William Jefferson Clintoncognitive states of mind (Walker 1995). Research dealing with this
problem has revealed enough variability to issue a cautionary notice
that the following profile may apply only to the time period in which
the data were gathered (Schafer 2000).
Index scores for Bill Clinton's general operational code, found in
table 14.1, are reported as standard deviations from the norming
group's scores for each VICS index. Their interpretation in table
14.1 is in terms of the number of standard deviations above and
below the average VICS score for each element in the operational
code construct. The anchoring points for each VICS index in chapter
9, expressed as "Somewhat, Definitely, Very, and Extremely," are
TABLE 14.1. THE GENERAL OPERATIONAL CODE OF BILL CLINTON
Std Dev Descriptor
Philosophical Beliefs
P-l. Nature of the political universe +2.63
P-2. Prospects for realization of +2.13
political values
P-3- Predictability of Political Future -1.33
P-4. Belief in Historical Control
a. Self s Control +1.40
b. Other's Control -1.40
P-5. Role of Chance ±0.00
Instrumental BeliefsSource: Data from Foreign Broadcast Information Service.
Note: Key VICS indices are in bold. Indices are expressed
the mean for a sample of twenty world leaders from a varietyExtremely friendly
Extremely optimistic
Very low
Very high
Very low
Average1-1. Approach to goals
(direction of strategy)
1-2. Pursuit of goals
(intensity of tactics)
1-3. Risk orientation
(averse/acceptant)
1-4. Timing of action
a. Flexibility of coop/conf tactics
b. Flexibility of word/deed tactics
1-5. Utility of Means
a. Reward
b. Promise
c. Appeal/support
d. Oppose/resist
e. Threaten
f. Punish+2.95
+ 3.07
±0.00-3.47
+ 0.20
+ 2.40
+ 1.33
+ 2.29
-2.57
-2.00
-1.20Extremely cooperative
Extremely cooperative
AverageExtremely low
Average
Extremely high
Very high
Extremely high
Extremely low
Extremely low
Definitely lowas standard deviations above and below
of regions and eras.