Definitions Flashcards
(68 cards)
Attribution Theory
The cognitive process by which people interpret the reasons or causes for their behaviour
Self-serving bias
The tendency for individuals to attribute success of an event/project to their own actions while attributing failure to others
Fundamental attribution error
The tendency to underestimate the effects of external or situational causes of behaviour and to over estimate the effects of internal or personal causes
Trait theory
Individual behaviour can be understood by breaking behaviour patterns down into a series of traits
Basic incongruitiy thesis
What individuals what from organizations, what organizations want from individuals and how these two potentially conflicting sets of desires are harmonized
MARS model of behaviour
Motivation
Ability
Role Perception
Situational Factors
Content theories
People act based on what motivates them
Murray’s manifest needs theory
McClelland’s learned needs theory
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Herzberg’s motivator-hygiene theory
Murray’s manifest needs theory
Human behaviour is driving by the desire to satisfy needs. Primary needs are physiological. Secondary needs are psychological.
McClelland learned needs theory
Need for achievement (nAch)
Need for affiliation (nAff)
Need for power (nPow)
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Human needs are arranged hierarchically. before one type of need can manifest itself, other needs must be satisfied. 5 needs:
1. physiological
2. safety and security
3. social
4. ego and esteem
5. self-actualization.
Alderfer’s ERG theory
needs move in any direction:
- existence
- relatedness
- growth
You can regress due to frustration
Herzberg’s motivator-hygiene theory
Motivation and satisfaction are two sets of needs.
Motivation = job content
Hygiene = job context = avoid dissatisfaction.
Self-determination theory
Explains the causes of motivation and the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation.
Process theories of motivation
Try to explain why behaviours are initiated
-operant conditioning
-equity theory
- goal theory
- expectancy theory
Classical conditioning
The process whereby a stimulus-response bond is developed between a conditioned stimulus and a conditioned response through the repeated linking of a conditioned stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g. Pavlov)
Operant conditioning
Measures the effects of reinforcements, or rewards on desired behaviours. People will do things for which they are rewarded and avoid doing something they are punished for
Equity theory
Motivation is affected by the outcomes we receive for our inputs compared to other people’s outcomes and inputs.
Goal theory
Goals that are clear, specific and challenging (SMART) are more motivating than vague or easy goals
Expectancy theory
We will exert much effort to perform at high levels to obtain valued outcomes
Central tendency error
Supervisors rate most of their employees within a narrow range (all 5s, all the time)
Strictness or leniency error
When a supervisor is overly strict or overly lenient in evaluations
Halo effect
Supervisor assigns the same rating for each factor being evaluated
Recency error
Focusing on an employee’s most recent behaviour in the evaluation process
Basis for reward distribution
- power (by hierarchy)
- equality (by job classification)
- social welfare (by need)
- distributive justice (by contribution)
