POWER MOTIVATION AND THE POLITICAL PERSONALITY

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 28, Heft 1, S. 75-90

Abstract

A modified TAT measuring achievement (ACH), affiliation, & power (P) motivation (MOT) was given politicians & non-politicians in an Eastern city (random sample of 23 businessmen, ward chairmen & candidates for office, & 18 non-politicians matched in occup, religion, ethnicity, & Ur residence) & in 2 parishes (counties) of La (N=50 or 67% of all elected public officials). Offices rated high in potential for P & ACH attracted S's with statistically signif'ly stronger ACH & P MOT's than low-potential offices. S's in low-potential offices were similar in MOT to matched non-politicians, but S's in high-potential offices had stronger P &.ACH MOT than matched non-politicians. It is suggested that higher P & ACH MOT scores in the eastern group are due to the more important community role, & therefore greater P & ACH opportunity, in eastern, Ur politics. MOT appears to be related to important diff's in the behavior of pol'al leaders. AA.