Final answer:
An interviewer who understands that much of a person's behavior is due to underlying motives can conduct more effective interviews by considering past experiences, social factors, and nonverbal cues. Preparing for interviews by practicing and focusing on positive nonverbal communication can improve performance. Past behaviors are often indicative of future actions, making preparation of relevant examples valuable.
Step-by-step explanation:
An interviewer's ability to understand the person being interviewed and their issues may be enhanced by recognizing that behavior is largely driven by motives, which are influenced by past experiences. Recognizing the impact of these unconscious motives can allow an interviewer to better comprehend the interviewee's actions and reactions. In interviews, social factors such as the similarity between the interviewer and the interviewee, as well as nonverbal behaviors like hand gestures and head nodding, can influence the outcome. To improve interview performance, it is advisable to practice and gain feedback through mock interviews, paying close attention to nonverbal cues that project confidence.
This understanding of human behavior, including the actor-observer bias, has implications for various interactions and assessments. In the case of interviews, understanding the behavioral cues and the potential disconnect between situational and dispositional factors allows for a more nuanced evaluation of candidates. For the individuals being evaluated, knowing that past behavior is indicative of future behavior suggests the importance of preparing STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories to demonstrate relevant skills and outcomes.