Sammenvatting Artikelen Personality at Work
Lecturer: Reinout de Vries
De Vries, R. E., Tybur, J. M., Pollet, T. V., & van Vugt, M. (2015). Evolution,
situational affordances, and the HEXACO-model of personality.
In this study, the authors investigate the intersection of evolutionary psychology and
personality theory, focusing specifically on the HEXACO model of personality. The
HEXACO model expands upon the Big Five personality traits, proposing six dimensions:
Honesty-Humility (H), Emotionality (E), eXtraversion (X), Agreeableness (A),
Conscientiousness (C), and Openness to Experience (O). The model has gained support due to
its ability to predict certain behaviors and social preferences that other models overlook,
especially those related to moral and cooperative behaviors, which are represented by
Honesty-Humility.
This study examines how these HEXACO dimensions relate to situational affordances
– the opportunities or threats present in different situations – which, from an evolutionary
perspective, would have impacted survival and reproductive fitness. The authors propose that
each HEXACO trait evolved as an adaptive response to recurrent social and environmental
pressures that our ancestors encountered. Thus, the paper integrates the HEXACO model with
evolutionary principles by discussing how personality traits may serve as stable yet flexible
behavioral responses to situational demands.
Evolutionary Basis for the HEXACO Traits
The authors hypothesize that each HEXACO trait evolved to help individuals navigate
distinct adaptive challenges:
1. Honesty-Humility (H): This dimension, which encompasses traits like sincerity,
fairness, and modesty, likely evolved as a response to threats of exploitation.
Individuals scoring high in Honesty-Humility may be less likely to engage in
exploitative or manipulative behaviors, thereby fostering trust in social groups.
2. Emotionality (E): This trait, which includes fearfulness, sentimentality, and
dependence, may have evolved in response to survival and reproductive challenges,
such as avoiding physical harm and securing social support during vulnerable periods.
3. eXtraversion (X): Related to social assertiveness, engagement, and energy,
Extraversion is seen as a trait that evolved to enhance social status and attract mates
through behaviors that convey social dominance and excitement-seeking.
4. Agreeableness (A): This dimension includes tolerance, forgiveness, and patience,
potentially evolving as a mechanism to manage conflicts and maintain long-term
cooperative relationships within groups.
5. Conscientiousness (C): Characterized by organization, responsibility, and
dependability, Conscientiousness may reflect an evolutionary advantage in long-term
goal achievement, enhancing individual survival through planning and persistence.
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, 6. Openness to Experience (O): This dimension includes creativity, intellectual
curiosity, and flexibility, which may have evolved as an adaptation to changing
environments and problem-solving needs, particularly in novel situations.
Methodology
The authors utilized a sample drawn from diverse populations to test how HEXACO traits
relate to situational affordances, using both quantitative measures and situational vignettes.
Participants were presented with various hypothetical scenarios that simulated adaptive
challenges, such as cooperation, competition, and potential threats, designed to elicit different
HEXACO trait responses.
Each participant rated how likely they would be to engage in specific behaviors
aligned with the six HEXACO traits when placed in these scenarios. This design aimed to
reveal which personality traits are activated in response to certain affordances, thereby
illustrating the functional role of personality in evolutionary contexts.
Findings
Preliminary findings up to page 412 indicate that:
Situational contexts significantly influence personality trait expression, supporting the
notion that HEXACO traits serve as adaptive responses. For instance, Honesty-
Humility is often activated in scenarios involving fairness and trust, while
Extraversion is more pronounced in social dominance and status-related contexts.
There is evidence for the stability of HEXACO traits across situations, suggesting that
these traits represent stable personality dimensions that are flexibly expressed
according to situational demands.
The HEXACO model appears particularly effective in predicting behaviors linked to
social cooperation, moral decision-making, and threat response, areas that align
closely with evolutionary perspectives on group living and survival.
Implications
The authors argue that understanding personality through an evolutionary lens has significant
implications for both psychological theory and practical applications, such as improving team
dynamics and addressing individual differences in workplace or social environments. They
propose that this approach could enhance predictions of personality-driven behavior across
varied contexts, given the underlying situational affordances.
Conclusion (Up to Page 412)
By integrating evolutionary theory with the HEXACO model, the authors offer a compelling
framework that links personality traits to adaptive challenges. They conclude that situational
affordances play a critical role in activating HEXACO traits, affirming that personality is both
contextually responsive and evolutionarily rooted.
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,Funder, D. C. (1995). On the accuracy of personal judgment: A realistic
approach.
In this article, Funder presents a comprehensive model to understand how accurate personality
judgments are made. He critiques traditional views in personality psychology and proposes a
realistic approach, considering both the subject and the context of personality judgment.
Key Points and Findings
1. Critique of Prior Approaches to Personality Judgment
Funder critiques previous research for its narrow focus on self-report and situational factors in
personality judgment. Traditional methods often fail to account for the complexities of how
judgments are formed and assessed. He argues that these approaches do not adequately
consider the realistic constraints that influence the accuracy of personality judgments,
including observational biases, situational factors, and interpersonal dynamics.
2. The Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM)
To address these gaps, Funder introduces the Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM), which
outlines the processes required for accurate personality judgment. RAM posits that four key
stages must be present for a personality judgment to be accurate:
Relevance: The behavior observed must be relevant to the trait being judged.
Availability: The relevant information must be accessible to the observer.
Detection: The observer must detect the relevant behavior correctly.
Utilization: The observer must interpret and use this information accurately to form a
judgment.
According to Funder, each stage represents a potential point where errors or biases can reduce
judgment accuracy. For example, if the relevant behavior isn’t available (e.g., if someone is
introverted in a social context where only extroverted behaviors are recognized), an inaccurate
personality judgment might be made.
3. Interpersonal and Situational Influences
Funder emphasizes the importance of both interpersonal and situational influences on
personality judgment accuracy. He notes that accuracy improves when judges are close to
their subjects (e.g., friends or family members) and have observed them across multiple
contexts. Situational factors also play a role; for instance, certain behaviors may only emerge
in specific settings, and observers may need to account for situational context when
interpreting actions.
4. Research Implications and Methodological Considerations
Funder’s model suggests that personality research should focus more on understanding the
observational processes in realistic settings rather than relying solely on self-reports or
experimental manipulations. He calls for methodological shifts that emphasize longitudinal
observations and field studies, allowing for judgments to be made across a broader range of
behaviors and contexts. The RAM highlights the need for reliability in judgments that
consider both consistent behavior and situational flexibility.
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, 5. Theoretical Contributions and Practical Applications
The Realistic Accuracy Model has practical applications in various fields, such as clinical
psychology, employment, and interpersonal relationships, where accurate personality
judgments are crucial. RAM offers a framework for assessing judgment accuracy that can be
applied in recruitment, therapy, and relationship counseling by focusing on observable,
relevant behaviors in context rather than solely on abstract traits.
Conclusion
Funder’s (1995) article presents the Realistic Accuracy Model as a significant advancement in
understanding personality judgment. By examining the processes required for accurate
judgment, Funder’s model shifts focus to a more context-sensitive approach. RAM
encourages future research to explore personality judgments in more realistic settings,
providing a robust framework for understanding and improving the accuracy of personality
assessments.
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