Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
True / False
1. Person-job fit is the extent to which the contributions made by the individual match the inducements offered by the
organization.
a.
True
b.
False
True
2. Individual differences are personal attributes that vary from one person to another person.
a.
True
b.
False
True
3. Personality attributes are usually considered to be unstable and fluctuating.
a.
True
b.
False
False
4. A manager with strong emotional intelligence is able to overcome his or her empathy when dealing with others.
a.
True
b.
False
False
5. Empathy, managing emotions, and social skill are components of emotional intelligence.
a.
True
b.
False
True
6. Managers with high emotional intelligence are expected to perform well in jobs that require a high degree of
interpersonal interaction.
a.
True
b.
False
True
7. A person’s locus of control is the extent to which a person believes circumstances are a function of either his/her own
actions or of external factors beyond his/her control.
a.
True
b.
False
True
8. A person’s self-efficacy is that person’s beliefs about his or her capabilities to perform a task.
a.
True
b.
False
True
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
9. A person who tries to gain power and control over others in the workplace scores high in Machiavellianism.
a.
True
b.
False
10. The big five personality traits are a set of fundamental traits that are not especially relevant to organizations.
a.
True
b.
False
False
11. Openness involves the ability to get along with others on the job.
a.
True
b.
False
False
12. People with high neuroticism often experience difficulties when dealing with stress.
a.
True
b.
False
True
13. Authoritarianism is the belief that power and status differences are not appropriate within hierarchical social systems
such as organizations.
a.
True
b.
False
False
14. People who possess the personality trait of Machiavellianism support delegation of authority, power, and control to
subordinates.
a.
True
b.
False
False
15. A person who is upbeat and optimistic, has an overall sense of well-being, and can see things in a positive light is said
to possess positive Machiavellianism.
a.
True
b.
False
False
16. Personality attributes are usually considered to be unstable and fluctuating.
a.
True
b.
False
False
Multiple Choice
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
17. The extent to which the contributions made by an individual match the inducements offered by the organization is
referred to as
a.
a complementary contract.
b.
employment alignment.
c.
person-job fit.
d.
workplace balance.
e.
job security.
c
18. Which of the following best describes the role of circumstances in assessing individual differences?
a.
Circumstances are more important in judging newer employees than they are in judging older employees.
b.
Individual differences may shape circumstances, but circumstances cannot shape individual differences.
c.
Managers can assess circumstances, but they cannot assess individual differences.
d.
Whether specific differences that characterize a person are good or bad depends on circumstances.
e.
Circumstances becomes more important the more unique the employee.
19. The extent to which personality attributes are inherited from our parents or shaped by our environment is called ____
by psychologists.
a.
individual differences
b.
psychological contributions
c.
nature versus nurture
d.
psychological contract
e.
psychological inducements
c
20. Agreeableness includes being
a.
gentle.
b.
cooperative.
c.
understanding.
d.
forgiving.
e.
all of these
e
21. Research has found that ____ people tend to be higher performers in a variety of jobs.
a.
extroverted
b.
introverted
c.
conscientious
d.
open
e.
all of these
c
22. Jane is relatively calm, poised, and secure. Jane’s boss is more excitable, insecure, and reactive. Jane and her boss
differ in their level of which personality trait described in the Big Five personality framework?
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
a.
Self-efficacy
b.
Agreeableness
c.
Locus of control
d.
Neuroticism
e.
Openness
23. Individuals who score high in ____ tend to take their jobs seriously and act responsibly at work.
a.
agreeableness
b.
conscientiousness
c.
openness
d.
extroversion
e.
negative emotionality
24. People with a high level of ____ are willing to listen to new ideas and to change their own ideas, beliefs, and attitudes
in response to new information
a.
agreeableness
b.
conscientiousness
c.
openness
d.
extroversion
e.
negative emotionality
c
25. Which of the following statements regarding assessing employees’ “Big Five” personality traits is true?
a.
The “Big Five” personality traits are based primarily on research conducted in the United States.
b.
Managers are basically uninterested in the “Big Five” personality traits.
c.
Rigorous and valid measures of personality allow for their accurate assessment.
d.
Managers should be very confident about their assessment of employees’ personality traits.
e.
Personality traits are poor predictors of virtually all employee behaviors.
a
26. The ____ is among the most popular personality selection instruments used today in business.
a.
MBO
b.
MBTI
c.
TQMI
d.
JDI
e.
PAQ
27. Emotional intelligence includes all of the following EXCEPT
a.
self-awareness
b.
emotion management
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
c.
locus of control
d.
self-motivation
e.
social skills
c
28. Jim has the ability to balance anxiety, fear, and anger and still get the job done. Jim possesses which component of
emotional intelligence?
a.
social skill
b.
locus of control
c.
managing emotions
d.
empathy
e.
motivating oneself
c
29. If you have the ability to understand how others feel, even without being told, you have the ability to
a.
manage your emotions.
b.
show empathy.
c.
motivate yourself.
d.
get along with others.
e.
be promoted at your job.
30. John truly believes that he can achieve his goal of selling 10 cars each month. This belief reflects John’s
a.
self-efficacy.
b.
risk propensity.
c.
attitude.
d.
self-esteem.
e.
Machiavellianism.
a
31. George believes that he was promoted and given a raise based upon his hard work on the job. George has
a.
self-efficacy
b.
an internal locus of control.
c.
emotional intelligence
d.
high self-esteem
e.
an external locus of control.
32. If you accept orders from your supervisor solely because he or she is “the boss,” you are highly
a.
authoritarian.
b.
self-monitoring.
c.
perceptual.
d.
motivational.
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
e.
dogmatic.
a
33. If you are proud of your accomplishments yet look forward to achieving higher levels of performance and are
confident in your abilities, you have high
a.
risk propensity.
b.
locus of control.
c.
conformity.
d.
self-esteem.
e.
self-monitoring.
34. A supervisor who experiments with new ideas, takes a chance with new products, and leads his or her department in
new directions has high
a.
locus of control.
b.
risk propensity.
c.
self-monitoring.
d.
self-esteem.
e.
competencies.
35. ____ is behavior directed at gaining power and controlling the behavior of others.
a.
Authoritarianism
b.
Positive affectivity
c.
Machiavellianism
d.
Selective perception
e.
None of the above
c
36. Personality affects which of the following?
a.
choice of career
b.
how long we stay with an employer
c.
job satisfaction
d.
job performance
e.
all of these
a
37. _______________ reflects a tendency to perceive or interpret information marked by vague, incomplete, fragmented,
multiple, inconsistent, or contradictory meanings as actual or potential sources of psychological discomfort or threat.
a.
Low tolerance for ambiguity
b.
High tolerance for ambiguity
c.
High risk propensity
d.
Low risk propensity
e.
Machiavellianism
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
a
38. Mangers should place individuals with a _______ tolerance for ambiguity in well-defined and regulated tasks.
a.
low
b.
medium
c.
high
d.
any of these
e.
none of these
a
39. Being tolerant of ambiguity is related to which of the following?
a.
creativity
b.
positive attitudes toward risk
c.
orientation to diversity
d.
all of these
e.
none of these
40. Managers with a low tolerance for ambiguity tend to be more ________ with their staff and don’t empower them to
make their own decisions at work.
a.
flexible
b.
directive
c.
passive
d.
open
e.
none of these
41. Which term refers to the degree to which a person generally considers herself responsible for the things that happen to
her?
a.
authoritarianism
b.
neuroticism
c.
extroversion
d.
self-esteem
e.
locus of control
e
42. A/an ___________ locus of control is related to passivity and learned helplessness and a/an __________ locus of
control has been positively related to confidence in one’s ability to successfully perform tasks.
a.
undefined, defined
b.
negative, positive
c.
positive, negative
d.
internal, external
e.
external, internal
e
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
43. People with an internal locus of control, as compared to those with an external locus of control, tend to be ______
socially integrated at work and report ______ favorable relationships with their supervisors.
a.
less, less
b.
more, more
c.
more, less
d.
less, more
e.
equally, equally
44. People who are impatient, competitive, ambitious, and uptight are said to have what personality type?
a.
Type A
b.
Type B
c.
Machiavellian
d.
disagreeable
e.
closed-minded
a
45. People who are relaxed and easy going are said to have what personality type?
a.
Type A
b.
Type B
c.
Machiavellian
d.
sociopathic
e.
open-minded
46. High Type As need ______ stimulation than Type Bs and are ______ likely to over-schedule themselves.
a.
more, more
b.
less, less
c.
less, more
d.
more, less
e.
neither more nor less, equally
a
47. Which of the “Big Five” personality dimensions refers to being sociable, assertive, talkative, and energetic?
a.
agreeableness
b.
conscientiousness
c.
openness
d.
extroversion
e.
neuroticism
48. Which of the “Big Five” personality dimensions is associated with being anxious, depressed, angry, and insecure?
a.
agreeableness
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
b.
conscientiousness
c.
openness
d.
extroversion
e.
neuroticism
e
49. Which of the “Big Five” personality dimensions is associated with being polite, good-natured, cooperative, forgiving?
a.
conscientiousness
b.
agreeableness
c.
extroversion
d.
neuroticism
e.
openness
50. Which of the “Big Five” personality dimensions is associated with being careful, thorough, responsible, organized,
hardworking, achievement-oriented, and persistent?
a.
conscientiousness
b.
agreeableness
c.
extroversion
d.
neuroticism
e.
openness
a
51. What type of personality has been defined as someone who “employs aggressive, manipulative, exploiting, and
devious moves to achieve personal or organizational objectives?”
a.
Type A
b.
Type B
c.
Machiavellian
d.
avoidant
e.
passive-aggressive
c
52. The concept of Machiavellianism is based on what publication?
a.
The Princess Diaries
b.
The Prince
c.
The Frog Prince
d.
The Little Prince
e.
The Princess and the Pea
53. Highly Machiavellian people are ______ ethically sensitive than are lower Machiavellian people and agree ______
with ethical policies or rules of behavior.
a.
less, less
b.
more, more
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
c.
less, more
d.
more, less
e.
neither more nor less, just as much
a
54. What term refers to a repeated mistreatment of another employee through verbal abuse, conduct that is threatening,
humiliating, or intimidating, or sabotage that interferes with the other person’s work?
a.
workplace bullying
b.
sexual harassment
c.
organizational politics
d.
Machiavellianism
e.
none of these
a
55. Bullying costs employers through which of the following?
a.
higher turnover
b.
higher workers’ compensation costs
c.
higher disability insurance rates
d.
a tarnished reputation
e.
all of these
e
56. What percent of the U.S. workforce reports either being bullied at work or witnessing bullying?
a.
20
b.
30
c.
50
d.
80
e.
90
c
57. People who are _______________ seem to be more likely to be bullied.
a.
more introverted
b.
less agreeable
c.
less conscientious
d.
more emotionally unstable
e.
all of these
e
58. Eighty one percent of bullying behavior is done by whom?
a.
administrative assistance
b.
human resource workers
c.
women
d.
supervisors
Name:
Class:
Date:
Chapter 03—Individual Differences
e.
younger employees
59. Individuals targeted by bullies sometimes suffer from which of the following?
a.
debilitating anxiety
b.
panic attacks
c.
clinical depression
d.
post-traumatic stress
e.
all of these
e
60. Workplace bullying can include which of the following?
a.
verbal abuse
b.
threats
c.
intimidation
d.
sabotage
e.
all of these
e
61. ___________ bullying victims sue or complain to state or federal agencies.
a.
No
b.
Very few
c.
Most
d.
Almost all
e.
All
62. What is personality a product of?
a.
heredity only
b.
environment only
c.
both heredity and the environment
d.
neither heredity nor the environment
e.
scientists do not know
c
63. __________ need quiet time to recharge their batteries.
a.
Perceivers
b.
Feelers
c.
Thinkers
d.
Extroverts
e.
Introverts
e
64. ____________ people are detail oriented and want facts.