Extraversion and adaptive performance: Integrating trait activation and socioanalytic personality theories at work

Both trait activation and socioanalytic personality theories clarify the personality – performance relationship at work. We argue that extraversion needs to be interactively combined with both social competency (socioanalytic theory) and an activating context (trait activation theory) to demonstrate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Personality and individual differences 2017-10, Vol.116, p.133-138
Main Authors: Wihler, Andreas, Meurs, James A., Wiesmann, Daniela, Troll, Leander, Blickle, Gerhard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptive performance
Climate for personal initiative
Correlation analysis
Extraversion
Human performance
Personal initiative
Personality
Personality traits
Social competency
Socioanalytic theory
Trait activation theory
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Summary:Both trait activation and socioanalytic personality theories clarify the personality – performance relationship at work. We argue that extraversion needs to be interactively combined with both social competency (socioanalytic theory) and an activating context (trait activation theory) to demonstrate effects on a relevant type of work performance. Specifically, the aim of the present study was to examine extraversion's association with adaptive performance when combined with social competency and context (i.e., climate for personal initiative). Our results demonstrate that the three-way interaction (i.e., extraversion×social competency×climate for initiative) has a significant relationship with adaptive performance, such that the extraversion–performance association is strengthened when both social competency and climate for initiative are heightened. Our findings suggest that personality scholars should consider both socioanalytic and trait activation perspectives when investigating performance prediction. We discuss implications, strengths, limitations, and directions for future research. •We examined predictors of adaptive performance in jobs with changing and dynamic work demands.•We tested socioanalytic and trait activation theories with reference to extraversion.•The study comprised 247 nurse-supervisor dyads.•Interaction of context, personality, and social competency predicts adaptive performance.•Findings support the integration of socioanalytic and trait activation theories.
ISSN:0191-8869
1873-3549
DOI:10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.034