Open AccessTHE PERSONALITY AND MOTIVATION OF “QUANTS”: THE MATH GENIUSES OF WALL STREET
Author(s) -
Adrian Furnham,
Sylvia Impellizzeri
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of financial management markets and institutions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2282-717X
DOI - 10.1142/s2282717x2150002x
Subject(s) - conscientiousness , psychology , personality , curiosity , facet (psychology) , big five personality traits , social psychology , population , openness to experience , set (abstract data type) , sample (material) , work motivation , applied psychology , value (mathematics) , work (physics) , statistics , extraversion and introversion , mathematics , engineering , computer science , demography , mechanical engineering , chemistry , chromatography , sociology , programming language
A relatively small sample of experts ([Formula: see text]) working within the quantitative financial area completed two questionnaires measuring their personality and values. This study set out to determine how personality and motivation/work values predict subjective work success and organizational fit using the High Potential Traits Inventory (HPTI) and the Work Value Questionnaire (WVQ). Compared to the population norms, the “Quants” were higher on Curiosity and Conscientiousness but lower on Tolerance of Ambiguity and Risk-Taking Approach. The “Quants” scored higher than population norms on one facet of intrinsic motivation and all three of the extrinsic motivation. The results demonstrated that Conscientiousness and Intrinsic Motivation were both significant predictors of subjective work success. The results are discussed in terms of how to select, manage and promote “Quants”. Implications and limitations are discussed.