CPL » Human Factors » Social Psychology and Flight Deck Management
34.50 Social Psychology and Flight Deck Management
34.50.2 Identify the broad characteristics of personality and distinguish individual differences.
Personality is the relatively stable pattern of characteristics that influences how a person thinks, feels and behaves.
Personality develops from a combination of:
inherited characteristics;
upbringing and life experience;
social and cultural influences; and
learning and training.
People differ in characteristics such as:
confidence;
sociability;
emotional stability;
conscientiousness;
assertiveness;
tolerance of stress;
willingness to take risks; and
attitudes towards authority and teamwork.
These differences can influence how pilots communicate, make decisions, respond to stress and interact with other crew members.
No single personality type automatically makes a good or poor pilot. Safe flight operations depend on recognising personal strengths and limitations and adapting behaviour to the operational situation.
Key point
Personality describes relatively stable behavioural tendencies, while individual differences explain why people may respond differently to the same situation.