Chapter 2

Foundations of
Individual Behavior
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
S T E P H E N P. R O B B I N S
E L E V E N T H
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E D I T I O N

W W W . P R E N H AL L . C O M / R O B B I N S

PowerPoint Presentation
by Charlie Cook

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

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22

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.
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23

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

2005 Prentice Hall Inc.

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24

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
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25

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
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26

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
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28

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.
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29

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.

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10

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.
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211

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.

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12

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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OB
OB MOD
MOD Organizational
Organizational Applications
Applications
Well Pay versus Sick Pay
Reduces absenteeism by rewarding attendance,
not absence.

Employee Discipline
The use of punishment can be counterproductive.

Developing Training Programs

OB MOD methods improve training
effectiveness.

Self-management
Reduces the need for external management
control.

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