Wednesday, 11th March 2015,
Speakers: Professor Adrian Furnham, Dr Rainer Kurz, Dr Hugh McCredie
With the UK general election looming, the research into politics, politicians and personality has current and significant impact. This seminar looked at the subject from the psychological and psychometric point of view with much interesting and enlightening data and views
Professor Adrian Furnham
Professor of Psychology at University College London
Psychology, Ideology and Politics
Adrian started by looking at what he referred to as the bottom line. In the relationship between Personality and Politics he argued that much depends on the measure of politics: such as beliefs/ideology; behaviour like voting, taking part in protests and, knowledge. He argued that all the main personality factors are involved, but that they account for relatively little variance. Other individual difference factors also play a part like ‘the Dark Triad’ and intelligence. (Taken from the Psyche review, to see this is full: Psyche Edition 74 Summer 2015)
Dr Rainer Kurz
Cubiks Group Ltd
Politics and the Psychology of Abuse and Cover Up
This fascinating presentation asked important and poignant questions such as “how cover ups such as the Jimmy Savile case are possible?”. Rainer provided a comparison of the use of psychometrics within the workplace, which is highly visible and guided by best practice, with the use of psychometrics within clinical and forensic settings where potentially life altering decisions are made in comparative secrecy. By presenting research mapping personality factors to competency frameworks Rainer illustrated how the underpinning competencies for many jobs share great similarities and that it is the nuances and language used that vary. This was highlighted through discussion of the fascinating work of Silvester (2012), describing the recruitment process for politician candidates and mapping of conservative and liberal democrat competencies. For two parties who appear to have different values and contrasting opinions, the similarities of the requirements for MP candidates were remarkably similar. (Taken from the Psyche review, to see this is full: Psyche Edition 74 Summer 2015)
Dr Hugh McCredie
Writer, Researcher and Vice Chair of The Psychometrics Forum
The Great and the Good? Personalities of CEOs and US Presidents
Hugh’s presentation rounded off The Psychometrics Forum March event on ‘Personality and Politics’. It was a thought provoking and timely reminder on how personalities of CEO’s, US Presidents, UK Parliamentary Candidates and Local Councillors matter, either to the teams they are leading, to the selection committees, or how they conduct themselves in the job. Hugh packed a lot of information into a short space of time, outlining the process and results of six studies looking at leadership personality. (Taken from the Psyche review, to see this is full: Psyche Edition 74 Summer 2015)
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