Deep-Level Diversity

People often use the dimensions of surface-level diversity to form initial impressions about others. Over time, however, as people have a chance to get to know each other, initial impressions based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and mental or physical disabilities give way to deeper impressions based on behavior and psychological characteristics.

When we think of others this way, we are focusing on deep-level diversity. Deep-level diversity represents differences that can be learned only through extended interaction with others.

A disposition is the tendency to respond to situations and events in a predetermined manner. Personality is the relatively stable set of behaviors, attitudes, and emotions displayed over time that makes people different from each other.

Deep-level diversity is critical for managers to understand the differences that make a difference.