Cognitive-characterological Traits of the Self-employed: the Exemplification from Poland

Abstract

The paper concerns exploring cognitive-characterological traits of the self-employed in Poland. Those traits determine either a creative attitude or a reproductive one. A cognitive sphere includes heuristic behaviour characteristics and algorithmic ones, whereas a characterological sphere deals with conformity components and non-conformity ones. A creative attitude model is represented by non-conformity features and heuristic behaviour. However, a reproductive attitude model is regarded as a combination of conformity characteristics and algorithmic behaviour. The purpose of the article is to present the research results in exploring cognitive-characterological traits of self-employed people in Poland using Popek’s Creative Behaviour Questionnaire. The research problem is defined by the following research questions: 1) which cognitive-characterological traits (creative or reproductive attitude) are most frequently observed in surveyed self-employed people in Poland? 2) Which is the structure of the primary components of both creative and reproductive attitude according to the surveyed self-employed? 3) Which is the structure of the detailed components of both creative and reproductive attitude according to the surveyed self-employed? 4) Can cognitive - characterological traits in terms of creative or reproductive attitude influence formulating and implementing a strategy in an enterprise? The most general empirical finding is that among the surveyed interlocutors the characteristics of creative attitude are more frequent, especially concerning non-conformity and heuristic behaviour. Keywords : self-employment, creative attitude model, behavioural strategy, micro-foundations. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ss.89.3.13673