Which of the following statements is true about personality?
Multiple Choice
Personality doesn’t matter when it comes to performance on the job
Personality predicts performance more strongly than cognitive ability
Weak situations reveal people’s personalities
Personality is similar to attitudes in that it can fluctuate a lot
Personality is less stable and more fleeting than either moods or emotions
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is: Weak situations reveal people’s personalities.
Explanation:
Personality refers to the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. It plays a significant role in how individuals approach tasks, interact with others, and respond to various situations, including work environments.
Let’s analyze each option:
- Personality doesn’t matter when it comes to performance on the job:
This statement is false. Research in organizational psychology suggests that personality can significantly impact job performance, especially in roles requiring interpersonal interactions, decision-making, or leadership. For instance, traits like conscientiousness have been shown to correlate with job performance. - Personality predicts performance more strongly than cognitive ability:
This is also not accurate. While personality can affect performance, cognitive ability (such as intelligence) is generally a stronger predictor of performance, especially in complex or technical jobs. Cognitive ability often plays a more direct role in solving problems or acquiring new knowledge, whereas personality influences how a person approaches tasks and interacts with colleagues. - Weak situations reveal people’s personalities:
This is the correct answer. Weak situations are environments where there are few external constraints or rules, such as informal settings or low-pressure situations. In these types of environments, individuals are more likely to express their inherent personality traits because they have less external influence guiding their behavior. In contrast, strong situations (like a structured work environment or a formal meeting) tend to mask individual differences, as they place more pressure on everyone to behave similarly. - Personality is similar to attitudes in that it can fluctuate a lot:
This is incorrect. Personality tends to be relatively stable over time, while attitudes can change more frequently depending on experiences, situations, or new information. For example, a person’s level of extraversion or openness to experience remains relatively constant, but their attitude toward a specific situation or issue may change. - Personality is less stable and more fleeting than either moods or emotions:
This is false. Personality is generally stable and enduring, unlike moods or emotions, which can fluctuate significantly throughout the day. While situations can influence behavior temporarily, personality traits remain consistent across different contexts over time.
Therefore, the statement “Weak situations reveal people’s personalities” is the most accurate because such environments allow for the natural expression of an individual’s personality.