This study asked the question: What are the bright-
and dark-side correlates of political skill? It looked at the Big Five
personality traits, personality disorder clusters and core self-ratings correlates
of political skill. Over 500 adults completed measures of personality traits
and disorders, self-evaluations, as well as political skill measured at the
domain and facet level by the Political Skills Inventory (PSI). We confirmed
the four-fold structure of the PSI. There were many differences in the
correlates of the different facets, though political skills were associated with being Emotional
Stability (low Neuroticism), Conscientiousness, positive self-image, and
Extraversion. Regressions onto the four facets showed the predictor variables
accounted for between 25% and 41% of the variance. Some personality disorder
factors associated with theatricality were positively associated with political
skills. There is, therefore, both a bright-and dark-side to having political skills.Implications are considered and limitations are
acknowledged.
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