Power and Personality

Harold Dwight Lasswell

may 2009 · Transaction Publishers

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This book concerns the wanting, getting, and giving ofpower. Recent advances in medicine, sociology, and psychologyhave deepened our understanding of the motives,skills, and experience that operate between leaders andthose who are led. Since power is about decision-making,it figures not only in offi cial institutions but in otherorganizations, including political parties, pressure groups,trade associations, business enterprises, trade unions, andmany other types of organizations.

A general theory of the political personality is set forthhere. Lasswell describes the process by which power becomesa value of fi rst importance and the way appropriateskills in exercising power are acquired. He shows thatspecial political types such as agitators or administratorsare related to basic types of character that contribute tohow they lead. Finally, his analysis off ers original perspectivesto understand democratic leadership.

Lasswell offers definite suggestions for perfecting"self-observatories" in national and world affairs and forforming democratic personalities, selecting and trainingdemocratic leaders, and reducing destructive conflicts inhuman relationships. Power and Personality followed theauthor's 1930 work Psychopathology and Politics, whichwas widely hailed for its pioneering approach. Power andPersonality reevaluated the entire issue of the relationshipbetween psychology and politics in the light of subsequentexperience and scientifi c developments since publicationof that earlier work. Lasswell's ideas continue to carrygreat weight and persuasiveness.

Harold D. Lasswell served as FordFoundation Professor of the Social Sciencesat Yale University, DistinguishedProfessor of Policy Sciences at John JayCollege of the City University of NewYork, and as professor of political scienceat the University of Chicago. He was apast president of the American PoliticalScience Association and author of manybooks covering the full range of political and policy research.

Peter deLeon is director of the doctorate program and professorat the School of Public Aff airs, University of Colorado, Denver.In 2000 he received the distinguished Harold D. Lasswell Awardfrom the Policy Studies Organization. He is the author ofThinking about Political Corruption, Democracy and the PolicySciences, and Advice and Consent.

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Harold D. Lasswell served as Ford Foundation Professor of the Social Sciences at Yale University, Distinguished Professor of Policy Sciences at John Jay College of the City University of New York, and as professor of political science at the University of Chicago. He was a past president of the American Political Science Association and author of many books covering the full range of political and policy research. Peter deLeon is director of the doctorate program and professor at the School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado, Denver. In 2000 he received the distinguished Harold D. Lasswell Award from the Policy Studies Organization. He is the author of Thinking about Political Corruption, Democracy and the Policy Sciences, and Advice and Consent.