By Sigurd Arild, Eva Gregersen, and Ryan Smith
This series of articles analyzes the characters from ‘Star Wars’ (original trilogy only) on the basis of the Big Five system of personality which is the most widely used personality test in social science and which has sometimes been referred to as “the only truly scientific personality test.” Compared to Jungian typology, the Big Five is more empirical and ‘external,’ positing a straightforward relationship between personality and observed behavior, which makes it easier to achieve consensus.
High Openness
“I have foreseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you and then you will bring him before me.” While open individuals tend to have a heightened awareness of their own feelings, as well as those of others, non-open individuals tend to be less reflective when it comes to pondering the motivations and internal states of themselves and others. In Palpatine’s case, he had accurately foreseen how Luke Skywalker’s concern for his friends would prompt his surrender to the Empire, and how his feelings of compassion and care could be turned on their head to form hatred and aggression. Another facet of Openness is the inclination to be fascinated with novel ideas and to enjoy playing around with the possibilities they afford. In Empire, Palpatine demonstrates high Openness when Vader presents him with the unexpected possibility of turning Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side instead of destroying him. Upon hearing Vader’s suggestion, Palpatine immediately enters into entertaining the possibility instead of dismissing it (“Yes. He would be a great asset. Can it be done?”). However, though Palpatine certainly had high Openness, his scores on this trait are not extreme, since open individuals also tend to enjoy ethnic and cultural diversity (whereas Palpatine’s rule privileged humans), and because open individuals tend to be in favor of political pluralism and tolerance (whereas Palpatine sought to rule the galaxy with an iron fist).
Very High Conscientiousness
“Patience, my friend. In time, he will seek you out…” Studies of Conscientiousness have repeatedly shown that while low-Conscientiousness individuals tend to seek gratification right away, high-Conscientiousness individuals are more inclined to be patient and to postpone gratification in order to optimize their lot for the long run. Far from chasing after short-term goals, Palpatine concocts elaborate, long-term plans with a clear orientation towards the future without thinking much of the now. Another facet of Conscientiousness is the predilection to strive for achievement, meaning that high-Conscientiousness individuals tend to experience a strong drive to attain success, whereas people low in Conscientiousness are more likely to be content, being “simply as they are,” and without the accolades of achievement gracing their lives. In Palpatine’s case, he has a strong sense of direction, and an even higher sense of ambition. Indeed, he will stop at nothing to achieve his grandiose goal of ruling the galaxy as his personal fiefdom. All in all, there is little in Palpatine’s personality to suggest anything but a very high score on Conscientiousness.
Low Extroversion
Luke: “Your overconfidence is your weakness.” / Palpatine: “Your faith in your friends is yours!” While research into the Big Five has shown that successful politicians typically score high on Extroversion, Palpatine does not fit that mold. Though Palpatine was supreme ruler of the galaxy, he was not a glad-handing “meeting and greeting” type of leader, but preferred to mull matters over in the peace and quiet of his own head. He did not appear to have many social attachments, viewing even Vader as expendable, and indeed, Vader and Luke as interchangeable in spite of Vader’s many years of apprenticeship and service. Nor did Palpatine appear to enjoy the presence of his other companions, as he barely uttered a word to his advisers, or anyone else in Return of the Jedi, for that matter. Finally, Palpatine also became visibly irritated when Vader interrupted his solitary contemplations on the nature of the Force (“I told you to remain on the command ship!”), all of which suggests that his Extroversion was well below average.
Very Low Agreeableness
“Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.” Whereas Agreeable individuals tend to be accommodating and to assume that others are essentially honest and trustworthy, individuals who are lower in Agreeableness are often more scheming and tend to be less concerned with the well-being of others. They are also more like to manipulate and exploit others, and to use them as means to achieve their own ends (that is, as pawns in their own game). As Palpatine’s actions make clear, his outlook is almost entirely attuned towards an agenda of Machiavellian unscrupulousness, crafting elaborate deceptions to mislead and double-cross both the Rebellion and Darth Vader alike. He is unconcerned with the welfare of others and indeed genocidal, having condoned the destruction of Alderaan with the aim of subjugating imperial systems and making his subjects fall in line. In Jedi, Palpatine also appears to sadistically revel in the suffering and despair of Luke Skywalker witnessing the imminent destruction of his friends, as well as the downfall and physical pain of his old apprentice, Darth Vader. Overall, Palpatine’s conduct attests to a highly disagreeable individual who is unconcerned with the well-being of others and who is likely to favor coercion over cooperation when given the choice.
Above Average Neuroticism
“So be it… Jedi. If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed!” While Palpatine displayed several of the features of high Neuroticism, such as hatred, hostility, and anger, he did not appear overly troubled by such neurotic facets as anxiety and depression, having seemingly made his peace with his negative emotionality and lingering “in the eye of the storm.” However, while Palpatine’s calm in the midst of intense hatred deducts from his overall Neuroticism score, another watchword of Neuroticism is immoderation, since the instability of neurotic individuals makes them prone to overindulging their whims and often lends a tinge of self-destructiveness to their character. In the Battle of Endor, Palpatine’s plan to let the Rebel Alliance know the location of the new Death Star, and to risk not just the exorbitant battle station, but also his own life, along with the life of Darth Vader and much of the high-ranking military personnel of the Empire in a single pitched battle, can surely be said to have given way to excess.
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The idea of intermixing Star Wars and the Big Five was first conceived by the website Outofservice.com, to which this series of articles pays homage.