Personality and the Foundations of Political Behavior

The first study in more than 30 years to investigate the broad significance of personality traits for mass political behavior.

Jeffery J. Mondak (Author)

9780521140959, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 7 June 2010

246 pages, 10 b/w illus. 23 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.35 kg

'Mondak argues persuasively that traits shape political behavior. He provides an accurate and balanced account of recent progress in personality research and illustrates its application in his own work. This book – which should be read by sociologists, historians, and journalists as well as political scientists – is an important step in the integration of the social sciences.' Robert McCrae, author of Personality in Adulthood: A Five-Factor Theory Perspective

Personality and the Foundations of Political Behavior is the first study in more than 30 years to investigate the broad significance of personality traits for mass political behavior. Drawing on the Big Five personality trait framework, Jeffery J. Mondak argues that attention to personality provides a valuable means to integrate biological and environmental influences in rich, nuanced theories and empirical tests of the antecedents of political behavior. Development of such holistic accounts is critical, Mondak contends, if inquiry is to move beyond simple 'blank slate' environmental depictions of political engagement. Analyses examining multiple facets of political information, political attitudes and participation reveal that the Big Five trait dimensions - openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability - produce both direct and indirect effects on a wide range of political phenomena.

1. Personality and politics
2. The Big Five approach
3. Measuring the Big Five
4. Personality and political information
5. Personality, attitudes, and political predispositions
6. Personality and political participation
7. The multiple bases of political behavior.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], The self, ego, identity, personality [JMS], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH]