Chapter

TWO

Foundations of
Individual Behavior

2007 Prentice Hall Inc.

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Ability,
Ability,Intellect,
Intellect, and
and Intelligence
Intelligence
Ability
An individuals capacity to
perform the various tasks in a
job.
Intellectual Ability
The capacity to do mental
activities.
Multiple Intelligences
Intelligence contains four subparts:
cognitive, social, emotional, and
cultural.
2007 Prentice Hall Inc.
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Dimensions
Dimensions of
of
Intellectual
Intellectual Ability
Ability
Number
Numberaptitude
aptitude
Verbal
Verbalcomprehension
comprehension
Perceptual
Perceptualspeed
speed
Inductive
Inductivereasoning
reasoning
Deductive
Deductivereasoning
reasoning
Spatial
Spatialvisualization
visualization
Memory
Memory
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E X H I B I T 21
E X H I B I T 21

Physical
Physical Abilities
Abilities
Physical Abilities
The capacity to do tasks
demanding stamina,
dexterity, strength, and
similar characteristics.

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Nine
Nine Physical
PhysicalAbilities
Abilities
Strength
StrengthFactors
Factors
1.1.Dynamic
Dynamicstrength
strength
2.2.Trunk
Trunkstrength
strength
3.3.Static
Staticstrength
strength
4.4.Explosive
Explosivestrength
strength

Other
OtherFactors
Factors
7.7.Body
Bodycoordination
coordination
8.8.Balance
Balance
9.9.Stamina
Stamina Hall
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Inc.

Flexibility
FlexibilityFactors
Factors
5.5.Extent
Extentflexibility
flexibility
6.6.Dynamic
Dynamicflexibility
flexibility

Source: Adapted from

HRMagazine published
by the Society for Human
Resource Management,
Alexandria, VA.

E X H I B I T 22
E X H I B I T 22

The
The Ability-Job
Ability-Job Fit
Fit

Employees
Abilities

Ability-Job
Fit

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Jobs Ability
Requirements

Biographical
Biographical Characteristics
Characteristics
Biographical Characteristics
Personal characteristicssuch as age,
gender, race and tenurethat are
objective and easily obtained from
personnel records.

2007 Prentice Hall Inc.

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Learning
Learning
Learning
Any relatively permanent change in
behavior that occurs as a result of
experience.
Learning
Learning
Involves
Involveschange
change
Is
Isrelatively
relativelypermanent
permanent
Is
Isacquired
acquiredthrough
throughexperience
experience
2007 Prentice Hall Inc.
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Theories
Theories of
of Learning
Learning
Classical Conditioning
A type of conditioning in which an individual
responds to some stimulus that would not
ordinarily produce such a response.
Key
KeyConcepts
Concepts
Unconditioned
Unconditionedstimulus
stimulus
Unconditioned
Unconditionedresponse
response
Conditioned
Conditionedstimulus
stimulus
Conditioned
response
Conditioned
response
2007 Prentice Hall Inc.
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 2007 Prentice Hall Inc.

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Source: The Far Side

by Gary Larson 1993
Far Works, Inc. All rights
reserved. Used with
permission.

E X H I B I T 23
E X H I B I T 23

Theories
Theories of
of Learning
Learning (contd)
(contd)
Operant Conditioning
A type of conditioning in which desired voluntary
behavior leads to a reward or prevents a
punishment.
Key
KeyConcepts
Concepts
Reflexive
Reflexive(unlearned)
(unlearned)behavior
behavior
Conditioned
Conditioned(learned)
(learned)behavior
behavior
Reinforcement
Reinforcement
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Theories
Theories of
of Learning
Learning (contd)
(contd)
Social-Learning Theory
People can learn through
observation and direct experience.
Key
KeyConcepts
Concepts
Attentional
Attentionalprocesses
processes
Retention
Retentionprocesses
processes
Motor
Motorreproduction
reproductionprocesses
processes
Reinforcement
Reinforcementprocesses
processes
2007 Prentice Hall Inc.
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Theories
Theories of
of Learning
Learning (contd)
(contd)
Shaping Behavior
Systematically reinforcing each successive step
that moves an individual closer to the desired
response.
Key
KeyConcepts
Concepts
Reinforcement
Reinforcementis
isrequired
requiredto
tochange
changebehavior.
behavior.
Some
Somerewards
rewardsare
aremore
moreeffective
effectivethan
thanothers.
others.
The
Thetiming
timingof
ofreinforcement
reinforcementaffects
affectslearning
learning
speed
speedand
andpermanence.
permanence.
2007 Prentice Hall Inc.
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Types
Types of
of Reinforcement
Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Providing a reward for a desired behavior.

Negative reinforcement
Removing an unpleasant consequence when the
desired behavior occurs.

Punishment
Applying an undesirable condition to eliminate
an undesirable behavior.

Extinction
Withholding reinforcement of a behavior to
cause its cessation.

2007 Prentice Hall Inc.

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Schedules
Schedules of
of Reinforcement
Reinforcement
Continuous Reinforcement
A desired behavior is
reinforced each time it is
demonstrated.
Intermittent Reinforcement
A desired behavior is
reinforced often enough to
make the behavior worth
repeating but not every time
it is demonstrated.
2007 Prentice Hall Inc.
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Schedules
Schedules of
of Reinforcement
Reinforcement (contd)
(contd)
Fixed-Interval Schedule
Rewards are spaced at
uniform time intervals.

Variable-Interval Schedule
Rewards are initiated
after a fixed or constant
number of responses.

2007 Prentice Hall Inc.

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Schedules
Schedules of
of Reinforcement
Reinforcement (contd)
(contd)

Fixed-ratio

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E X H I B I T 24
E X H I B I T 24

Intermittent
Intermittent Schedules
Schedules of
of Reinforcement
Reinforcement

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E X H I B I T 25
E X H I B I T 25

Intermittent
Intermittent Schedules
Schedules of
of Reinforcement
Reinforcement (contd)
(contd)

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E X H I B I T 25 (contd)
E X H I B I T 25 (contd)

Behavior
Behavior Modification
Modification
OB Mod
The application of reinforcement
concepts to individuals in the work
setting.
Five
FiveStep
StepProblem-Solving
Problem-SolvingModel
Model
1.1. Identify
Identifycritical
criticalbehaviors
behaviors
2.2. Develop
Developbaseline
baselinedata
data
3.3. Identify
Identifybehavioral
behavioralconsequences
consequences
4.4. Develop
Developand
andapply
applyintervention
intervention
5. Evaluate
performance improvement
Evaluate
improvement
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Chapter
Chapter Checkup:
Checkup: Reinforcement
Reinforcement Theory
Theory
When professors give random pop quizzes or
take random attendance, students often
complain that they are adults, old enough to
make their own decisions, and should therefore
not be required to come to class. How do you
reconcile this argument with what we know
about reinforcement theory? Discuss with a
classmate.

What kind of reinforcement schedule are these

professors using? Would a different schedule be
preferable?
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Chapter
Chapter Checkup:
Checkup: Reinforcement
Reinforcement Theory
Theory
Recall and write down the three criteria that
indicate learning has occurred. Do you think
that learning, according to these criteria, really
occurs as a result of a one semester college
class? Discuss with a neighbor.

What kinds of things would you recommend to a

college professor to increase the likelihood of
students learning all class material? Use theories
from the
text
to frame your answer.
2007 Prentice
Hall
Inc.
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