| ID | 133416 |
| Title Proper | Origins of the psychological profiling of political leaders |
| Other Title Information | the US office of strategic services and Adolf Hitler |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Dyson, Stephen Benedict |
| Publication | 2014. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The US intelligence community prepares occasional psychological profiles of foreign political leaders. The origins of these practices lie in frantic and ad hoc attempts to understand the character of Adolf Hitler during the latter stages of the Second World War. The US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) commissioned profiles of Hitler, contracting with a titan of personality theory in Professor Henry A. Murray and practicing psychoanalyst Walter C. Langer. Reconstructing the history of these profiles grounds the contemporary analysis of foreign leaders in the lessons of the pioneers. Useful insights on the challenges of profiling leaders, the relationship of academic theories - and academic personnel - to government, and the role of intelligence in policy abound. |
| `In' analytical Note | Intelligence and National Security Vol.29, NO.5; Oct.2014: p.654-674 |
| Journal Source | Intelligence and National Security Vol.29, NO.5; Oct.2014: p.654-674 |
| Key Words | United States - US ; International Relations - IR ; US - Germany Relations ; Germany ; US Intelligence Community ; Occasional Psychological Profiles - OPP ; Foreign Political Leaders - FPL ; Political Leaders ; Adolf Hitler ; Office of Strategic Services - OSS ; Contemporary Analysis ; World War ; Warfare Strategy ; Warfare History |