That is the result of an on-line UT Nieuws poll, conducted by Newcom Research & Consultancy on 130 employees and 323 students. Last week, UT's Department of Behavioral Studies started a countrywide survey of 700 Dutchmen on the phenomenon of charisma. It allows the interviewees to evaluate the charismatic properties of 50 Dutch celebrities. The results should tell us more about the factors that determine whether someone is considered appealing.
The limited survey conducted at the UT two weeks ago named Princess Maxima as most charismatic. The students graded the princess 7.4, the employees gave her a 7.0. Ex-soccer player Johan Cruijff placed a solid second at 7.0 and 6.9 respectively. Wouter Bos earned 6.8 and. 6.7. Frans Bauer claimed fourth place with mediocre marks: 5.5 and 5.9. Students and employees alike find fifth place Patty Brard's substandard, rating her 3.6 and 4.2. Placing last is Prime Minister Balkenende, whom the students rated at 4.0 while employees rated his charisma a full point less at 3.0.
Regarding the personality characteristics of the six charisma candidates, the UT participants award Maxima the highest ratings on `sympathy,' `attractiveness,' `courage' and `reliability.' Her intelligence is considered as high as that of Wouter Bos. Johan Cruijff is considered by the UT population to be, above all, confident, interesting, inspiring and convincing. Frans Bauer wins in the category of `sincerity.' Asked which of the six Dutch celebrities they most identify with, most participants responded first with Wouter Bos, and second with Maxima.
It remains to be seen how the UT participants' responses compare with those of the national survey-takers.
