VOTERS’ HABITS IN EVALUATING POLITICIANS’ CHARACTER  
In families, business and government, character is ultimately revealed in policies, words and behaviors. Character is typically a private matter until someone becomes a political figure whose policies impact cities, states and nations. Since presidents are political figures, analysis of their character is fair game because it affects the entire nation for good or ill in terms of policies and existential issues such as the future of democracy.

Research in political science and psychology highlights that the personality traits and psychological characteristics of leaders directly influence their policy decisions and styles of governance. For example, traits like trust, need for power, risk tolerance, and worldview shape the type of policies adopted, especially in times of conflict or uncertainty.​

Leaders’ character traits affect how they process information, interpret events, and respond to challenges, which is then reflected in their public statements, policy choices, and governance behaviors. Even cognitive biases and prior experiences influence decisions that leaders pursue certain through policies that reflect their beliefs about the world and their role in it. This psychological continuity links character and policy outcomes closely, making actions and policies a clear reflection of the complex soup of the psychology of underlying traits and values.​ Thus, the rhetoric and behaviors of political figures like Trump cannot be separated from their character because words and actions are expressions of underlying personality and leadership style which ultimately shape tangible policy directions and public conduct in government and beyond.​

The question of character is an unseen force when election time comes. Character hovers obscurely but powerfully in the hearts and minds of voters but rarely becomes a visible election issue except when one candidate condemns the character of his/her opponent. When voters do acknowledge character, they do it in vague generalizations such as the following:

• Dishonest/Crook/Fraudulent: Frequently cited for perceived untruthfulness or broken promises.​
• Arrogant/Egotistical/Narcissistic: Signals self-centeredness or lack of humility.​
• Incompetent/Lazy: Implies inadequacy in leadership or effort.​
• Greedy/Intolerant/Immoral: Evokes selfishness, prejudice, or ethical failings.​
• Idiot/Pompous/Populist: Broad attacks on intelligence, demeanor, or authenticity.​

These shorthand labels are often amplified by media which always looks for quotes that reflect their personal political biases. The same is true regarding positive expressions of endorsement of the candidates’ voters and certain media favor: 

• Honest/Truthful: Highlights integrity and reliability.
• Well-Informed/Competent: Conveys knowledge and capability, valued across parties.
• Warm/Approachable/Willing to Compromise: Reflects empathy and collaboration, prioritized over raw competence in evaluations.​
• Strong Leader/Has Deep Beliefs: Signals decisiveness and conviction, boosting appeal for those sharing attitudes like nationalism.​
• Admirable/Can Unite Country: Aspirational traits fostering emotional connection.
• These labels activate warmth feelings draw voters toward candidates perceived as benevolent leaders, with effects stronger than for disliked opponents.​

The problem with these pseudo descriptions of character is that they are based more on feelings than facts. They are not the result of serious, objective observations of words and behaviors over time. Voters do not think of character in terms that are clear, documentable and uninfluenced by party loyalty or affections for certain policy positions.

Logical as this may all seem to be, the process of choosing and electing political candidates in the United States is overwhelmingly driven by policy alignment and political alliances — not character. Character may play a marginal role during primaries, but when it comes to actual elections, the vast majority of American voters prioritize candidates who share their views on political issues as the most important factor when choosing whom to support. Other qualities like shared religious or economic background and character, matter far less in voters’ decisions. Most voters trust the electoral process and focus on policy alignment. Thus they “hold their noses” and vote with their guts, political identity and self-interest without considering character in the voting booth.

In sum, while rhetoric about character is common in non-partisan political discourse, the actual electoral process and voter priorities emphasize policy alignment and political alliances more heavily than character evaluations when choosing candidates.

Research shows that fear can significantly impair rational thinking and decision-making for voters and political candidates. When people are afraid, their brains often shift into “protection mode,” which focuses on immediate threats and self-preservation rather than balanced, logical evaluation of their environment. This can lead to impulsive decisions, tunnel vision, and difficulty distinguishing between real and perceived dangers. This condition is especially problematic when the person possessed by fear is a political leader. It is even more problematic when voters are possessed by fear. This may be how it is for half — more or less — of American voters.

Everyone needs to know that fear is an adaptive emotion meant to protect us — not hurt others. Fear tends to activate the more primitive parts of our brains, reducing the influence of the rational, analytical regions and making us more susceptible to emotional and irrational beliefs. However, when obsessive fears drive decisions made by powerful people like Donald Trump and his followers, their decisions can be irrational and harmful to people they should be protecting (including MAGA faithful). Moreover, when he says and does things that raise doubt in his followers, he runs the risk of losing their support. That in itself is not logical. That he would do that confirms the influence of fear on his thinking and behaviors

Why President Trump says and does things that are illogical is often a mystery to his friends and detractors. His mental health and his fears are worth investigating.