"The leaders' charisma is not the only thing that connects leaders to their audiences. The state and mood of the audience is also a factor in this attachment."
When we look at western societies in general, charisma in leaders is not a very attractive feature. In eastern societies, charisma feature is at the forefront in leaders. It is observed that the appeal of charisma leaders varies according to the welfare and cultural levels of the countries. Have you ever thought why this is so?
Working on a psychoanalytic approach to charismatic leadership, theorists turned to audiences who deified, worshiped, and viewed their leaders as superhuman. In addition to the charismatic leaders' ability to influence the audience, they tried to explain the individual identification of the audience with their leaders. They explained the processes of reflection, return to the past and relocation and the identification of the audience with their leaders.
Projection: It is the reflection of feelings that the person does not want and want to others. It is he who relieves himself and tries to purify himself by attributing the things he feels guilty to and cannot accept in his inner world. The leader here creates an enemy for himself and attributes all unwanted feelings to this enemy, using the fear and regret of the audience in his inner world. Identifying with the audience sharing the same feelings, the charisma leader binds the audience to himself.
Back to the Past: The audience identifies their leaders with the events they have experienced in the past. It is to integrate the subconscious feelings and feelings they experienced in their childhood with the leader.
Displacement: The audience's putting their leaders in the shoes of those who were important in their lives. It is the replacement of people who dominate and affect themselves in their subconscious. It is seeing it as a mother, father, etc. Especially those who grew up in the hands of an autocratic and dominant father or in a broken family are likely to see their leaders as parents. It is highly likely that people who have not developed a clear identity and who have experienced an identity crisis will become attached to them when they see a strong charismatic leader with whom they can realize and take an example. Like some young people admire and bond with mafia, gang leaders. Acting with a sense of self-realization in search of identity, the viewer establishes an emotional bond with its leader.
So it's not just the charisma of leaders that binds leaders to their audiences. The state and mood of the audience is also a factor in this attachment.
Is the situation we are in giving birth to a charismatic leader? Are situations made suitable for the birth of a charismatic leader?
Let's get to the subject I mentioned in the first paragraph. Why are charisma leaders alluring in eastern societies (especially Muslim societies). Charisma leaders appear especially in societies where there is chaos, uncertainty, insolvency, poverty and people with low level of science. Because they are seen as saviors. In time, they become worshiped. He begins to be seen as a superhuman being by his audience. Charisma leaders emerge easily in societies that see themselves in low self-confidence, inadequate and inferiority complex. When we look at the event from this perspective; Eastern societies will always need charisma leaders, as societies that have not been able to complete their development and establish an internal-external order. Societies that cannot get rid of the lowest strata of Maslov's hierarchy of needs will always seek for themselves a savior and see those saviors superhuman. Charisma leaders will analyze the feelings and feelings of the audience very well in order not to lose this premium in their hands and try to strengthen the need and commitment to themselves with social engineering. That is, they will try to keep the environment in a state where charisma leaders are needed. If this is the case, charismatic leadership will continue to receive a premium.
As the society develops itself and increases the level of education, it will not make decisions based on charisma or appearance alone. He will also focus on the other characteristics of the leader and will be able to decide with his mind. Leaders' features such as being as they appear to be, being honest, not telling lies, being loyal, knowledgeable and intellectual, being patient and enduring, being able to listen, and empathize will also begin to have value. These features are also at the forefront in new leadership theories. Like authentic leadership, servant leadership.
As a result, societies that have found their own identity, are freed from the inferiority complex, are self-respecting and grounded, will make smarter decisions when evaluating their leaders, whether in their institutions or in politics. They will promote and highlight the right leaders. It will evaluate the leader's internal state as well as his external situation. The reason and the motive to stop waiting for a constant savior and get rid of himself