Personality and performance : what is the role of negative affectivity?

Abstract

The present study examined the importance of four psychological constructs, negative affectivity, worry, self-efficacy, and cognitive interference, in predicting the performance of 113 undergraduate students who completed a computerized managerial decision-making simulation. Results revealed that negative affect and worry were unrelated to performance. Self-efficacy was not predictive of task performance; however, self-reported task-related intrusive thoughts was. PLS analysis of the linkages among these construct, identified cognitive interference as a potent force affecting task outcomes. The study suggests that cognitive interference may be useful in more sharply defining the processes involved with task performance; the malleability of the construct offers the implication that managers should train employees to guard against such intrusions to boost performance.