Outsiders’ fearful fantasies can generate real organizational reality.

Evidence

It is conceivable that originally the trademark may have been confirmed or even created by outsiders’ perception of a dangerous entity called the mafia. But, as I have demonstrated, fantasies can generate reality in this as in other businesses. — Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Business of…, 406

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes the reader’s Own readings on how reputation and perception make institutions real (cf. social capital formation and the ‘fantasies generate reality’ mechanism).