Presidential Debate Psychology score

Presidential debate: psychologist to assess the candidates' psychological performance

WHAT: Tuesday's presidential debate: psychologist develops scale to rate candidates' psychological performance.

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 3rd, 2000

WHO: The first scheduled presidential debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush
Los Angeles Psychologist Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D., has developed a psychological rating scale to assess the
candidates' psychological performance during the debate. The psychological instrument will assess the following criteria:
nervousness, eye contact, decisiveness, emotional content, voice pitch, passion index, posture and body tension, animation, facial expression, internal hostility, rigidity, verbal and physical congruity, and defensive behavior.

The psychologist believes that in a debate it's not only the content of the information but how it's presented that can sway voters. "The visuals and body language of a candidate can play a crucial role in how people perceive a candidates performance during the debate." After the debate concludes the scores will be added up and the
psychologist will assess who received the highest psychological performance score.

Print and broadcast representatives can telephone Dr. Butterworth after the debate concludes to get his results.
Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D. International Trauma Associates; P.O. Box 76477; Los Angeles, California
Telephone (213) 487-7339 (24 hours) E-Mail: robert@drbutterworth.net FAX: (213) 388-5167

Psychologist Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D., has assisted radio, TV, and print media since 1984 find answers and provide insight to enhance understanding of psychological issues. Dr. Butterworth has conducted extensive surveys focused on children and youth, social, political and trauma issues. His comments, observations and op-ed articles have appeared in most of the major newspapers in the United States and worldwide