Category: 2008 Presidential Election

Index of Studies Conducted at the Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics

Partial index of psychological studies of U.S. presidents and presidential candidates, foreign leaders, and leading terrorist figures conducted at the Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics.

John Edwards

Summary: A psychological analysis of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards reveals that his primary personality patterns are Ambitious/self-serving and Outgoing/gregarious — a personality composite known as the “amorous narcissist” — with secondary features of the Dauntless/adventurous and Accommodating/cooperative patterns.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Delivers Remarks at Groundbreaking Ceremony of the U.S. Diplomacy Center

Analysis of Hillary Clinton’s Display of Emotion in New Hampshire Aubrey Immelman January 7, 2008 Regarding the incident on Monday, Jan. 7, when Hillary Clinton...

John McCain pictured in 2007.

John McCain

John McCain’s primary personality pattern is Dauntless/dissenting, with secondary features of the Outgoing/gregarious and Dominant/controlling patterns. The combination of Dauntless and Outgoing patterns in McCain’s profile suggests a risk-taking adventurer personality composite. Leaders with this personality prototype are characteristically bold, fearless, sensation seeking, and driven by a need to prove their mettle.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama’s primary personality patterns are found to be Ambitious/confident and Dominant/asserting, with secondary features of the Accommodating/cooperative and Conscientious/respectful patterns. The combination of Ambitious and Accommodating patterns in Obama’s profile suggests a “confident conciliator” personality composite.