Individual Differences Influencing Work Behavior:

Attitude

Individual Differences Influencing Work Behavior: Hereditary and Personality Diversity Factors

Ability and Skills

Perception

Attitudes

Individual Differences in the Workplace (assess individually to understand) Individual Differences Personality

Perception

Ability and Skills

Work • Behavior Productivity • Creativity • Performance

Attitudes

Definition A learned predisposition to behave in a consistently favorable or unfavorable manner with respect to a given object. • For instance, when we say we “like” something or “dislike” something, we are in effect expressing an attitude toward the person or object. • What are some examples of people or things that you may have strong attitudes about?

Attitudes: Three Important Assumptions 1) An attitude is a hypothetical construct - we cannot actually see attitudes, although we can often see their consequences. 2) An attitude is a uni-dimensional construct - it usually ranges from very positive to very negative. 3) Attitudes are believed to be somewhat related to subsequent behavior, although as we’ll see, this relationship can be unclear.

Attitude Components and Manifestations

Emotions, Attitudes and Behavior Perceived Environment Cognitive process

Emotional process

Beliefs Attitude

Emotional Episodes

Feelings Behavioral Intentions

Behavior

A Simple Representation of the Tri-component Attitude Model Behaviour

Affect Cognition ABC Model

The Tri-component Model • Cognitive Component – The knowledge and perceptions that are acquired by a combination of direct experience with the attitude object and related information from various sources.

• Affective Component – A person’s emotions or feelings about a particular product or Object.

• Behaviour Component – The likelihood or tendency that an individual will undertake a specific action or behave in a particular way with regard to the attitude object.

Stimuli Work environm ent factors

Cognition

Manager style Technology Noise Peers Reward system Compensation plan Career opportunities

Beliefs and values

The Three Components of Attitudes: Cognition, Affect, Behavior “My supervisor is unfair.” “Having a fair

supervisor is important to me.” Affect

Behavior

Feelings and emotions

Intended behavior

“I don’t like my supervisor.”

“I’ve submitted a formal request to transfer.”

Measuring Attitude Components Cognitive Component (Measuring Beliefs about Specific Attributes Using the Semantic Differential Scale) Diet Coke Strong taste ——

——

—— —— —— —— —— Mild taste

Low priced

——

——

—— —— —— —— —— High priced

Caffeine free ——

——

—— —— —— —— —— High in caffeine

Distinctive in —— —— taste most

—— —— —— —— —— Similar in taste to

Measuring Attitude Components Affective Component

(Measuring Feelings about Specific Attributes Using Likert Scales)

Strongly Agree Agree

Neither Agree nor Strongly Disagree Disagree

Disagree

I like the taste of Diet Coke.

——

——

——

——

——

Diet Coke is overpriced.

——

——

——

——

——

Caffeine is bad for your health. ——

——

——

——

——

I like Diet Coke.

——

——

——

——

——

Measuring Attitude Components Behavioral Component (Measuring Actions or Intended Actions) The last soft drink I consumed was a ___________________.

I usually drink________________soft drinks. What is the likelihood you will buy Diet Coke Definitely will buy the next time you purchase a soft drink?   Probably will buy Might buy Probably will not buy Definitely will not buy

Job-Related Attitudes • Job involvement – Extent that a person identifies with his job.

• Organizational commitment – Extent that a person identifies with the organization. This is a great predictor for turnover.

• Job satisfaction – A person’s general attitude toward work.

EVLN: Responses to Dissatisfaction Exit Voice

• Leaving the situation • Quitting, transferring • Changing the situation • Problem solving, complaining

Loyalty

• Patiently waiting for the situation to improve

Neglect

• Reducing work effort/quality • Increasing absenteeism

Responses to Job Dissatisfaction. Active Voice

Exit

Constructive

Destructive Loyalty

Neglect Passive

Sources of Attitudes • Sources of Attitudes: – Acquired from parents, teachers, and peer group members. – There are “genetic” predispositions. – Observations, attitudes that we imitate. • Attitudes are less stable than values.

Formation of Attitudes • • • • • •

Direct Experiences with Object Classical Conditioning and Attitude Operant Conditioning Family and Peer Groups Economic Status and Occupation Mass Communication

Classical conditioning • Initially, the bell is paired with food to produce salivating • Eventually, the food is no longer required to produce salivating • Similarly, a certain person may be paired with a negative reaction by a parent, leading to the child becoming upset • Eventually, the negative reaction is no longer required to make the child upset

Pavlov’s Experiment

A

Neutral stimulus (Bell)

CR (salivation)

B UCR (meat powder)

UCR (salivation)

Neutral stimulus (metronome)

UCR (meat powder)

UCR (salivation)

C

D

CS (metronome)

CR (salivation)

Classical conditioning food bell

person X

parent’ s negativ e reactio

salivatin g

child upset

Instrumental learning • Also called operant conditioning • Rewards and punishments • Strengthening of responses that lead to: – positive outcomes – avoidance of negative outcomes

Instrumental learning • If a child is praised for holding a certain attitude, they will be more likely to continue holding this attitude • On the other hand, punishment leads to rejecting attitudes • Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement

Observational learning • Learning by example • Attitudes may be transmitted unintentionally by parents • Child may observe their parent smoking, which may lead to a positive attitude towards smoking • Child may overhear a certain attitude being conveyed by a parent that they were not meant to hear

Observational learning • Attitudes also learned from media • Individuals want to imitate the people around them, or people they look up to • Observational learning is evident in ‘trends’ – E.g., attitudes towards clothes, etc.

Economic Status • If you are working with management side.. • If you are working with Trade Union…

Difference in attitude

Functions of Attitude • • • •

Determining Meaning Organized facts Select Facts Develop the Rationality

Changing Attitude • • • • • • •

Own Attitude – Keep positive Attitude Develop Own Attitude Keep open mind Continuous Education Positive Self esteem Stay away from – smoking, alcohol, TV

Changing Attitude • • • • •

Give feedback Working Condition Make a positive role model Provide New Information Keep use of Fear - Moderately