition, material comfort, and success are values typically held by people in which of the following
age groups?
a. Those over 65
b. Those from 50 to 65
c. Those 35 to 50
d. Those 25 to 35
22. Enjoyment of life and desire for autonomy and flexibility are values typically held by people in which
of the following age groups?
a. Those over 65
b. Those from 50 to 65
c. Those 40 to 50
d. Those 30 to40
23. ____________ are ambitious, seek material comfort and are success driven.
a. The Baby Boomers
b. The Generation Xers
c. The Baby Busters
d. The Millennials or Nexters
24. Andy, who is in his early forties, cannot understand why Malcolm, his coworker is so distrustful of
their manager and often defies her authority. Malcolm is likely to belong to which of the following
generations?
a. the Baby Boomers
b. the Generation Xers
c. the Yuppies
d. the Millennials
25. Older generations in Western Europe and the U.S. tend to _____________ than younger generation.
a. be more suspicious of authority
b. have a stronger sense of cultural superiority
c. be more independent
d. be more tied to their parents and family members
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26. A __________ view of ethics suggests that what is right or wrong depends on the situation.
a. universalist
b. contingency
c. relativist
d. cultural
27. United States laws forbid business people to bribe others even in cultures where bribery is expected
or necessary. This approach to ethics reflects a ___________ view of ethics.
a. universalist
b. contingency
c. relativist
d. cultural
28. Which of the following countries has been rated as the least corrupt by Transparency International?
a. Paraguay
b. Singapore
c. The United States
d. Canada
29. Cross-cultural research about deception shows that:
a. people in individualist cultures feel guilty about lying.
b. people in collectivist cultures use more deception.
c. deception is a universal concept.
d. most people lie to protect themselves.
30. What can a Western manager negotiating in Japan or Korea expect?
a. Open and honest negotiation
b. Cooperation based on the need for collective harmony
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c. Some deception followed by guilt
d. The same situation as negotiating in Germany
31. Examples of people, such as movie producer Scott Rudin, show that _________ may be more
important than __________.
a. ability to relate to others; intelligence
b. consideration for people; focus on the task
c. cognitive ability; social skills
d. cultural knowledge; task skills
32. _____________ is increasingly being suggested as being more important than ____________.
a. Ability to relate to others; intelligence
b. Consideration for people; focus on the task
c. Cognitive ability; social skills
d. Cultural knowledge; task skills.
33. The link between leadership and intelligence,
a. shows that smart managers are better managers.
b. is far from clear.
c. shows that cognitive intelligence is more important than creative intelligence.
d. is both positive and linear.
34. Which of the following is not a component of emotional intelligence?
a. self-awareness
b. self-regulation
c. empathy
d. optimism
35. ___________ is the ability to read others and be able to put yourself in their place.
a. self-monitoring
b. empathy
c. consideration
d. social skills
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36. Leaders who are high on ____________ are better able to guide their followers through challenging
tasks because they can recognize perceptual patterns and coordinate group activities.
a. self-monitoring
b. empathy
c. consideration
d. optimism
37. Emotional intelligence is important in leadership because:
a. caring about others is important
b. good self-presentation is key to leadership
c. emotional intelligence has been found to be related to cultural sensitivity
d. the ability to harmonize with others plays a key role in leadership
38. While addressing employees after 9/11, Ken Chenault the CEO of American Express, openly
expressed his sorrow and embraced grief-stricken employees. His behavior is an example of:
a. his ability to present the appropriate emotions when needed
b. his high level of emotional intelligence
c. his excellent self-presentation skills
d. his leadership skills
39. _____________ and ______________ are often terms used to describe creativity.
a. Divergent; lateral thinking
b. Opportunistic; thrill seeking
c. Bold; aggressive
d. Strategic; forward looking
40. In addition to coming up with new ideas, creative leaders must also have:
a. consideration for others
b. technical expertise
c. strong task focus
d. short term orientation
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41. Which one of the following is one of the characteristics of creative people?
a. task focus
b. leadership skills
c. tolerance for ambiguity
d. being able to give up quickly
42. Which of the following is not one of the characteristics of creative people?
a. perseverance in the face of obstacle
b. extremely high risk taking
c. openness to new ideas
d. ability to tolerate lack of structure
43. Which one of the following is not one of the leadership skills of creative leaders?
a. technical
b. interpersonal
c. conceptual
d. organizational
44. Marta has just been appointed to a top level executive position in her company. Which of the
following leadership skills is she most likely to need and use?
a. technical
b. interpersonal
c. conceptual
d. organizational
45. Most organizations provide skills training to their employees and leaders because:
a. skills can be learned
b. new skills can quickly be translated into behaviors
c. skills are not influenced by culture
d. the same set of skills can be applied in all situations
46. Understanding personality traits can help leaders because:
a. traits often predict who will be an effective leader
b. traits determine how people behave
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c. some traits are consistently associated with leadership
d. traits are easier to learn than abilities or skills
47. Which of the following is not part of the Big Five personality dimensions?
a. conscientiousness
b. emotional intelligence
c. openness to experience
d. agreeableness
48. ________________ and ____________ are both part of the Big Five personality dimensions.
a. Locus of control; need for control
b. Cognitive; emotional intelligence
c. Emotional stability; consideration for others
d. Extraversion; openness to experience
49. Which of the Big Five personality dimensions is most strongly correlated to job performance?
a. conscientiousness
b. emotional intelligence
c. openness to experience
d. agreeableness
50. _____________ is the Big Five personality dimension that is important in jobs such as management
that require social interaction.
a. Emotional intelligence
b. Extraversion
c. Openness to experience
d. Agreeableness
51. The XYZ Corporation is looking for a leader who can develop high job commitment and create high
job satisfaction. According to recent research on the Big Five personality dimensions, which
characteristics should they look for in that leader?
a. high conscientiousness, openness to experience, moderate emotional stability, and high
agreeableness
b. high on emotional stability, extraversion, and agreeableness, and low on conscientiousness
c. low on introversion, agreeableness, and emotional intelligence, and high on
conscientiousness
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d. high on control and high on consideration
52. This personality type is defined by the individual’s need to take control of events in their life.
a. Type A
b. Proactive
c. Emotional Intelligence
d. Extraversion
53. People with a proactive personality tend to have
a. greater job satisfaction
b. less job satisfaction
c. less control over daily life activities
d. greater stress
54. Which of the following is not a characteristic of proactive personalities?
a. Identify opportunities.
b. Remove obstacles.
c. Constrained by situation
d. Take initiative.
55. Shelly Provost, a partner at Lamp Post Group, believes that individuals with a proactive personality
make better _________.
a. general managers.
b. chief executive officers.
c. entrepreneurs.
d. sales people.
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
56. Sally Colbert is very energetic, focuses on deadlines, is highly ambitious and likes working alone.
Based on this information, Sally is most likely to be:
a. a good manager.
b. a Type A who needs control.
c. a person with internal locus of control.
d. a high self-monitor.
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57. _______________ is the underlying construct in Type A.
a. The need for control
b. How well people read their environment
c. The need for power
d. How people make decisions
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
58. Which one of the following is one of the defining characteristics of Type As?
a. Relaxed approach to time
b. Very cooperative
c. Focus on one task at a time
d. Hostility
59. Which of the following best describe Type As?
a. Type As are strategic thinkers who are proactive.
b. Type As try to do more in less time.
c. Type As are willing to cut corners to achieve their goals.
d. Type As are good at persuading others.
60. ____________ need an increasing amount of control while ____________ feel that they have control
over their environment.
a. Extroverts/high Machiavellians
b. Low self-monitors/high self-monitors
c. Type As/people with internal locus of control
d. People who are sensing-feelers/those who are intuitive-thinkers
61. _____________ is one of the major challenges Type A managers are likely to face.
a. Worrying too much about time and deadlines
b. Inability to delegate tasks
c. Setting goals that are not challenging
d. Inability to plan
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62. High self-monitors may have an advantage in leadership because:
a. they are better planners
b. they set challenging goals
c. they are flexible
d. they handle power well
63. You are trying to select a leader to head a team that will be negotiating an international deal for your
company. Which one of the following individual characteristics may be useful to you in making that
decision?
a. Locus of control
b. Type A
c. Self-monitoring
d. Intelligence
64. __________ are cynical and manipulative, while ____________ are trusting and poor negotiators.
a. High self-monitors; low self-monitors
b. Type As; type Bs
c. Internally controlled; externally controlled
d. High Machiavellians; low Machiavellians
65. The high Machiavellian leader is likely to be _____________ but not necessarily ___________.
a. considerate; task focused
b. successful; effective
c. good planners; good implementers
d. task oriented; people oriented
66. Which of the following traits is not part of the Dark Triad?
a. Type A
b. Machiavellianism
c. Narcissism
d. Subclinical psychopathy
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67. Which is not a characteristic of narcissism as described by the American Psychiatric Association?
a. preoccupation with power and success
b. ability to tolerate criticism
c. sense of entitlement
d. lack of empathy for others
68. In dealing with abusive bosses you should do all of the following except .
a. make sure your work is impeccable
b. get defensive
c. maintain a strong social network
d. plan an exit strategy
69. Which of the following is one of the primary reasons leaders fail?
a. An authoritarian style
b. Intimidation and arrogance
c. Too much focus on people
d. Financial focus
70. In understanding leadership, which statement regarding individual characteristics is true.
a. Any one trait alone cannot explain leadership success
b. Individual traits are generally dependent and come in groups.
c. Organizations have been successful at developing profiles for leadership selection.
True/False Questions
71. Traits alone do not define leaders.
a. true
b. false