Individual Profile The Basis of Our Individual Behaviour

Beliefs l l l Represent convictions about what you are capable of doing. Beliefs play a critical role in our behaviour. You must believe: l l l You are capable of performing appropriately for what is needed to achieve your goals If you engage in appropriate behaviours the result will be positive. Motivation is influenced by your beliefs.

Attitudes Evaluative statements or judgments about objects, people or events. l Less stable than beliefs. l Affect your behaviour in everything that you do l Attitudes represent the cluster of: l Beliefs l Feelings (perception) l Motivation l

Personality The sum total of ways in which you react and interact with others. l These characteristics and tendencies determine the commonalities and differences in people’s thoughts, feelings and actions. l Personality is the result of heredity, environment and the situation. l Personality traits are enduring characteristics that describe your individual personality. l

Determinants of Personality 1. Heredity Characteristics determined by genetics. 2. Environment Characteristics determined by culture, early conditions, norms, values and attitudes. 3. Situation Different situations demand use of different aspects of our personality.

Perception Your perceptions of the world serve as the basis for your actions. l “Perceptual Groupings” help us organize information. l

Factors that Influence Perception l Physical Characteristics l If the physical characteristics of a person are abstract, you tend to fill in the blanks about him/her, by relating him/her to other persons who are similar.

Characteristics of a Person l Attitudes l l Attitudes have a powerful influence upon what you pay attention to, what you remember and how you interpret information. Emotions: your emotional state strongly influences the perceptual process. When you are highly agitated, angry, frustrated, your perceptual processes become impaired.

Characteristics of a Person l Experience l l Previous experiences, both positive and negative, influence perceptions. Needs: Needs not met create motivation to satisfy them and this will affect your perception. l Must distinguish between needs and wants. l

Characteristics of the Situation l Stress l l High levels of stress affect both perception and capacity to process information. Timing l When information is received at a different time and under different circumstances than accustomed to, the information may be ignored or forgotten.

Common Perceptual Errors l When perceptions are distorted or inaccurate, you engage in behaviour that is inappropriate or undesirable.

Stereotyping l Judging someone on the basis of your perception of the group to which the person belongs.

Selective Perceptions l People selectively interpret what you see based on your interests, background attitudes.

Halo and Horns l Drawing a general conclusion about an individual based on a single characteristic.

Projection l Attributing your own characteristics to other people.