Comparing and Contrasting Theoretical Arguments on Personality and Its Implications for Organizations

Running Head: ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
Organizational Behavior

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1
Compare and contrast the different theoretical arguments of personalities. In your
analysis, you must discuss the implications of personality differences for organizations and
provide real world examples.
Personality can be defined as the characteristics set of emotional patterns, cognitions and
behaviours that evolve from environmental and biological factors. While there is no general
definition of the term personality, most of the theories focus on motivation and psychological
interactions with one’s environment. None of the individuals are alike which means that
everyone has different personality. The big five personality theory or the five factor theory of
personality is supported by the majority of researchers these days which describes the five
personality dimensions which constitutes human personality. Such dimensions are agreeableness,
extraversion, neuroticism, extraversion and openness (Judge & Zapata, 2015). Moreover,
personality is considered to be stable and does no change from one day to another. Also, it is
made up of mechanisms and properties and can be divided into different characteristics and
components. Furthermore, personality is ever present which means that it is something due to
which the feelings, thinking and behaviour of an individual is affected at different periods of
time (Hogan, 2017). This essay compares and contrasts different theoretical arguments on
personality. Furthermore, it also describes the implications of personality differences for
organizations.
There are a number of theories that relate to the personality development of individuals as
it is a deep topic for study and research. Freud’s theory of personality provides that there are a
number of factors involved in personality such as unconscious processes, instinctual drives
(aggression, food, etc.) and early childhood influences specifically the parents. The theory argues
that the personality development of an individual is dependent on the interplay of environment
and instinct in the first five years of life. Mental health problems and personality in adulthood
can be easily tracked back to the first five years. The theory further provided that three parts
structure the personality of an individual. Such parts are id, ego and superego. However, all of
these develop at the different stages of life (Valsiner, 2017).

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 2
On the other hand, some theorists have described the trait theory approach as the most
important area within personality psychology. According to such theories, a number of broad
traits results into a personality of an individual. A trait can be defined as the stable characteristic
that leads to a behaviour of an individual in certain ways. Eyesenck has provided a three
dimensional theory in which the dimensions of personality are described as extroversion,
neuroticism and psychoticism. Extroversion and introversion relates to the way in which people
tend to interact with the world, on the other hand, stability and neuroticism relates to
emotionality. According to this theorist, these dimensions perform the function of combining in a
different manner to form the unique personality of the individual. The third dimension i.e.
psychoticism relates to things such as empathy, aggression and sociability. Therefore, the views
of the above two theorists are not exactly same but is still similar in some aspects (Goffee &
Scase, 2015).
Similarly, B. F. Skinner have provided a behavioural personality theory which describes
personality as the consequence of the interaction between the environment and individual
(Explorable, 2018). In other words, this theory regards personality as the effect of learning over a
period of time. When learning brings positive results to an individual, the behaviour becomes
better. Similarly, negative results of learning decrease or kills the behaviour of an individual.
Those behaviours are acquired by people which are rewarded or praised as positive
reinforcement. Similarly those behaviours are left by them which will lead to punishment or are
demotivated as a negative reinforcement and accordingly develop their personality. This include
the personality’s inner traits which are tend to be occupied when they are positively influenced.
In other words, personality development is a process which takes place throughout the life of an
individual (Cervone & Pervin, 2015).
Therefore, there are both differences and similarities in the views of different theorists in
rest of personality. According to Skinner, personality development is a process which takes place
throughout the life of an individual (Explorable, 2018). On the other hand, Freud’s theory
provides that personality development of an individual is dependent on the interplay of
environment and instinct in the first five years of life. This, in turn, makes the views of both of
the theorists different. Success or achievement or development of personality follows after
conflict and striving as per the views of Frued. However, Skinner’s theory views success as the