Psychological Dimensions of Political Leaders' Decision Making

Having a hard time comprehending seemingly irrational, narcissistic, or risky behaviors and judgements of certain political leaders? We’re gradually catching up to the insights that have been generated by the political psychology field and prominent scholars within it like two-time CASBS fellow Rose McDermott (2008-09, 2015-16). In conversation with 2025-26 fellow Seanon Wong, McDermott discusses some of her pioneering work on the psychological and biological underpinnings of political behavior, including the influence of genetics and the role of physical and emotional states in shaping political leaders’ decision making. ROSE MCDERMOTT: Brown University faculty page | CASBS page | Google Scholar page | AAAS bio | SEANON WONG: CUHK faculty page | CASBS page | Personal website | Google Scholar page | Rose McDermott books referenced in this episode: Bar-Joseph, Uri and McDermott, Rose (2017). Intelligence Successes and Failure: The Human Factor. Oxford University Press. Hatemi, Peter and McDermott, Rose, eds. (2011). Man is By Nature a Political Animal: Evolution, Biology and Politics. University of Chicago Press. McDermott, Rose. (2007). Presidential Leadership, Illness and Decision Making . Cambridge University Press. McDermott, Rose. (2004). Political Psychology in International Relations . University of Michigan Press. McDermott, Rose. (1998). Risk-Taking in International Relations: Prospect Theory in Post-War American Foreign Policy. University of Michigan Press. Rose McDermott articles referenced or related in this episode: Rose McDermott, "Mind Over Paradigm: Political Psychology in International Relations, International Security 51(2), 2026. Rose McDermott, "Robert Jervis on Political Psychology," Texas National Security Review, 2 022. Rose McDermott, "The Influence of Psychological Factors in the Search for Strategic Stability," Texas National Security Review 9(2), 2026. Rose McDermott, "Psychological Underpinnings of Post-truth in Political Beliefs," PS: Political Science & Politics 52(2), 2019. P. Hatemi & R. McDermott, "A Neurobiological Approach to Foreign Policy Analysis: Identifying Individual Differences in Political Violence,"Foreign Policy Analysis 8(2), 2012. R. McDermott & P. Hatemi, "The Study of International Politics in the Neurobiological Revolution: A Review of Leadership and Political Violence," Millenium 43(1), 2014. Rose McDermott, "Experimental Methods in Political Science," Annual Review of Political Science 5(1), 2002. M. Horowitz, R. McDermott, & AC Stam, "Leader Age, Regime Type, and Violent International Relations," Journal of Conflict Resolution 49(5), 2005. P. Slovic, M. Peterson, R. McDermott, D. Post, & D. Vastfjall, "When Our Minds Go Nuclear: Rethinking Nuclear Strategy Through the Psychology of Risk and Decision-Making," Texas National Security Review 9(3), 2026. R. McDermott, R. Pauly, & P. Slovic, "Putin and the Psychology of Nuclear Brinkmanship," Foreign Affairs , May 2023. O'Rourke, L., R. McDermott, & P. Hatemi, "