Assessing Leadership Style: Trait Analysis

The Psychological Assessment of Political Leaders

Clinton as President

Clinton's inaugural address shows a motive profile similar to that of
his announcement speech but with all three scores elevated, espe-
cially those of achievement and power. Still, achievement was higher
than power (both in raw and standardized scores), as shown in the far
right column of table 12.2. What do these scores mean for under-
standing and predicting Clinton's performance in office? One
approach is to use Clinton's standardized scores, in conjunction with
the information assembled in table 7.2 in chapter 7, to make predic-
tions (or "retrodictions"). For example, Clinton's high achievement
motivation scores in 1992 and 1993 were certainly consistent with
his many first-term programs and actions directed toward improve-
ment (e.g., health care reform), as well as his energetic personal style.
Even his "Slick Willie" image (referring to his tendency to change
views and modify positions) can be seen as reflecting the tendency of
achievement-motivated people to modify their performance on the
basis of the results of previous actions. His retreats on health care,
withdrawals of contested appointments, acceptance of the Republi-
can framework for welfare reform, and centrist agenda in 1995—96
all reflect the avoidance of extreme risks and the use of feedback,
which are also characteristics of achievement motivation.
Although Clinton's affiliation motive score was relatively high in
his inaugural, it was still a good deal lower than his achievement
score. This suggests that his changes of position and policy were
based more on calculations of risk and results than on the influence

TABLE 12.2. MOTIVE PROFILE OF BILL CLINTON IN 1992-93

Raw Scores

(images per 1 ,000 words)

Speech

1992 campaign

announcement^13

1993 Inaugural"

Ach

8.69

10.23

Aff

4.50

5.75

Pow

8.04

9.59

Pow

minus

Ach

-.65

-.64

Standardized Scores"

Ach Aff

55 54

71 60

Pow

45

65

Pow

minus

Ach

-10

-6

Source: Data from Winter 1998b.

"Mean of comparison sample = 50, SD =10.

Standardized in comparison to campaign announcement speeches of other major 1992 candidates.

Standardized in comparison to first inaugurals of other U.S. presidents.