An especially unsuitable trait for a leader
Posted: October 21, 2008 Filed under: Behavioral effects of stress, Leadership issues, Optimizing company performance, Uncategorized | Tags: leadership, stress, stress-sensitivity, stress-tolerance, stressful behavior Leave a comment »A certain personality pattern makes a person especially unsuitable, if not dangerous in top political positions. It is called “The Authoritarian Personality Type” (described by Adorno et al 1950).
A key factor is a more or less constant state of concious or subconscious anxiety. This anxiety is so uncomfortable that the person consciously and subconsciouly does everything possible to reduce it. We have mentioned the use of defense mechnisms (see “Stress and mind”) that makes the person subconsciously distort, belittle or ignore anxiety-provoking impressions.
To reduce anxiety there is also a strong need to increase the sense of security by seeking predictability in the life situation.
A most problematic predictability-increasing-strategy is Control-demanding behavior. This may cause a strong greed for power, because “being on top” increases the sense of security. The strong drive for control also brings about a craving for complete submission in subordinates. From this follows a tendency to favor authoritarian power-ideologies as a justification for ones own urge for power.
Some other expressions of predictability seeking behavior are (all need not be obvious):
- Resistance to unfamiliar or unconventional ideas.
- Strong allegiance to conventional norms.
- Tendency to be prejudiced.
- Intolerance to dissent among subordinates.
- Intolerance and aggression against unfamiliar behavior.
- “Either-or”- mentality.
- Preference for authoritarian beliefs and ideologies or extreme religious creeds.
- Suspiciousness (paranoia in the worst case).
- Preference for violence.
It is obvious that the authoritarian personality type is especially unsuitable as a president as well for any other leading position for several reasons.
For more about the authoritarian type, see the article “An especially problematic disturbance“.
References:
Adorno, T. W., Frenkel-Brunswik, E., Levinson, D. J., & Sanford, R. N. (1950). The authoritarian personality. New York: Harper and Row (pp. 228).
