Trait Activation Theory
Trait activation theory (TAT)
predicts that some situations, events, or interventions “activate” a trait more than others
Copyright © 2022, 2018, 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Trait activation theory (TAT) predicts that some situations, events, or interventions “activate” a trait more than others.
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Trait Activation Theory: Jobs in Which Certain Big Five Traits Are More Relevant (Exhibit 5-3)
Copyright © 2022, 2018, 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Using Trait Activation Theory, we can foresee which jobs suit certain personalities.
Long Description:
The jobs are divided into two categories based on the score: High and low.
List of jobs scoring high (the traits listed here should predict behavior in these jobs) are as below:
Detail orientation required: Air traffic controller, accountant, and legal secretary.
Social skills required: Clergy, therapist, and concierge.
Competitive work: Coach or scout, financial manager, and sales representative.
Innovation required: Actor, systems analyst, and advertising writer.
Dealing with angry people: Correctional officer, telemarketer, and flight attendant.
Time pressure or deadlines: Broadcast news analyst, editor, and airline pilot.
List of jobs scoring low (the traits listed here should not predict behavior in these jobs) are as below:
Detail orientation required: Forester, masseuse, and model.
Social skills required: Software engineer, pump operator, and broadcast technician.
Competitive work: Postal clerk, historian, and nuclear reactor operator.
Innovation required: Court reporter, archivist, and medical technician.
Dealing with angry people: Composer, biologist, and statistician.
Time pressure or deadlines: Skincare specialist, mathematician, and fitness trainer.
Jobs that score high activate these traits (make them more relevant to predicting behavior)
Detail orientation: Conscientiousness plus.
Social skills required: Extraversion plus and agreeableness plus.
Competitive work: Extraversion plus and agreeableness minus.
Innovation required: Openness plus
Dealing with angry people: Extraversion plus, agreeableness plus, and neuroticism minus.
Time pressure or deadlines: Conscientiousness plus and neuroticism minus.
Note: A plus sign means individuals who score high on this trait should do better in this job. A minus sign means individuals who score low on this trait should do better in this job.