Organizational communication training and development
COURSE COMPLETED: Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. Rozell Duncan
Assignment Title: Memo Writing
Assignment Description: For this assignment we were to compose a memorandum and explain a
theory of our choice. For my memorandum I chose to write about the implicit personality theory.
Reflections: In the organization that I currently work I read memorandums from my boss every
week. Although before this assignment I never have actually had a chance to compose one of my own.
I used the same format that my boss uses to compose his memorandums to compose mine. I had
learned about the implicit personality theory from my Interpersonal Communication course. I used my
textbook from the Interpersonal course to source my writing. From doing this assignment I learned the
proper heading for a memorandum and how to format the information correctly. I really enjoyed doing
this assignment because memorandums will be a part of my business life forever.
Memo
To:
Dr. Rozell Duncan
From:
Isaiah Stanford
cc:
Dr. Rozell Duncan rduncan@kent.edu
Date:
January 27, 2014
Re:
Implicit Personality Theory
Every person has an idea of which characteristics of another human go
together. For example if someone is smart and handsome they will also be
characterized as likeable. The system of rules that tell you which characteristics go
together is called the implicit personality theory (DeVito, 2013, p. 68). In this memo
I will be looking at the implicit personality theory through the lens of an
Organizational Communication student. To find more information on who has done
work related to the implicit personality theory I did a google search. This led me to
the Solomon Asch Center website. Here I found that Solomon Asch one of the first
psychologists to extensively explore the idea of the implicit personality theory. His
research dating back to the 1940’s was provided positive information for explaining
factors that affect impression formation.
Two functions of the implicit personality theory are the halo effect, and the
reverse halo effect. Nisbett and Wilson I feel define the two functions the best in
the, “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.” If you believe that a person
has some positive qualities, you’re likely to infer that he or she also possess other
positive qualities (Nisbett and Wilson, 1977, p. 250). In contrast to that the reverse
halo effect is when a person possesses several negative qualities; you’re more
likely to infer that the person also has other negative qualities. Everyday people
judge other peoples characteristics. This is the reason I chose to explore the
implicit personality theory. I would like to explore more into the reasoning why
when you look at an attractive person and assume they are nice, generous, and
intelligent. Whereas when you look at an unattractive person you assume they are
lazy, unintelligent, and rude. Why do we as humans assume these characteristics
of another human before we even know them? After I conduct this research I hope
to have a better understanding of the implicit personality theory.
Thank You,
Isaiah Stanford
Organizational Communication Senior
Reference Page
DeVito, J. D. (2013). The Interpersonal Communication Book. New York, NY: Harper &
Row.
Nisbett, R. E., Wilson, T. D. (1977). The Halo Effect. Evidence for Unconscious Alteration
of Judgments, 35, 250-256.
http://www.communicationcache.com/uploads/1/0/8/8/10887248/the_halo_effect_evidence_for_unconscious_alteration_of_judgments.pdf
Eidelson, B. (2000). Solomon Asch Center. Retrieved from:
http://www.brynmawr.edu/aschcenter/about/solomon.htm