I'm the boss – you're a fool!
The results of a new study by American sociopsychologists appeared recently in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Time magazine correspondent Jeffrey Kluger writes. According to the data obtained, often, without being competent, a person can only behave like a leader in order to become a leader. It is reported that as a result of two experiments, scientists from the University of California, led by Cameron Anderson and Gavin Kilduff, found that the more you talk and offer in a team, regardless of what exactly you say, the more competent and authoritative you seem.
During the first experiment, scientists invited 68 graduates. Having divided them into groups of four, they were given the task to discuss the creation of a non-profit organization for environmental protection. The authors of the best project received $ 400.
After the discussion and summing up, the participants were asked to evaluate their group partners. At the same time, scientists had the opportunity to observe what was happening there, because they had video recordings. It turned out that those who spoke and offered the most were named the most competent. At the same time, those who offered little were described as "ordinary and uncreative personalities."
However, scientists have found that this test does not fully reflect the situation, the author of the article notes. Suddenly the speakers really had something to say? Therefore, a repeated, more quantifiable test was conducted – in mathematics. Before the discussions, the participants privately informed the organizers of their math scores. The collective discussion of the tasks from the exams of previous years showed an amazing thing: often people with relatively low grades acted as leaders, and most of the options they proposed were incorrect. However, once again people of this type were marked as "leaders" by members of their groups.
As the journalist of the publication concludes, perhaps such a phenomenon is a property of the human psyche, and we just want to believe a charismatic leader. However, it is not necessary for an American to conduct scientific experiments to make sure of this – just turn on the news.