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.
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.
Maverick McCain Finds His Mojo — But What Does It Mean? Patrick Sweetman and Aubrey Immelman January 7, 2008 John McCain’s victory in Tuesday’s New...
McCain’s Maverick Nature is Double-Edged Sword Amy Marschall and Aubrey Immelman October 14, 2008 As the 2008 presidential campaign enters the home stretch in a...
Summary: The Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics (USPP) ‘Media Tipsheet’ offers political reporters looking for a fresh story angle a sometimes unique, often unconventional perspective on politics.
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.
Click on image for larger view John McCain: A Question of Temperament Aubrey Immelman St. Cloud Times November 1, 2008 As Arizona Sen. John McCain...
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.
The dominant feature of Rudy Giuliani’s personality is a controlling, aggressive tendency. When a prominent aggressive tendency combines with moral certitude, the resulting personality prototype is the “hostile enforcer.”
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