Personality tests used at a work place The following are thepersonality tests used in organizations:Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Personality features doestimate job involvement. Increased job involvement is linked with ‘abnormal’amounts of neuroticism (Kim 2009, Shorbaji 2011), increased agreeableness (Kim2009), social optimism (Salmela-Aro, Tolvanen and Nurmi 2011), and resilience,effective dealing methods (Bakker 2008). Engagement has linked with A typepersonality, independence, and hardworking (Hallberg 2007). Great self esteemalong with positive thoughts will result in job involvement (Mauno 2007,SalmelaAro and Nurmi 2007). When workers have increased self efficacy (Cifre,Salanova, and Rodriguez-Sanchez 2011), and individual principles which go handin hand of that of the company, there’s a higher probability of involvement(Wildermuth and Pauken 2008). Personality factor for improving work involvementis conscientiousness (Christian 2011, Kim 2009).
Individual job basedobjectives are linked with involvement (Hyvonen, Feldt, Salmela-Aro, Kinnunen,and Makikangas 2009). FIRO-B This test is used to understand how anindividual’s personal wants determines the behaviour of another person. Thetest has three dimensions (inclusion, control and affection). Every item hastwo statements, one of which is the conduct of the worker that is seen and theother statement is the kind of response an individual wants from another. thetest could be used for team building., leadership growth, training programsetc.
Sixteenpersonality factors This is a very useful test done inorganizations to make promotions, at the time of hiring, for career developmentetc. the test assesses sixteen personality variables of an individual. The test also reveals those careers thatwould suit an individual based on his personality. Hence this test is done aspre employment tests to determine if the candidate is the right one for thejob. TypeA – B personalityHistory The Type A – B personalitytheory is a concept which was first presented in the 1950s to explain patternsof actions that were once believed to be risks for heart problems (Friedman,1996). Since its beginning in the1950s, the theory has been commonly madepopular.
These types demonstrate that how an individual act in crucial anddangerous circumstances (Ivancevich & Matteson, 1984). Thistheory was given by Friedman and Roseman who were cardiologists. They noticedthe behaviour of patients who had cardiovascular disease. Patients who wereseated in the waiting room, while compared with other individuals weren’t ableto sit on their chairs calmly. It was noticed that the chairs had worn out.This could be because they sat on the side of the seats. They termed thisbehaviour as type A behaviour.
From then on, they started conducting researchto investigate if individuals with this type of behaviour are prone to heartrelated problems. A Type personality Keinanand Tal (2004) concluded that type A behaviour is a managing technique thathappens due to the worry of losing control over things. According to thisstudy, Type A character has more tendency towards burnout than Type B character.Previous researchers (Cooper, Kirkcaldy,Brownish 1994, Friedman 1967,Jamal 1990,Rosenman and Chesney 1985) was of the opinion that Type A people are goalfocused, aggressive, inspired, dynamic, highly motivated, assured, quick in allwork of life, frustrated, complicated, and aim to meet deadlines. They are verydistrustful of the others because of negative view and are workaholic. Suchindividuals are always in a hurry to complete things thus more susceptible tostress and consequently burnout. They are extroverts so show their irritationverbally and have low psychological intellect.
Type A are very evaluatingand may react strongly towards others. They want to be followed so that theycan have control over things. Type A personality encounters heart illnesses(Friedman (1967), Schaubroeck, Ganster, and Kemmerer (1994) is also prone tostress and burnout (Jamal (1999), Sharpley, Dua, Reynolds, and Acosta (1995),Matthews (1977) and Matthews, (1988) than type B personality. Characteristicsof enmity and time obsessiveness of type A are associated with wellnessproblems due to pressure. According to Pred, Spence, & Helmreich (1987)biased behaviour of such character can’t generate expert efficacy and linked tostress based illness simultaneously.
In the same way, Bluer, 1990; Matthews,1988; Robbins, et al., 1991 opines that particular type A behaviour or exampleantagonism, exasperation, and touchiness have improved possibility to developstress-related medical concerns. It can be suggested that type A personalitycan be more associated with expert inefficacy which is one of the burnoutdimension. These individuals are also workaholics and they multi task. Theyalso like to meet deadlines. The book that Friedman wrote on, TypeA behaviour- its analysis and therapy (1996) speaks of the three symptoms thattype A individuals have. They are free floating anger, which gets activatedwhen minimal incidents occur, next is time emergency and the last is aaggressive drive and a mindset that is achievement driven.
The initials stagesof these symptoms is said to be inert and so it is not visible. The A personality types are vulnerable tostress-related illnesses such as CHD, increased level of hypertension etc. theycan have their flight or fight reaction by little things the surrounding. So,they already have their stress hormones in them hence leading them to a lot ofstress related illness.
It was the western collaborative group study thatproved A type individuals was associated with heart problems.TypeA Behaviour Pattern (TABP)This pattern includes -Competitiveness These individuals are highlycompetitive. They look at their goals without feeling happy of theirachievement. Any task given to them they want to finish it as fast as they can,preferably before others could finish it. Hence, they have high work involvement.TimeUrgencyThey always have a senseof urgency. They are in an endless battle with time.
They get irritated withwasted time and bored time. They try to do many things at the same time.Hostility These individuals getangry fast. This they may or even may not show. Outward. They search for thebad things in others. It is believed that it is this symptom that is closelyconnected to cardio vascular disease.
