Opinion: Don’t blame Anthony Weiner, blame his ‘Type T personality’

There are many possible factors: a need to express power, a love of conquest, perhaps narcissism — all characteristics that may serve a politician well in other arenas. But in my view the factor most responsible for philandering in public officials is a predisposition for risk-taking, which also happens to be an essential quality for politicians. My label for it is the ‘Type T personality,’ with the ‘T’ standing for thrill. Being a Type T doesn’t have to be a problem: Many of America’s great successes and achievements couldn’t have happened without risk-takers. The nation was founded by Type T men who weren’t afraid to rise up against one of the world’s great empires. I believe the United States can be characterized to some extent as a Type T nation, tilting in the risk-taking direction. But Type T individuals may also be prone to negative types of risk-taking, including crime, drug use or sexual encounters that end badly. Risk-takers want to live exciting, interesting, challenging lives. They tend to believe they control their fates. They are often attracted to variety, novelty, intensity and uncertainty. They are often creative, show independence of judgment and tend to have strong sexual drives and high energy.