If you wanted to hypothesize who might be the next president of ...

[Themember4]

If you wanted to hypothesize who might be the next president of the United States based on what researchers have found about past presidents and their personality traits, what would you look for?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Which personality types make more money?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[olivia_paige29]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: One study asked presidential biographers to rate the president they wrote about on the Big Five. The average U.S. president scores high in conscientiousnessa full standard deviation higher than average. U.S. presidents are about average in neuroticismthey are not necessarily cool customers, but they are not particularly anxious or depressed, either. Presidents are higher than average in extraversion, consistent with the glad-handing necessary for successful campaigning. But, just like people who make a lot of money, presidents are lower in agreeableness. The average personality of a president is driven and socially outgoing but not so nice or straightforward. Finally, U.S. presidents are low in openness to experience; on average, they are not curious or intellectual. But those who were high in openness were more likely to be considered great leaders.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: High conscientiousness and low neuroticism predict higher pay. In other words, emotionally stable people who work hard are going to do well. Extraverts also make more money, probably because extraverted people are goal oriented and assert themselves. The real surprise is agreeableness: Agreeable people make less money. So people who are callous, self-serving, and immodest get paid more than people who are kind, caring, and humble. This nice guys finish last phenomenon is truer for men than for women; across three large surveys, low agreeable men make 9,772 a year more than high agreeable men (an 18.3 difference), but low agreeable women made only 1,828 more than high agreeable women, a 5.5 difference. Disagreeable people may find it easier to ask for a raise. They may also be drawn to high-paying, cutthroat professions such as trial lawyer or investment banker. Although many wealthy people are involved in philanthropy, the classic stereotype of the fat-cat rich guy does not usually include kindness and caring. The assumption is he had to step on a few other people on his way up the ladder.