Followers’ expectations script and constrain would-be charismatic leaders

Evidence

Scott observes: “It is the cultural and social expectations of followers that exercise a controlling or at least limiting influence over the would-be charismatic figure. .. . The role of heroine in this case is to a large extent scripted in advance offstage by all members of the subordinate group, and the individual who fills that role is that one who somehow—through anger, courage, a sense of responsibility, or indignation—summons the wherewithal to speak on behalf of others to power.” — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 1694

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s broader work on ‘politics of respectability’ — the scripted heroine relation shows how a subordinate group polices its own spokespeople as they present to power. — connects to: No stable traits distinguish leaders from followers or predict effectiveness — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 27; Charisma is conferred on leaders by followers rather than held as a trait — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 33; Leader appeal theories fall into traits, situation-matching, and follower-matching accounts — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1289
• DEFINE: Clarifies that charismatic leadership is relationally constituted, not a purely individual attribute.

Broader Connections

• Charisma is conferred on leaders by followers rather than held as a trait #expands (0.92) — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 33
• Leader appeal theories fall into traits, situation-matching, and follower-matching accounts #exemplifies (0.72) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1289