A special gift we bestow on you for being representative of us: Considering leader charisma from a self-categorization perspective.
Two experiments tested hypotheses, derived from social identity and self-categorization theories, regarding the attribution of charisma to leaders. In Experiment 1 (N=203), in-group prototypical leaders were attributed greater levels of charisma and were perceived to be more persuasive than in-group non-prototypical leaders. In Experiment 2 (N=220), leaders described with in-group stereotypical characteristics were attributed relatively high levels of charisma regardless of their group-oriented versus exchange rhetoric. Leaders described with out-group stereotypical characteristics, however, had to employ group-oriented rhetoric to be attributed relatively high levels of charisma. We conclude that leadership emerges from being representative of 'us'; charisma may, indeed, be a special gift, but it is one bestowed on group members by group members for being representative of, rather than distinct from, the group itself.
Platow
Michael J
MJ
School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. michael.platow@anu.edu.au
van Knippenberg
Daan
D
Haslam
S Alexander
SA
van Knippenberg
Barbara
B
Spears
Russell
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D013240:Stereotyping