USPP                                       

Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics

Back to the USPP Homepage

Executive Summary: Personality Profile of Arizona Senator John McCain

INTRODUCTION

The object of the study was to assess the personality of Arizona senator John McCain 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

Sen. John McCain’s personality-based leadership strengths include:

• the important personality-based political skills of independence, persuasiveness, and courage;

• a socially responsive, outgoing tendency that enables him to connect with people;

• skills and talents that can be employed to mobilize support and implement his policies; and

• a dauntless, confident orientation conducive to the cut and thrust of political life and potentially useful in crisis situations.

Sen. John McCain’s personality-based leadership limitations include:

• impulsiveness and lack of emotional restraint;

• a tendency to make unguarded, imprudent remarks that may undermine his political capital;

• a rebellious nature, accompanied by intolerance of delay or frustration and low thresholds for emotional discharge, particularly anger and hostility;

• a potential for taking unnecessary risks and failing to plan ahead.

Page maintained by Aubrey Immelman, USPP director and Suzanne Wetzel, USPP contributor

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

Last modified: 04/16/2000