U S P P

Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics

Back to the USPP Home

Abstract

Personality Profile of U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama

Updated November 14, 2008

Aubrey Immelman and Sarah Moore

St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict

Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics

Dept. of Psychology

St. Joseph, MN 56374, U.S.A.

This research report presents the results of an indirect assessment of the personality of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama, from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon. Information concerning Obama was collected from biographical sources and media reports and synthesized into a personality profile using the second edition of the Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC), which yields 34 normal and maladaptive personality classifications congruent with Axis II of DSM–IV.

The personality profile yielded by the MIDC was analyzed on the basis of interpretive guidelines provided in the MIDC and Millon Index of Personality Styles manuals. Obama’s primary personality patterns were found to be Ambitious/confident and Dominant/asserting, with secondary features of the Accommodating/cooperative, Conscientious/respectful, and Outgoing/congenial patterns.

The combination of Ambitious and Accommodating patterns in Obama’s profile suggests a confident conciliator personality composite. Leaders with this personality prototype, though self-assured and ambitious, are characteristically gracious, considerate, and benevolent. They are energetic, charming, and agreeable, with a special talent for settling differences and a preference for mediation and compromise over force or coercion as a strategy for resolving conflict. They are driven primarily by a need for achievement, but also have substantial affiliation needs and a modest need for power.

The major implication of the study is that it offers an empirically based personological framework for anticipating Obama’s leadership style as chief executive, thereby providing a basis for anticipating the character and tenor of the Obama presidency.

________________________

Abstract

Personality Profile of 2008 Democratic Presidential Contender Barack Obama

Updated April 22, 2008

Aubrey Immelman, Anthony Odland , Trevare Sherman, Kelly Dettle, Joseph Schirmers

St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict

Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics

Dept. of Psychology

St. Joseph, MN 56374, U.S.A.

This research report presents the results of an analysis of the personality of Illinois senator Barack Obama, contender for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon. Information concerning Sen. Obama was collected from biographical sources and media reports and synthesized into a personality profile using the second edition of the Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC), which yields 34 normal and maladaptive personality classifications congruent with Axis II of DSM–IV.

The personality profile yielded by the MIDC was analyzed on the basis of interpretive guidelines provided in the MIDC and Millon Index of Personality Styles manuals. Sen. Obama’s primary personality patterns were found to be Ambitious/confident and Accommodating/cooperative, with secondary features of the Outgoing/congenial pattern.

The combination of Ambitious, Accommodating, and Outgoing patterns in Obama’s profile suggests a confident conciliator personality composite. Leaders with this personality prototype, though self-assured and ambitious, are characteristically gracious, considerate, and benevolent. They are energetic, charming, and agreeable, with a special knack for settling differences, favoring mediation and compromise over force or coercion as a strategy for resolving conflict. They are driven primarily by a need for achievement and also have strong affiliation needs, but a low need for power.

The major implication of the study is that it offers an empirically based personological framework for anticipating Obama’s likely leadership style as chief executive, thereby providing a basis for inferring the character and tenor of a prospective Obama presidency.

________________________

Abstract

Provisional Personality Profile of 2008 Democratic Presidential Contender Barack Obama

December 16, 2007

Aubrey Immelman, Catherine London, and Denise Jittan

St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict

Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics

Dept. of Psychology

St. Joseph, MN 56374, U.S.A.

This research report presents the results of a preliminary analysis of the personality of Illinois senator Barack Obama, contender for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon. Information concerning Sen. Obama was collected from biographical sources and media reports and synthesized into a personality profile using the second edition of the Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC), which yields 34 normal and maladaptive personality classifications congruent with Axis II of DSM–IV.

The personality profile yielded by the MIDC was analyzed on the basis of interpretive guidelines provided in the MIDC and Millon Index of Personality Styles manuals. Sen. Obama’s primary personality patterns were found to be Ambitious/confident–self-serving and Dominant/asserting, with secondary features of the Outgoing/congenial and Accommodating/cooperative patterns.

The major implication of the study is that it offers an empirically based personological framework for inferring Sen. Obama’s likely leadership style as president.

MIDC Scale Scores

Page maintained by Aubrey Immelman

http://www.csbsju.edu/uspp/Obama/Obama_Personality-Profile_2007.html