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Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics

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Executive Summary: Personality Profile of U.S. Vice President Al Gore

INTRODUCTION

The object of the study was to assess the personality of U.S. vice president Al Gore and to predict his political performance and leadership effectiveness on the basis of personality traits.

METHODOLOGY

The Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC) was used to construct the personality profile, based on empirical analysis of biographic materials. The 170 MIDC criteria permit classification of political figures along 12 personality dimensions, or 34 categories. Personality patterns are used to predict presidential performance and leadership style.

KEY FINDINGS

Vice President Gore’s personality-based leadership strengths include:

• conscientiousness and low susceptibility to ethical misconduct;

• ambition rooted in a sense of duty;

• well-consolidated character integrity; and

• attention to detail and skill in orchestrating and crafting specific policies.

Vice President Gore’s personality-based leadership limitations include:

• deficits in the important political skills of interpersonality, charisma, and spontaneity;

• interpersonal relatedness marked by detachment, or aloofness;

• limited ability to arouse, engage, and direct the public in support of his policy initiatives or retain his support in the face of adversity; and

• a self-defeating potential for dogmatically advancing a favored policy or principle in defiance of legislative or public disapproval.

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www.csbsju.edu/uspp/ExecutiveSummaries/Gore.html

Last modified: 04/06/2000