Why Do People Follow Tyrants?

History repeats itself, because of human nature.

Posted Feb 02, 2017

Time and time again in history, and today even everywhere in workplaces and beyond, it seems that a
certain personality type keeps cropping up in positions of power: the tyrant. They are strikingly similar:
charismatic, charming, but also calculating and cruel. They tend to have a blend of narcissistic and
antisocial personality disorder traits such as lack of empathy, grandiosity, thirst for power and control,
lying and deceit, indifference to conventional laws or rules or morality, and more. The noted
psychoanalyst Otto Kernberg and others often coined this type the “malignant narcissist.”

But while people often discuss the history of malignant behavior and records of sadism and the horrific
aftermath of these tyrants, what is discussed less often is that these leaders do not and cannot rise in a
vacuum; they come to power on the backs of the masses they ultimately disdain and discard at will. It’s
the people who follow these bully dictator types that we need to examine and reflect on as well; why
do people worship and enable these leaders? What is it in human nature that makes us vulnerable to
this repeated cycle of cruelty and danger?

Here I focus on some of voluntary reasons people follow tyrants, although clearly these types also
excel at abuse and involuntary manipulation and coercion of people to their own ends, such as
blackmail, outright threats, gaslighting, leverage and control through associated friends and family
members, and more. But with surprising ease, people also can easily worship and follow tyrants
willingly.

1. Need/craving for strong parental figures

One fundamental concern in human nature, that draws them to the idea of a higher authority or power,
is the need for an idealized parental figure. Partly because while growing up, parents loom large as the
overseers of your consciousness, or conversely can devastate you with their absence or cruelty. They
are the basis for your survival during childhood; and even moreso maybe when things go awry with
flawed parents or parental figures, for many, the craving for the support of a strong, perfect-seeming,
powerful “parent” only increases. Unfortunately, this thirst for such a figure can obscure one to the
truth that no such perfect figure exists; and a tyrannical leader can easily exploit and thrive off of this
unquestioning worship.

2. Assuming the best in others/faith/naïve idealism

Sometimes, unfortunately, it’s our good will and faith in human kindness that can doom us to
manipulation. In a healthy society, mutual trust is a cornerstone of community strength, in exchange for
abiding by general moral rules of community support. But sometimes that leaves us vulnerable to those
who don’t play by the same rules we do. We assume that any human being will appreciate or exchange
the same social contract of mutual respect and generosity and empathy and fairness that most of us try
to strive for. But sadly, we underestimate the machinations of sociopaths who mimic and use this
generosity while at their core, having no concern for others. We assume the best of each other, which
works in many cases, but is also an Achilles heel to the cold exploitativeness of sociopathic behavior.
Complicating matters is that such behavior occurs on a spectrum; clear and obvious “rulebreakers” like
serial killers are one thing, but what about those who still abide by certain social graces on the surface,
while at their core just pursuing their self-interest to varying degrees? Where do we draw the line
between paranoid mistrust and oblivious naiveté? This grey zone of trust is where sociopaths thrive.
3. Wish fulfillment/admiration of transgressive behavior, confidence

On some level, maybe we ourselves admire or envy the shark, even if we feel held back in our own
lives for whatever reason from eating prey. Whether you are a secret shark yourself lying in wait,
seeing where you can bend the rules one day, or whether you envy what they win for themselves: the
confidence, the power, the money, because you feel those are impossible goals for yourself, maybe you
identify with and admire predatory behavior on some level. Maybe on some level, you admire the dark
side that you suppress within yourself, or feel you couldn’t pursue due to other constraints in your life,
and you enjoy the apparent freedom with which those individuals break rules and achieve glory.

4. Drawn to superficial markers (money, looks, status)

Humans are sadly status-oriented creatures, partly due to evolutionary behavior. The animal with the
brightest plumage, who beats their chest the loudest, who appear with certain desirable physical
attributes, who present themselves as special or unusual gets more mating attention. Even babies and
children are drawn to certain faces perceived as “attractive.” And particularly in our modern capitalist
society, we are obsessed with markers of material superficial success: the clothes, the car, the name-
brand degrees, the managerial titles, the fame and glamour, and more. On some level, we all fall for the
simple gambit of admiring these markers, whatever they may be. Unfortunately, these markers usually
have no correlation to morality or kindness or depth of human character. They are badges of
entitlement for show, and we can’t help giving them credit.

5. Feeling weak/uncertain in our own lives

article continues after advertisement

When people feel a lack of control in their own lives, they turn to fantasy figures or escapist outlets to
regain a sense of power and ego strength. Sometimes they turn to religion and its all-powerful idealized
figures, but more often, they turn to figureheads in their lives, be it celebrities, idols, and people who
possess charisma and strength. These charismatic types are masters of outward confidence, self-
assuredness, which is reassuring and infectious for those who feel unsteady or insecure in themselves.
When your relationships and/or economic situation and/or your own happiness appear to be breaking
down, it’s the allure of the person who seems to have it all together that draws you in and makes you
hope for the same, even if it’s a phony promise.

6. Cowardice/passivity/false safety/survival

Some people would rather stay in the seeming safety of the sidelines, and let someone else run the
show, perhaps due to fear of responsibility, or fear of retribution. This passivity can work to some
extent in terms of hiding from initial attention or conflict, but it can be a dangerous way to enable
tyrants to proceed unchecked. It also allows a person to stay in a child role of sorts, and avoid
ownership of their own problems as they let someone else take over. It’s a form of evasion that gives
the tyrant more power, since no one is willing to confront or stop their transgression.

7. Power/popularity cliques/alignment with the ‘in’ crowd

There is a great appeal to aligning with others who also fall in line, who are in sync with the group in
charge. From grade school onward, peer pressure is massive, to avoid being the “nerd” or “oddball”
who doesn’t look smooth or confident. To some extent, this social pattern doesn’t change, even in adult
society, although thankfully the range of acceptable confidence and avenues for self-fulfillment are
much more diverse. Unfortunately, certain career or social tracks remain narrowly defined, and the
ones who align the best with the designated “norms” achieve more power and followers. Those
followers enjoy basking in the glow of the successful leader’s approval and clique acceptance, even
when the leader’s whims turn malicious or rely on putting others down.

article continues after advertisement

8. Lack of critical thought/logic/education

It’s easier to be exploited by a confident tyrant when you don’t doubt or examine their statements or
motivations with a critical eye. Unfortunately, many people seem fine with going along with the status
quo, unwilling to stay informed or read about issues of importance or question items that don’t make
logical sense. They also don’t seem as skeptical or worried about too much power concentrated in the
hands of any single individual, and what that can lead to. Or conversely, they are too cognitively rigid
or overgeneralizing, leading to scapegoating and prejudice, which can easily be exploited.

Overall, there are understandably human tendencies, our foibles and insecurities and aspirations, that
draw us to the boldness of the tyrant, but also leave us vulnerable to their ruthlessness, indifference,
and exploitation. We need to maintain a healthy skepticism for any person who acts too good to be
true, who never seems to doubt themselves, because ultimately, it’s normal to be flawed and unsure
about life sometimes, to push forward through mistakes and confusion, and to forgive those who are
still growing, changing. Overconfidence can be alluring but is ultimately a tactic, even a dangerous
one. We cannot heedlessly follow tyrants.

Jean Kim, M.D. is a psychiatrist and writer working in Washington, DC.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/culture-shrink/201702/why-do-
people-follow-tyrants