This chapter discusses key concepts related to individual abilities and learning in organizational behavior, including:
- Contrasting intellectual abilities and physical abilities, and defining general mental ability and its relevance to OB.
- Identifying important biographical characteristics like age, gender, race, and how they relate to job performance.
- Defining learning as a permanent change in behavior from experience, and outlining major learning theories like classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning theory.
- Explaining the concept of shaping behavior through reinforcement and how managers can apply these principles, including different types of reinforcement schedules.
- Noting some limitations of behavior modification approaches that don't consider cognitive factors.