Jerrold Post (2005) provides an overview of the complex approach to assessing the personalities of political leaders in hopes of developing an objective personality profile. The basic foundation involved in assessing a political personality combines identifying and evaluating the influence of key events and patterns in the individual's life chronology, a longitudinal analysis, and an in-depth examination of specific characteristics relevant to the role of a leader, a cross-sectional analysis (Post 2005, 69-70, 77).
While the process of evaluating personality using longitudinal analysis seem obviously subjective, the cross-sectional approach attempts to evaluate personality using three baseline personality types involving differing patterns of cognition, affect, and interpersonal …show more content…
Even more complex is the consideration of the relationship of personality influencing political behavior as a reversed phenomenon. While Post identifies that "the core leadership personality influences…leadership characteristics", he also recognizes, in the same sentence, that "political leadership is of course shaped by the cultural and political context" (2005, 69) in which the leader is involved. George & George add another intricacy to this concept by adding that not only do institutional variables, situational variables, and political culture play a part in assessing political personality, but the effect of these variables force the leader (essentially the leader's personality) to adapt to the role requirements (1998,67). Depending on the degree of adaptation, flexibility, and self-awareness, this factor alone may play a significant role in political behavior and
While the process of evaluating personality using longitudinal analysis seem obviously subjective, the cross-sectional approach attempts to evaluate personality using three baseline personality types involving differing patterns of cognition, affect, and interpersonal …show more content…
Even more complex is the consideration of the relationship of personality influencing political behavior as a reversed phenomenon. While Post identifies that "the core leadership personality influences…leadership characteristics", he also recognizes, in the same sentence, that "political leadership is of course shaped by the cultural and political context" (2005, 69) in which the leader is involved. George & George add another intricacy to this concept by adding that not only do institutional variables, situational variables, and political culture play a part in assessing political personality, but the effect of these variables force the leader (essentially the leader's personality) to adapt to the role requirements (1998,67). Depending on the degree of adaptation, flexibility, and self-awareness, this factor alone may play a significant role in political behavior and