Communication Skills-I

BC 109
Self Reliance and
Socialization
Module-2
Understanding Personality
Personality is a concept that we use continuously in our day-
to-day routine while dealing with people. Personality can be
reflected in a person’s temperament and is a key factor
influencing individual behavior in organizations.
Personality is very essential and helpful in ensuring effective job
performance. This means that the personality of an individual
represents personal characteristics and traits which can lead to
consistent patterns of behavior. So, while trying to understand the
personality, it is to be understood that the behavior is the outcome
of a complex interaction between the person and the situation.
Hence, it will be necessary to have knowledge of those personality
traits which predetermine the parameters for employee’s (or
people’s) behavior and thus provide a paradigm for predicting
behavior.
Meaning & Definition
• Behavior is the outcome of a complex interaction between the person and the
situation. At a particular point of time, the person’s behavior is strongly influenced
by certain events in the environment engulfing them (this also includes the
presence and behavior of other people), and yet people have the tendency to bring
out something of themselves to the situation. And it will be this something which
represents the ‘unique qualities’ exclusive to that individual.
• The word ‘personality’ can be originally traced to the Latin words per sona which
means to speak through. This term was used in reference to the masks worn by the
actors in ancient Greece. In common parlance, the word personality refers to the
role a person is playing in public. A definition of personality with an objective of
social learning and having relevance to the study of organizational behavior could
be accepted. It is based on the key idea that personality represents the personal
characteristics which leads to consistent pattern of behavior.
“Personality is a stable set of characteristics and determine those
commonalities and differences in the physiological behaviour
(thoughts, feelings and actions) of people that have continuity in
time and that may not be easily understood as the sole result of the
social and biological pressures of the moment”
Nature of personality

• Generally, personality refers to the set of traits, and behaviors that

characterize an individual. It is relatively a stable pattern of behavior
and explains a person’s behavioral tendencies. The nature of
personality is: (a) it has both internal and external elements; (b) an
individual’s personality is relatively stable; (c) an individual’s
personality is both inherited as well as shaped by the environment;
and (d) each individual is unique in his/her behavior. Thus,
personality refers to the sum total of internal and external traits of an
individual, which are relatively stable and that makes the individual
different from others.
The role of Nature & Nurture in Personality Development
The debate on nature vs. nurture has been ongoing for
centuries, with psychologists and researchers attempting
to answer the question of which has a greater influence
on personality development. While some believe that
genetics and biology play a significant role in shaping
personality, others argue that environmental factors and
social experiences are the primary determinants.
Nature:
The nature theory suggests that personality traits are innate and
predetermined by genetics. Supporters of this theory argue that genes
passed down from parents dictate how one thinks, feels, and behaves.
Research studies have identified several biological factors that are
associated with personality development, including brain structure,
hormone levels, and genetic mutations.

Another study that supports the nature theory is the discovery of the
"warrior gene." A genetic mutation that has been associated with impulsive
and aggressive behavior. Researchers have found that individuals who
possess this gene are more likely to engage in risky behaviours and have
difficulty controlling their emotions.
Nurture:
The nurture theory proposes that environmental factors play a significant role
in shaping personality development. This theory suggests that an individual's
upbringing, life experiences, and social interactions have a significant impact
on their personality traits. Environmental factors such as parenting, education,
and social support systems influence an individual's beliefs, attitudes, and
behaviors.
Several studies have provided evidence to support the nurture theory. For
example, research has shown that children who are raised in abusive or
neglectful environments are more likely to develop personality disorders and
exhibit aggressive behavior. Additionally, studies have found that individuals
who have positive social support systems and receive quality education are
more likely to develop healthy personality traits.
Big 5 factor
Personalities contain the patterns of your thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors that make each person
unique. Together, these aspects can play a role in
every part of our lives, from friendships to careers,
to hobbies. Experts believe that there are five
personality traits, known as the “Big Five” or the
Five-Factor Model. Each trait reflects how a person
thinks, feels, and behaves
The Big Five personality traits consist of:
agreeableness
conscientiousness
extraversion
neuroticism
openness to experience
Extraversion
Extraversion, sometimes called extroversion, reflects how you
interact socially. It describes your emotional expression and how
comfortable you are in your environment.
People who score high in extraversion may have tendencies to:
be more outgoing and talkative
thrive in social situations
have a wide social circle and find it easy to make friends
like to start conversations
feel comfortable arguing and debating your opinions
seek excitement
generally, enjoy being around people
work in a supervisor position with others
Agreeableness
Agreeableness is a personality trait that describes how you treat
your relationships with others. It’s how kind and helpful you are
toward people. Overall, high agreeableness means you desire to
keep things running smoothly and value social harmony.
If you score high in agreeableness, you may be:
altruistic
kind to others
empathetic
helpful
caring
compassionate
trustworthy
Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness is a trait that refers to how thoughtful and goal-
oriented you are. It’s how in control you are over your impulses
and your level of organization and work ethic.
If you score high in conscientiousness, you tend to be:
more optimistic
emotionally stable
unlikely to react in a stressful environment
well-organized
hardworking
detailed-oriented
good at planning
mindful of deadlines
goal-driven
Emotional stability or neuroticism
Neuroticism is a personality trait that refers to your emotional
stability. As a personality dimension, neuroticism is characterized
by unsettling thoughts and feelings of sadness or moodiness.
A high score in neuroticism means that you may:
often feels insecure
get stressed easily
appear irritable or moody to others
worry a lot
experience mood swings or feelings of sadness
Meaning and Definition of Attitude
Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.
(Albert Einstein)
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
(Winston Churchill)
It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good
heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness both the
short term and the long term for both yourself and others
will come. (Dalai Lama )
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude
from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man
with the wrong mental attitude. (Thomas Jefferson )
Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by
the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by
the way your mind looks at what happens. (Khalil Gibran ).

An attitude is a mental or neural state of readiness, organized through

experience, exerting a directive or dynamic influence on the
individual's response to all objects and situations to which it is related
(Allport, 1935).
An attitude, roughly, is a residuum of experience, by which further
activity is conditioned and controlled. We may think of attitudes as
acquired tendencies to act in specific ways toward objects (Krueger &
Reckless, 193 1).
Attitudes are formed from our experiences or observation
and serve to guide our future behavior. All attitudes positive
or negative vary in intensity. For example, one may very
strongly like a certain book but casually dislikes a certain
type of music. Social psychologists examine attitude in
terms of three components- cognitive, affective and
behavioral. There is always an object of the attitude, the
item towards which the attitude is directed.
 Example of the attitude of a person towards a child with
special needs 'Reema' to understand the three components
of attitude.
1) Cognitive: It refers to that part of attitude which is related
in general know how of a person. This is the mental component.
Example: Reema is happy, loving and full of positive energy.
2) Affective: This is the emotional component which affects
another person Example: I feel good when I am around Reema.
and this shows an emotional relationship.
3) Behavioral: This is the action component; more specifically,
it consists of the predisposition to act in a certain way toward
the object. The behavioral component reflects the intentions of a
person in short run or in long run.
Nature of Attitude
Attitude is a key component of the intellectual
framework used to organize, conceptualize, and evaluate
information. –
Attitude comprises the experiences and influences that
form positive or negative beliefs about various facets of
one's environment. –

Attitude exerts a powerful influence over positive and

negative feelings, perceptions, and responses to one's
environment. - Attitude is directly related to intentions
and behaviour.
These common elements appear in Aiken's (2002)
definition of attitude as "learned cognitive, affective and
behavioral predispositions to respond positively or
negatively to certain objects, situations, institutions,
concepts, or persons". They also appear in Rokeach's
(1968) description of attitude as "a relatively enduring
organization of beliefs around an object or situation
predisposing one to respond in some preferential manner".
Components and Formation of attitude
The three components of attitude—cognitive, affective, and behavioral—are
collectively known as the ABC model of attitude.
•Cognitive Component: This refers to how a person thinks about a subject,
including their beliefs, thoughts, and perceptions. It encompasses an individual's
ideas and understanding of a particular topic.
•Affective Component: This involves a person's emotional response to a subject,
including their feelings and emotions toward it.
•Behavioral Component: This reflects how a person acts in response to a subject,
showing how their attitude influences their behavior, often based on past
experiences.
Example:
•Feeling fear of spiders represents the affective component.
•Avoiding spiders demonstrates the behavioral component.
•Believing that spiders are dangerous illustrates the cognitive component.
Attitudes are formed in different ways. The most popular manner is the way children acquire
many of their attitudes by modelling their parents' attitudes. Classical conditioning using
pleasurable stimuli is another method of attitude formation. It is widely used by advertisers who
pair a product with catchy music, soothing colors, or attractive people.
Operant conditioning, is a mode of attitude formation , employed by parents and teachers which
is done with rewards Attitudes are also formed through direct experience.
Persuasion as a form of communication helps in changing people's attitudes. Its success depends
on several factors. The first of these is the source or communicator. To be effective, a
communicator must have credibility based on his or her perceived knowledge of the topic and
also cons
women to be more susceptible to persuasion than men, attributing it to the superior verbal skills
of females which may increase their ability to understand and process verbal arguments. The
effect of intelligence on attitude change is inconclusive. On one hand, it has been hypothesized
that the greater one's intelligence, the more willing one is to consider differing points of view. On
the other hand, people with superior intelligence may be less easily persuaded because they are
more likely to detect weaknesses in another person's argument. considered trustworthy.
Importance and relevance of attitude
The Importance of Attitude
Attitude plays a crucial role in shaping your interactions with the world. A positive attitude can
contribute to success in both personal and professional life, helping you navigate challenges,
reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.
How Attitude Impacts Your Life
•Personal Relationships: A positive attitude fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and creates
a supportive environment.
•Career: Maintaining a positive outlook can enhance productivity, help achieve goals and
overcome obstacles.
•Health: A positive mindset contributes to lower stress levels and supports both mental and
physical well-being.
•Problem-Solving: Viewing failures as opportunities to learn can improve problem-solving
skills and resilience.

Ways for Maintaining a Positive Attitude

•Minimize the influence of negative thoughts on your daily life.
•Cultivate positivity in interactions with others.
•Embrace new experiences and step beyond your comfort zone.
Attitudinal Change
Attitudinal Change
Attitudinal change refers to the process of modifying an existing attitude. This change can occur due to new
information, persuasion, or the discomfort caused by conflicting beliefs.
Factors Influencing Attitude Change
•Persuasion: People can be influenced by persuasive individuals.
•New Information: Gaining new knowledge or insights can lead to a shift in attitude.
•Cognitive Dissonance: When beliefs are inconsistent, individuals may experience discomfort or guilt, prompting
them to adjust their attitudes to restore harmony.

Techniques for Changing Attitudes

•Association with a Stimulus: Repeatedly linking an object to a positive or negative stimulus can alter attitudes.
•Developing a New Habit: Changing an attitude is similar to adopting a new habit, requiring patience and
reinforcement.

Stages of Attitude Change

1.Precontemplation: The initial stage, where no change is considered.
2.Contemplation: Awareness of the need for change emerges.
3.Preparation: Steps are taken toward making a change.
4.Action: Active efforts are made to alter the attitude.
5.Maintenance: The new attitude is sustained over time.
6.Relapse: A return to previous attitudes may occur, requiring renewed effort to maintain change.
Prejudice, Discrimination, Stereotype
Prejudice, Stereotypes, and Discrimination
Prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination are interconnected but distinct concepts. Prejudice is a
feeling, a stereotype is a belief, and discrimination is an action. Each can be either positive or
negative.
Prejudice
•A preconceived attitude or feeling about a person based on their group membership.
•Can be influenced by factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin.
•Examples include racism, sexism, homophobia, and colorism.
Stereotype
•An oversimplified or generalized belief about a particular group of people.
•Often based on characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality.
Discrimination
•Actions that deny individuals their rights based on group membership.
•Can occur on an individual level or be institutionalized.
•May be systemic, meaning it is embedded within societal structures.
•Examples include racial profiling and structural discrimination.
Questions
1.Define attitude and how attitudes are formed?
2.Differentiate between positive, negative and neutral attitudes?
3. What is the difference between stereotype prejudice and
discrimination?
4. What is an attitudinal change?
5. What is the relevance and importance of attitude?
6. Describe the meaning & definition of attitude.