Article 3b: The Sources Of Leader Violence: A comparison of ideological and non-ideological leaders (Mumford et al., 2007)

Question 1

Design of the study

Answer 1

This study analysed 80 historically notable leaders (violent and non-violent) and looked at factors that might predispose leaders to violence (individual, organisational and environmental factors).

Question 2

Different types of leaders

Answer 2

Prominent leaders, of any type, emerge in response to a crisis:
- Ideological leaders: respond trough crisis by creating a vision of the future that is based on shared social values.
- Charismatic leaders: attempt to resolve the crisis through creating a vision of a positive image of the future that will induce collection action.
- Pragmatic leaders: apply a sense-making strategy based on analysis and manipulation of the thing that caused the current problem.

Question 3

Ideological leaders differ from charismatic leaders in terms of:

Answer 3

• Just-world commitment
• Ideological extremism
• Oppositional bonding
• Impositions of interpretive structures
• Value-based control
• Social disruption

Question 4

Main results

Answer 4

Attributes of ideological leaders (extremism, righteousness etc.) influence the amount of violence and the occurrence of violence (for institutional and cultural violence).

Question 5

Why ideological leaders contribute to more violence

Answer 5

• Leader extremism: ideological leaders tend to exhibit more extreme views than non-ideological leaders.
• Group righteousness: ideological groups often have a strong sense of righteousness, which can justify violence.
• Organisational indoctrination: ideological groups are more likely to indoctrinate their members, reinforcing the group’s beliefs and justifying violence.
• Environmental conflict and disruption: ideological leaders are more likely to emerge in an environment with conflict and disruption, which can contribute to violence.

Question 6

Selective information processing (of violent leaders)

Answer 6

Violent leaders often exhibit biassed, self-serving appraisal, projecting negative intentions onto others. This mechanism includes traits like entitlement, low openness and information distrust.

Question 7

Things that promote violence

Answer 7

• Group insularity: isolated groups tend to be more vulnerable to violent leaders and more willing to act under their leadership.
• Institutional sanctioning: organisational approval of violence encourages destructive behaviour.
• Environmental corruption: corrupt environments foster violent leaders.