Changes in Perceptions of George W. Bush's Personality in the Wake of the September 11 2001 World Trade Center Attacks

Using data gathered just before and just after the September 11th terrorist attacks, we examine how perceptions of Bush's personality changed in the following two weeks. Fifty participants provided ratings of Bush using the California Q-sort at various times before (including immediately before) and after the attacks. At each time interjudge agreement was strong. There was general consistency between the pre-and post-attack assessments, but the common view of Bush shifted in several important ways. Consistent with his soaring popularity, the changes were toward more positive perceptions, even for characteristics unrelated to the attacks. Findings are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms driving the changes in perception. These findings, which are based on careful assessments conducted shortly before the emergence of any hint of what was to come, provide a unique perspective on changes in Bush's image as they unfolded in the immediate wake of the terrorist attacks