TITLE:
Exploring the Relationships between Self-Evaluations, Personality Traits and Disorders, and Political Skill
AUTHORS:
Adrian Furnham, George Horne
KEYWORDS:
Political Skill, Personality, Disorders, Self-Evaluation, Networking, Social Astuteness, Apparent Sincerity
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.15 No.1,
January
24,
2024
ABSTRACT: This study asked the question: What are the bright-
and dark-side correlates of political skill? It looked at the Big Five
personality traits, personality disorder clusters and core self-ratings correlates
of political skill. Over 500 adults completed measures of personality traits
and disorders, self-evaluations, as well as political skill measured at the
domain and facet level by the Political Skills Inventory (PSI). We confirmed
the four-fold structure of the PSI. There were many differences in the
correlates of the different facets, though political skills were associated with being Emotional
Stability (low Neuroticism), Conscientiousness, positive self-image, and
Extraversion. Regressions onto the four facets showed the predictor variables
accounted for between 25% and 41% of the variance. Some personality disorder
factors associated with theatricality were positively associated with political
skills. There is, therefore, both a bright- and dark-side to having political skills. Implications are considered and limitations are
acknowledged.