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. Regression s 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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