Chapter 15 Foundations of Individual Behavior
Takeaway 1 : Perception
Perception and Psychological Contracts
Perception –The process through which people receive, organize and interpret information
from the environment
People can perceive the same things or situations differently
People behave on the basis of their perceptions
Psychological contract - A set of expectations held by an individual about what will be given
and received in the employment relationship
Person-job fit begins here
An ideal work situation is one with a fair psychological contract
Balance of contributions and inducements
Components in the psychological contract
Perception and attribution
Attribution –The process of developing explanations for events, how you try to explain your
behavior and the behavior of others
Fundamental attribution error – Occurs when observers blame another’s performance failures
or problems based on internal factors rather than external factors
Ex. “It’s their fault” , they are performing poorly
Self-serving bias – Occurs because individuals blame their personal performance failures or
problems on external factors and attribute their successes to internal factors
Ex. “It’s not my fault” , I am performing poorly
Perceptual tendencies and distortions
1. Stereotypes – Occur when attributes commonly associated with a group are assigned to an
individual
Examples of stereotypes:
Racial and ethnic
Gender
Takeaway 1 : Perception
Perception and Psychological Contracts
Perception –The process through which people receive, organize and interpret information
from the environment
People can perceive the same things or situations differently
People behave on the basis of their perceptions
Psychological contract - A set of expectations held by an individual about what will be given
and received in the employment relationship
Person-job fit begins here
An ideal work situation is one with a fair psychological contract
Balance of contributions and inducements
Components in the psychological contract
Perception and attribution
Attribution –The process of developing explanations for events, how you try to explain your
behavior and the behavior of others
Fundamental attribution error – Occurs when observers blame another’s performance failures
or problems based on internal factors rather than external factors
Ex. “It’s their fault” , they are performing poorly
Self-serving bias – Occurs because individuals blame their personal performance failures or
problems on external factors and attribute their successes to internal factors
Ex. “It’s not my fault” , I am performing poorly
Perceptual tendencies and distortions
1. Stereotypes – Occur when attributes commonly associated with a group are assigned to an
individual
Examples of stereotypes:
Racial and ethnic
Gender
