Political Psychology: Chapter 2

Personality

Refers to a construct that is introduced to account for the regularities in an individual’s behavior as they respond to diverse stimuli; NO universally accepted definition

Personality Includes

Cognition, motivation, affect, ego, and attitudes

Political Psychology Personality Studies:

Psychoanalytic, trait theories, and motivation theories

Psychoanalytic Approach

Focuses on the unconscious behaviors, created by Freud

Pleasure Principle

Our drive to satisfy aggressive and sexual desires

3 elements of Psychoanalytic personality

Id, Superego, Ego

Id

Instincts and bodily functions (pleasure principle)

Superego

Moral arm of the personality

Ego

Moderating the Id and the needs of social life, reality principle

Reality Principle

The demands of the Id will be blocked in accordance to reality

Neurotic Anxiety

A persons fear of being punished for doing something the Id wants

Moral Anxiety

When there is a conflict between the Id and superego

Repression

Eliminating an unpleasant memory

Projection

Attributing ones impulse to another person

Rationalization

Reinterpreting an object-able behavior into something rational

Denial

Denying reality to manage anxiety

Defense mechanisms (RRPD)

• Repression

• Projection

• Rationalization

• Denial

Generally, society (__) influences a persons ego (___)

Nurture, Nature

Data collection methods (Psychoanalysis)

Interviews, Free association, content analysis

Dream Analysis

Symbolic representation of thoughts; a section of content analysis

Common themes in political leaders

Neuroticism, narcissism, and paranoia

Traits

Personality characteristics that are stable over time

Trait Theories

State that personality traits determine how people respond to their environment

Cardinal Traits

Affecting people in most situations of their life (Ex: Authoritarianism)

Central Traits

Affecting people in a smaller number of situations (Ex: Honesty)

Secondary Traits

Affecting people in rare occasions

Behavioral Patterns

High neuroticism or extraversion => downward social comparison

Low agreeableness => downward social comparison

High openness => upward social comparison

Big Five

Openness

Consciousness

Extraversion

Agreeableness

Neuroticism

Motive Theories

Aspects of personality concerned with goals and goal-directed actions

Need for: power, affiliation, and achievement

Motive Theory Methods

Thematic Apperception Test: Creating a story regarding a picture in order to assess motives

Genetic Theories

Certain patterns of behaviors help a species survive because they are adaptive; inheritance of behavioral genetics

The Authoritarian Personality

Authoritarian childhood upbringing results in a weak ego; controlling desires and issues with strict discipline and control

Active Traits (in presidency)

Great personal satisfaction and is highly engaged

Passive traits (in presidency)

Enjoys great personal satisfaction but puts little energy into the job

Philosophical beliefs

Nature of the political universe

Instrumental Beliefs

Best strategies and tactics for achieving goals