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Creating psychological sketches, portraits and profiles of politicians:
history of the profession

Samoilenko S.A.,

George Mason University, Fairfax, USA, ssamoyle@gmu.edu

Article received: 2025.11.14 21:46. Accepted: 2026.03.04 21:46


DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2026.03.13
EDN: APGVNS

Rubric: Reflecting on matters in print

For citation:

Samoilenko S.A. Creating psychological sketches, portraits and profiles of politicians: history of the profession. – Polis. Political Studies. 2026. No. 3. https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2026.03.13. EDN: APGVNS (In Russ.)

Abstract

This review examines the monograph by Ekaterina Egorova-Gantman and Elizaveta Egorova, titled “Modus operandi of politicians: the history of psychological sketch, portrait, and profile” (Moscow: Niccolò M Agency for Strategic Communications; Griffon Publishing House, 2025). The book discusses the author’s interpretation of the history of personality modeling of political leaders, encompassing three categories: a psychological sketch of a politician’s personality, crafted by an individual acquainted with the politician but lacking formal psychological training; a professional psychological portrait of a politician’s personality; and a professional psychological profile of a foreign leader, commissioned by government agencies. This book also provides a detailed analysis of the methodologies employed by notable psychologists and psychiatrists in psychological portraiture and profiling, research techniques, and the personality theories that inform personality modeling. The article discusses the evolution of psychological modeling of politicians’ personalities, the typology of models, and the challenges facing contemporary political psychologists—academic scientists and practitioners who create portraits and profiles of leaders.

Keywords

political psychology, psychological sketch, psychological portrait, psychological profile, political leader, personality theories.

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