Dr. Whitehead research presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association

SALISBURY, MD---Dr. George Whitehead, professor of psychology at Salisbury State University, presented his research on modern and traditional presidents of the United States at the annual meetings of the Eastern Psychological Association in Baltimore. The research examined the inaugural address of the presidents of the United States for the images representing the self- presentational strategies of ingratiation, intimidation, self- promotion, exemplification and supplication.

Scholars have argued that the American presidency has undergone four changes in the transition from traditional to modern. They are: acquisition of presidential bureaucracy, far greater visibility, an increase in unilateral policy-making capacity and centrality in national agenda setting. Because of these differences, Whitehead and his colleague, Stephanie H. Smith of Indiana University North West, hypothesized and found that modern presidents used more images of ingratiation and intimidation than did traditional presidents.

The study continues other research Whitehead has done on the modern and traditional presidents. In the earlier research, he and his colleagues hypothesized and found that modern presidents evidenced greater needs for achievement, affiliation and power than did traditional presidents.