John F. Kennedy Personality - Case Study Example

?Running Head: Psychology Personality Profile of John F. Kennedy Introduction John F. Kennedy has commonly been described as a charismatic, extrovert, and neurotic political figure. This paper discusses the personality of Kennedy using two psychological theories, namely (1) trait theory, and (2) biological approach theory. Trait Theory The cardinal traits of John Kennedy, which he became known of, are inability to concentrate; risk taking; emotional; self-absorbed; and persistent drawing of attention to oneself. On the surface, Kennedy appears to match quite strongly the extrovert and neurotic personality types as identified by Raymond Cattell and Hans Eysenck. He displayed a remarkable charisma, inspired and motivated people that were usually frantic in their reactions to him, was an excellent orator, and liked being the center of attention. A southern politician depicted him as possessing the “best qualities of Elvis Presley and Franklin D. Roosevelt” (Hellman, 1999, 126). He was venturesome, instilling on his fellow people the importance of determination and boldness. These cardinal traits were rooted in Kennedy’s early years. John Kennedy belonged to a large family in Massachusetts. His father, Joseph, was a motivated, tough, and single-minded man. His mother, Rose, a zealous Roman Catholic and the daughter of a politician, was a firm disciplinarian and authoritarian who instilled in her children a sense of individuality or self-determination (Gilbert, 1998). According to Rose, revealing her philosophy as a mother, “When I held my newborn baby in my arms, I used to think that what I said and did to him could have an influence not only on him but on all whom he met, not only for a day or a month or a year, but for all eternity—a very challenging and exciting thought for a mother” (Gilbert, 1998, 143). According to Hellman (1999), John’s parents made every effort to deepen the interest of their children in public issues and politics. The Kennedy children, in order for them to develop a sense of confidence, were trained to think like a ‘Kennedy’ and should be aware of and honored by their legacy. For them to have a competitive nature and sense of individuality, they were trained to play forcefully and succeed. They have to keep in mind the tough philosophy of their father: “Don’t play unless you can be captain” and “Second place is failure” (Gilbert, 1998, 143). They were pushed toward excellence. Their mother was similarly meticulous in her attempts to drive her children to perfection. Their family is sympathetic and accommodating but very challenging and tough (Valenty & Feldman, 2002). The way John Kennedy was raised portends his extrovert and neurotic leadership style. However, the interaction between cardinal traits and secondary traits is manifested in the case of John Kennedy. Instead of being manipulative of others, he gained the full commitment and trust of his subordinates by giving them respect. Even though he loved being the center of attention, Kennedy did not resent his supporters in their commonplace encounters (Hellman, 1999). He did his best to be reachable to them. He valued them and viewed them as dedicated and committed to his objectives. One major adviser portrays the White House during the Kennedy administration as a site “where there were no clear or continuing splits along political or philosophical grounds” (Valenty & Feldman, 2002, 174) and as a site of “good feelings and good fellowship” (p. 174). Ultimately, according to Gilbert (1998), instead of being emotional or oversensitive, John Kennedy had an impressive sense of humor. Sometimes, he was practically patient rather than indifferent in dealing with his opponents. Nevertheless, several of the attributes of the extrovert and neurotic personality as described by Cattell and Eysenck do not exactly depict John Kennedy. Instead of being self-conscious, for instance, Kennedy ready extensively and actively engaged in the political affairs of his government. One explanation for the triumph of his televised speeches was that he was well-informed in the fields of domestic and foreign policy (Hellman, 1999). The interaction of his cardinal and secondary traits seems to have generated useful outcomes in the case of John Kennedy for obvious expressions of both traits were held back. While he was not self-conscious or impulsive, so he was not stubborn or inflexible as well. While he was not impressionable or abusive or manipulative, so he was not hesitant and incapable of understanding the deeper or underlying realities as well. Biological Approach Theory The personality profile of John Kennedy was certainly influenced by his biological makeup: he was chronically ill and physically impaired. Not merely did he decline to give in to his illnesses, but he in fact refused to accept that he was ill. According to his mother (Valenty & Feldman, 2002, 176): Even when he was laid out flat in bed from some new accident or disease, with his face thin and his freckles standing out against the pallor of his skin, he could always smile or grin about his own bad luck, as if he had been victimized once again by some absurd joke that he should have been on guard against. He went along for many years thinking to himself—or at least trying to make others think—that he was a strong, robust, quite healthy person who just happened to be sick a good deal of the time. Kennedy made every effort to be recognized as an absolute member of the Kennedy household by projecting himself as energetic, healthy, and tough as his siblings. Hence, he refused to accept the idea that he was weak and viewed himself as completely strong (Valenty & Feldman, 2002). While growing up, he imagined and envisioned himself as an influential person he desired to be. His political aspirations perhaps embodied an obsessive pursuit of grandeur by the biologically weakest of the Kennedy children. His ambition, hence, was to “lift himself above others” (Gilbert, 1998, 171) and show his value and excellence on the most exposed of all nationwide and even worldwide stages. This biological weakness gave birth to John Kennedy’s cardinal traits (e.g. determined, competitive, charismatic, etc). As a legislator and afterward as the supreme leader of the United States, Kennedy used every ounce of his energy to hide his biological weaknesses, fearing that the people might see him unfit for political and public duties. Dr. Travell recounted the immense silence that cloaked the frequent hospitalization of John Kennedy: “[W]hen in New York Hospital seven or eight times for two or three days or nights, the last being in October, 1957, that fact was concealed—an assumed name would be put on his door, his chart was taken off the wallboard and locked in a drawer” (Gilbert, 1998, 172). Quite interesting is the fact that John did not only hide his sickness from the people, he also made attempts to hide them from his loved ones and significant others, just like what he did during his childhood days. Furthermore, Kennedy firmly told supporters and subordinates that he did not develop Addison’s Disease. Interestingly, Dr. Travell attempted once to talk about his Addison’s Disease with him, but John said, “But I don’t have it, Doctor” (Valenty & Feldman, 2002, 167). Kennedy was fairly distinct from other political personalities who developed chronic and serious illnesses and who attempted to deny or hide them. In the case of Kennedy, the denial and cover up was intended not for the public but for everyone, including his own physician, his subordinates, and his family. This pattern of behavior perhaps has been derived from self-idealization and self-perception (Corr, 2006). Concerning this behavior pattern, Karen Horney argues than an unavoidable form of self-perception is a ‘pursuit for grandeur’ and that seeking reputation and influence is a method “frequently used in our culture for obtaining reassurance against anxiety” (Valenty & Feldman, 2002, 168). According to Corr (2006), the basic components concerned in a pursuit for grandeur involve a need for excellence, an obsessive hope for superficial success, and an impulse toward a ‘vengeful success,’ even though the latter is usually hidden. The passionate desire of John Kennedy is partly influenced by his biological realities, especially his weaknesses. Once involved in the nation’s political and public affairs, he advanced obstinately toward the highest echelon of the political hierarchy. Each step of the hierarchy was mounted at his early years, a reality perhaps functioning as another evident expression of physical fortitude and superficial triumph. Hence, as stressed by Valenty and Feldman (2002), at 29 John Kennedy became a member of the Congress, at 35 a Senator, and at 43 the youngest U.S. president in the nation’s political history. Conclusions Gaining knowledge of theories of personality traits, personality classification, and learning styles is a quite helpful way to enhance our understanding of our own and others’ behavior patterns and motivation. Understanding types and traits of personality is valuable for recognizing that although individuals are different, everybody has an importance, and particular strong points and values, and that everybody should be viewed and treated with respect. The analysis of John Kennedy’s personality traits shows how important it is to understand one’s strengths and weaknesses in terms of his/her family background, early experiences, and biological makeup. Being an extrovert and neurotic, as described by Raymond Cattell and Hans Eysenck in their Five-Factor Theory of Personality, Kennedy has a tendency to be daring, emotional, outgoing, and impulsive. A quick look at Kennedy’s childhood and adolescence is important in identifying the factors that resulted in the development of his ‘cardinal traits’— traits that control a person’s entire life. The early years of Kennedy also influenced the development of ‘secondary traits’—traits that are at times linked to tendencies, preferences, outlooks and usually surface only in particular circumstances—that he showed as a U.S. President, or, traits that functioned as countercheck to his cardinal traits. References Corr, P. (2006). Understanding Biological Psychology. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Gilbert, R. (1998). The Mortal Presidency: Illness and Anguish in the White House. New York: Fordham University Press. Hellman, J. (1999). The Kennedy Obsession: The American Myth of JFK. New York: Columbia University Press. Valenty, L. & Feldman, O. (2002). Political Leadership for the New Century: Personality and Behavior among American Leaders. Westport, CT: Praeger. Read More