OB Chap 2 A
Conceptual Model
for Organizational
Behavior
By:
Salim Shirzai
MBA
Outline
Introduction
Introduction
The field of OB is interested in understanding human behavior
in organization. The major goal of behavioral scientists is to
understand behavior. The study of organizational behavior
follows the lead of behavioral science.
According to Nadlar, Hackman and Lawler a conceptual
framework is perhaps best defined as a device that provides
categories or labels which help us to collect and organize
data; a model goes one step further by providing
representation of he real world and how it functions.
The Conceptual Models of OB
The theories or frameworks that we discuss in this chapter
provide background information important in developing a
specific conceptual model for organizational behviour as
below:
1. Freudian Psychoanalytic Framework
2. Psychometric Framework
3. Social Cognitive Framework
4. The Humanistic Psychology Framework
Freudian Psychoanalytic
Framework
Sigmund Freud conceived that the hysterical disorders were
rooted in forbid childhood wishes and fears. He found that
these feelings were related to aggression or to sexuality and
the childhood experiences connected with them had been
forgotten free association brought back the memories.
In Freuds view the contents of the conscious mind are only a
small part of personality. The mind is like iceberg without
conscious thoughts resembling the icebergs small tep beneth
the surface-out of awareness lies the massive unconscious.
sy
Basic Structure Concept
The personality structure can be explained within the unconscious framework, by
three inter-related but often conflicting psychoanalytic concepts: the id, the ego
and the super ego.
Id Concept: This aspect of personality follows no rules or logic; harbors no doubt;
knows no time, and has no moral code. The id constantly struggling for
gratification and pleasure is manifested mainly through the libido (sexual urges)
or aggression, and looks for comfort. Freud says dreams which break rules of
space, time and logic and often contain irrational images, are manifestation of
the id concept.
Ego Concept: It is the real us. In contrast to ID the ego operates on the reality
principle; it tries to mediate between the demands of the id and the realities of
the environment.
Super Ego; The ego is concerned with consequences with reward and
punishment: if I hit my little brother, mother will be angry with and punish me.
the super ego is concerned with social rules, that is with doing thing : it is
wrong to hit my little brother.
Stage of Psychosexual Development:
Frud says a person to have a healthy personality, the need is to
grow through the different stages, a failure to do so leads into an
unhealthy personality. The stages are as:
Oral stage(from birth to 1.5 years)
Child gets pleasure from mouth y sucking. If during this stage
there is little gratification or under gratification, it will result in
oral fixation or oral personality. Such individuals become
dependent upon others and have a tendency to get gratification
from month by smoking drinking alcohol, overeating even biting
nails and may develop an aggression personality.
Anal (1-3 years of age): children begin to experiment with urine. They learn to
control their anus . Improper resolution of this stage, such as parents toilet
training their children too early, can result in a child who is pressured and
overly obsessed with order.
Phallic (3-6 years of age): During this stage, preschoolers take pleasure in their
genitals and, according to Freud, begin to struggle with sexual desires toward
the opposite sex parent (boys to mothers and girls to fathers). a boy desires
for his mother and his urge to replace his father who is seen as a rival for the
mothers attention. At the same time, the boy is afraid his father will punish
him for his feelings, so he experiences castration anxiety. a girl desires for her
father's attention and wish to take her mothers place.
Latency (6-12 years of age): During this stage, sexual instincts subside, and
children begin to further develop the superego, or conscience. Children begin
to behave in morally acceptable ways and adopt the values of their parents
and other important adults.
Genital (12+ years of age): During this stage, sexual impulses reemerge. If
other stages have been successfully met, adolescents engage in appropriate
sexual behavior, which may lead to marriage and childbirth.
Impact of Psychoanalytic Approach on Organizational Behavior:
1. Organization Development Technique: OD technique such as
transactional analysis(examples: attempt to improve interpersonal
communication skills and eliminates game playing)
2. Leadership and Power: the attention given to authority and dominance
in psychoanalytic approaches is reflected in the study of leadership
and power in OB.
3. Employee Dissatisfaction: employee behavior such as daydreaming,
forgetting, apathy, rationalization and even absenteeism, tardiness,
sabotage and alcoholism/drug abuse can be analyzed in
psychoanalytic term.
4. Creative Behaviour: bringing out the creative talent in employees to
some degree is based on psychoanalytic thought. For example, certain
stages of the creative process are unconscious in nature.
Psychometric Framework
Psychometric theories are based on the characteristic of an
individual the way he perceives, feels, believes or acts. Hans
Eysench was the firs psychologist to attempt standardization
of traits. Hans Eysenck studies identified three basic traits:
Social Cognitive Framework
Our behavior is indeed partly determined by events in the environment but also by
cognitive events that are unique for each person.
1. We perceive each situation in the light of our own memories, competencies, expectations,
rules and values.
2. We can alter the situation to suit our desire. Instead of reacting passively we actively
transform the environment.
According to Walter there 5 concepts that can be drawn from social cognitive approach:
3. Competencies
4. Encoding
5. Expectancies
6. Value
7. plans
Humanistic Psychology Framework
humanistic psychologists emphasize the potential of human
beings for growth, creativity and spontaneity. The most
influential humanistic psychology have been Abraham Maslow
(self actualization) and Carl Rogers.
Self Theory of Rogers:
According to Carl Rogers, human nature is basically good.
People have a natural drive towards self-actualization which
means the achievement of their full potential. The drive for
self-actualization is the basic drive behind the development of
personality.
The Goal of an OB Model
The goal of presenting the frameworks, so far discussed, is to
better understand, not evaluate, the complex phenomena
collectively called human behavior. The field of OB serves as
the basis for modern human resource management. Thus, the
goals of a model of OB are to understand and control human
behavior in organization.
Reference
P G Aquinas (2013), Organizational Bhaviour- concepts
realities, applications and challenges, New Delhi
Thank
You
