Dynamics of Leader Identification
During the process of identifying oneself with a leader, two complementary forces are at work. On one hand, internal psychological impulses—such as a person’s desire to feel belonging and harmony with the majority—push the individual to follow group behavior models. Freud noted that “group members tend to follow their leader and even identify with him,” and when a person succumbs to the influence of collective action, his behavior shifts toward conformity. This suggests that the inner desire to conform to widely accepted norms can lead to a shift in individual values toward identification with the leader (source: link txt).On the other hand, external group pressure intensifies this process through strict control of group members’ actions. Group norms can be enforced so rigidly that any deviation is seen as a threat to cohesion. The manipulation of opinions and behavior, the monitoring of actions, and the exclusion of those who express doubts or alternative views all contribute to not only the acceptance of established norms, but even to perceiving the leader as the embodiment of the group’s values. Thus, external pressure reinforces the internal motivation to conform, making identification with the leader almost inevitable (source: link txt).These processes are further supported by the natural human tendency to form groups, wherein a person feels more confident and secure within the structure of an organized group, with the leader serving as a central figure. This dynamic demonstrates how external social mechanisms and internal psychological needs mutually reinforce the process of identification with the leader, forming a stable and emotionally charged bond between the leader and the followers (source: link txt).Supporting citation(s):"Also, Sigmund Freud wrote that the evolution of crowds is based on the drive for people to act as others do in order to 'be in harmony with the majority.' In his work 'Crowd Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego,' he noted that group members tend to follow their leader and even identify with him. When a person succumbs to the influence of collective action and begins to behave in a way he would not when alone, he exhibits group conformity. As a result of actual or imagined group pressure, his behavior or beliefs change." (source: link txt)"In order to maintain trust among group members and their mutual goodwill, it is necessary to manipulate their actions and opinions and to expel or scapegoat rebels. The actions of group members are carefully monitored by designated, either overt or covert, observers. Group members conform to the group norms, silently fearing the deterioration of their emotional state and the onset of depression that is associated with doubts about the veracity of group values. In fact, the foundation of group cohesion is the emotional aspect within the system of interpersonal group relations. Information from the external world is falsified and edited, and its presentation is strictly regulated to smooth over any discrepancies between the group’s views and those of society at large. To prevent destabilization and secure the loyalty of its members, the group may adhere to views that not only disregard reality but also contradict most public norms." (source: link txt)"The tendency to form groups is perhaps the primary individual psychological basis that motivates a person to remain in an organization and become an active participant. The processes of grouping have been thoroughly studied and detailed in all textbooks on social psychology, as well as in literature on group psychotherapy..." (source: link txt)