The Effect of Implicit Person Theory on Performance Appraisals
Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 90, pp. 842-856, 2005
Posted: 27 Jun 2008
Date Written: June 24, 2008
Abstract
Four studies examined whether implicit person theory (IPT) regarding the malleability of personal attributes (e.g., personality and ability) affects managers' acknowledgment of change in employee behavior. The extent to which managers held an incremental IPT was positively related to their recognition of both good (Study 1) and poor (Study 2) performance, relative to the employee behavior they initially observed. Incremental theorists' judgments were not anchored by their prior impressions (Study 3). In the 4th study, entity theorists who were randomly assigned to a self-persuasion training condition developed a significantly more incremental IPT. This change in IPT was maintained over a 6-week period and led to greater acknowledgment of an improvement in employee performance than was exhibited by entity theorists in the placebo control group.
Keywords: implicit person theory, anchoring, first impression, performance appraisal, self-persuasion
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Gary P. Latham
University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management ( email )
105 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E6 M5S1S4
Canada
416-978-4916 (Phone)
416-978-4629 (Fax)
Don Vandewalle
Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Management and Organizations Department ( email )
United States