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Personality traits as predictors of citizen engagement with local government

Author

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  • Victor G. Hugg

    (University of Illinois at Chicago)

  • Kelly LeRoux

    (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Abstract

Do citizens' personality traits affect their likelihood of interacting with local public officials? Using psychology's preferred approach for operationalizing personality — the "Big Five" trait framework — and two nationally-representative survey data sets from the U.S., we examine this question, and find that: (1) citizens who score higher on openness and extraversion traits have an increased likelihood of attending a local government board meeting; and (2) personality traits that predict the likelihood a citizen will contact a local government official vary based on whether that official holds an elected or non-elected position. We conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for citizen engagement scholarship, and outline ways to extend this research in future studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Victor G. Hugg & Kelly LeRoux, 2019. "Personality traits as predictors of citizen engagement with local government," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 2(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:bpd:articl:v:2:y:2019:i:2:jbpa.22.65
    DOI: 10.30636/jbpa.22.65
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mondak, Jeffery J. & Hibbing, Matthew V. & Canache, Damarys & Seligson, Mitchell A. & Anderson, Mary R., 2010. "Personality and Civic Engagement: An Integrative Framework for the Study of Trait Effects on Political Behavior," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 104(1), pages 85-110, February.
    2. Donald Moynihan, 2018. "A great schism approaching? Towards a micro and macro public administration," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 1(1).
    3. Fowler, James H. & Baker, Laura A. & Dawes, Christopher T., 2008. "Genetic Variation in Political Participation," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 102(2), pages 233-248, May.
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    5. Mondak, Jeffery J & Halperin, Karen D, 2008. "A Framework for the Study of Personality and Political Behaviour," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 38(2), pages 335-362, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Morten Hjortskov, 2021. "Personality traits in citizen expectations towards public services," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 4(1).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Personality traits; Big five; Local government participation; Citizen engagement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • Z00 - Other Special Topics - - General - - - General
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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