Big Five Personality Factors

Political psychologists use the 'Big Five' personality traits to study political leaders.  This theory is used the most and widely accepted.  Although, it is customary to study personality through a questionnaire most presidents are not going to do such a thing.  After all they really don't want to be read like a book, or seem so predictable.  Part of their power is the mystery of who they really are.  Nevertheless, political psychologists want to figure them out.  So the next best thing to understanding them on an individual basis is to study their speeches, interviews, and biographers.  It is not an exact science that is for sure, but it may shed some light on their personalities and help with predicting their behavior. 

'Big Five'
1. Openness (curious and searching vs. consistent and cautious).  Open to new ideas and experiences.
2. Conscientiousness (efficient and organized vs. easy-going and free spirited).  Taking extreme care and thought in decision-making. 
3. Extrovert (outgoing vs. solitary and reserved).  Full of energy.  Somewhat egotistical. People pleaser but not always in an honest way.
4. Agreeable (ccompassionate and understanding) Listens to others.  Truly caring about others opinions.
5. Neuroticism (ssuspicious) Has odd relations with others.  Suffers from delusions and misunderstandings.

The trait scores of the presidents showed that the strongest personality trait found in the living and dead presidents was openness.  A study done by Rubenzer showed that Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln scored high on openness and greatness.  In addition, it was decided that left and center left scored high on measures of openness.  While those on the right scored high on conscientiousness.  Does all this help us to know our presidents better and help us or the 'experts' to predict their behavior in certain situations?  Maybe in a general way.  But, probably not enough to know for sure. 

Although, we can surmise from this study that since Obama is left on his political leanings that he would be open to new ideas and ways of doing business in and out of the White House.  And he is.  He certainly is inventive and has extremely unusual (non-conservative) ideas.  Just look at the many changes he has made since becoming president.  He is certainly open with our pocket books.