Kellerman's Bad Leadership and Altruism Study Guide

What are the two main characteristics of bad leadership according to Kellerman?

Unethical and Ineffective

What is unethical leadership?

fails to distinguish between right and wrong

What is ineffective leadership?

fails to produce the desired change

What are the seven types of bad leadership?

Incompetent, rigid, intemperate, callous, corrupt, insular, evil

What characterizes an incompetent leader?

Lacks the skill or will to lead effectively.

How does a rigid leader behave?

Unwilling or unable to adapt to new ideas, information, or changing conditions.

What does it mean for a leader to be intemperate?

Lacks self-control and engages in reckless, harmful behavior, often enabled by followers.

What defines a callous leader?

Uncaring and unkind to followers due to a lack of empathy or concern for others.

What are the traits of a corrupt leader?

Lies, cheats, and steals, motivated by power and greed, putting self-interest ahead of others.

What does it mean for a leader to be insular?

Minimizes the health and welfare of others, focusing only on their own inner circle.

What is the nature of evil leadership?

Commits atrocities and uses pain as an instrument of power, with intent to terrorize and prolong suffering.

What are the three types of followers who support bad leaders?

Bystanders, evildoers, and acolytes

What are bystanders?

- Passive and disengaged: They observe what's happening but choose not to get involved.

- Often remain silent or indifferent even when they witness unethical behavior.

What are evildoers?

- Actively assist the bad leader in carrying out unethical or harmful actions.

- Often benefit from the wrongdoing or are ideologically aligned with the leader's goals.

What are acolytes?

- True believers who are deeply devoted to the leader and their vision.

- Actively and willingly support the leader — not necessarily through evil acts, but through loyalty and enthusiasm.

Why do individuals follow bad leaders?

Due to individual needs (safety, certainty, simplicity) and group needs (maintaining order, cohesion, identity).

What barriers might prevent followers from leaving bad leaders?

Psychological, existential, financial, political, or social barriers.

What is Hitler's ghost?

if we pretend bad leadership is unrelated to good leadership, we will distort the field

What is altruism?

Acts carried out voluntarily by individuals without concern for themselves and without expectation of reward.

What are the types of altruism?

Nepotistic altruism, reciprocal altruism, group-based altruism, moral altruism

What is Nepotistic altruism?

based on family. Typical between parents/children. Self-sacrificing to care for wellbeing of children

What is reciprocal altruism?

give and take relationship

What is group-based altruism?

When one sacrifices themselves for the good of the group

What is moral altruism?

Entails sacrifice for others mediated via the individual justification system

What is the Social Intuitionist Model?

- Moral decision making is the product of intuition, not reason

- We decide first, then justify our choice

- Moral dumbfounding: we can't explain our strong opinions

- Social norms shape our moral determinations

What is the hedonistic paradox in altruism?

Altruistic actions, although directed towards others, satisfy some needs of the actor, questioning the existence of 'pure' altruism.

What are the types of egotism described in the hedonistic paradox?

Hedonistic Egotism, Apathetic Egotism, Vindictive/Self-Destructive Egotism, Utilitarian/Mutual Altruism: helping self and others. 5. Genuine/Moral Altruism: helping others at the expense of self.

What is hedonistic egotism (part of hedonistic paradox)?

helping self, harming others (thieves)

What is apathetic egotism (part of hedonistic paradox)?

helping self, no concern for others (priest and Levite)

What is vindictive/self-destructive egotsim (part of hedonistic paradox)?

harming self and others "take you down with me"

What is Utilitarian/Mutual Altruism (part of hedonistic paradox)?

helping self and others (innkeeper)

What is Genuine/Moral Altruism (part of hedonistic paradox)?

helping others at expense/harm of self (Samaritan)

How does prosocial behavior differ from altruism?

Prosocial behavior is a broader category of helping behavior that does not stress personal motives, while altruism involves a clear sacrifice.

What is the definition of intentions in the context of altruism?

Dispositional intent to help others, involving sacrifice of one's own welfare for the benefit of others without seeking external rewards.

What is the definition of actions in the context of altruism?

behavior and its consequences without any reference to one's dispositional intentions (difficult to identify disposition)

What is moral courage?

The willingness to stand up for what is right, ethical, or just, even at the risk of one's reputation, social standing, or career, motivated by concern for others or ethical principles.

What is physical courage?

The ability to face physical danger or harm in order to help others, demonstrated through acts where someone risks injury or death for another's well-being.

What genetic factor is associated with altruism?

Altruists have a larger right amygdala, while psychopaths have a smaller, less active amygdala.

What are some examples of extreme altruism?

Desire to take action in kidney donations, major surgeries, anonymous donations, and actions taken without payment.

What does ethical egoism?

A person should always act to improve his or her own self-interest, but not at the cost of others.

What is the descriptive position in ethics?

The view that psychologically, people do or can only act in their self-interest, known as psychological egoism.

What is the normative position in ethics?

The view that one ought to act only in his or her self-interest, known as ethical egoism, which does not claim to explain motivations.

What is the result of leaders who use ethical egoism?

- It may cause a leader to undervalue the interests of others (many of whom are the followers they are in the position to support!)

- Lack of care for the institution, if a leader's term is short

What is the ethic of care?

An ethical perspective that focuses on morality in personal relationships, emphasizing the importance of care and empathy.

Who developed feminist ethics and what was its main argument?

Carol Gilligan developed feminist ethics in the 1980s, arguing that women's emotional focus on relationships is equally valuable and not a sign of lesser ethics.

What are the major concepts of benevolence and beneficence in Gilligan's ethics?

Benevolence refers to kindness and well-being, while beneficence involves acting to do the most good, both emphasizing kindness and care.

What is exceptional beneficence?

Behavior linked to Aristotelian ideas of moral excellence, focusing on actions aimed at benefiting others.

How does Gilligan suggest men and women can engage in ethical decision-making?

By putting themselves in another's shoes and acting on feelings of empathy.

What is charismatic leadership?

A special personality characteristic that gives a person superhuman or exceptional powers and is reserved for a few, is of divine origin, and results in the person being treated as a leader.

What is the core focus of Gilligan's ethical perspective?

The core focus is on kindness and care, highlighting how women deal with moral dilemmas differently from men.

What is charisma in the context of leadership?

Charisma occurs during a social crisis when a leader emerges with a radical vision that offers a solution, attracting followers who believe in that vision.

What are the three stages of Conger's model of charismatic leadership?

1. Understanding the environment and targeting followers without hope. 2. Establishing a vision that connects followers and differentiates the leader. 3. Aligning followers through trust and shared success.

What is the 'awestruck effect' in leadership?

The psychological and emotional response followers have when encountering a leader they perceive as extraordinary, leading to idealization or blind admiration.

What are the key components of the Conger-Kanungo Model?

1. Evaluating the current situation, including resources and follower needs. 2. Formulating goals. 3. Developing methods to achieve those goals.

According to Klein's theory, what is charisma?

Charisma is a fire that ignites follower's energy, commitment, and performance

According to Klein's theory, what are the three elements that create charisma?

1. A spark: a leader with charismatic qualities. 2. Flammable material: followers open to charisma. 3. Oxygen: an environment conducive to charisma.

What is dark side/habituated followership?

A state where followers are in awe of their leaders, leading to blind trust and reluctance to criticize, which can result in serious failures.

What defines toxic leadership?

A leadership approach that harms people, where toxic leaders prioritize control over the well-being of others.

What are toxic followers?

Followers who knowingly commit themselves to bad leaders, often remaining due to high barriers to escape, such as psychological or financial constraints.

What is the 'toxic triangle' in leadership?

The interplay between destructive leaders, susceptible followers, and a conducive environment that allows toxic leadership to thrive.

What does the Dark Triad consist of?

Three personality disorders: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.

How does a narcissistic leader behave?

They focus primarily on their own needs and may exhibit pathological tendencies.

What characterizes Machiavellian leaders?

They manipulate, deceive, and exploit others to achieve their goals.

What traits are associated with psychopathy in leadership?

Callousness, cynicism, aggressiveness, and episodes of anger directed at subordinates.

What is lust according to Kellerman?

A psychological drive that produces intense wanting, even desperately needing to obtain an object or to secure a circumstance. When the object has been obtained, there is relief, but only temporarily because of the drive to want more.

What is Kellerman's concept of 'lust for power'?

A psychological drive that produces intense wanting for power, often leading to temporary relief but a continuous desire for more.

- Power can lead to corruption

What are the two types of power described in the notes?

Power as influence and Power as autonomy

What involves power as influence?

- Appetite for power grows with eating

- It is unending

- People who tend to be autocratic tend also to be narcissistic

- Regular bring in new followers over whom they can exert power

What involves power as autonomy?

- Enhances our feelings of authenticity and self-fulfillment

- This is a quenchable power- can be satisfied

- Has the virtue of being finite

- When the quest for power as autonomy is satisfied, so typically is the appetite for power

What is pathocracy?

A government made up of individuals with dark triad personalities, where moral leaders quickly fall away once dark triad leaders gain power.