Sigmund Freud is probably the most influential name in Psychology. He was also physiologist, medical doctor, psychologist and influential thinker of the early twentieth century. Freud noticed that treating his patients for neurosis required having his patients’ trust and respect, and that follow him and surrender to his authority. This got him interested in leadership and followership.
Freud focused on the behavior of individuals when they become members of a group. He began with two groups, the church and the army, stating that both are held together by the illusion of a leader who loves all of the members equally. He thought that the leaders were extremely important, and that when people are in groups, they act differently from individuals because the leaders join them together. He also believed that people “have a strong need for authority which they can admire, to which they can submit, and which dominates and sometimes even ill-treats them.”
Freud discussed his views on how groups of people should be organized. He thought good organization is “when a majority come together which is stronger than any separate individual and which remains united against all separate individuals.” The struggle of a group of people is finding a medium between the leader’s goal and the followers’ goal in which all will be satisfied.
Freud talks about the “great man”. He had similar views to {Plato} in saying that a great man shouldn’t be someone who is just great at one thing. However, he believed that the term “great man” is used too often and for people who have merely “supernatural development of certain human qualities.” At this point in his writing, Freud refers to the idea that all people long for a father figure- an idea he was extremely fascinated with throughout his life. He believed that the “great man” is described by the traits of the heroic father that every person longed for in their childhood and will always long for.
Do you think that most people have the need for an authority figure?
Is it possible to find a “happy” medium between the leader’s wants and those of his followers? (Are all of his followers ever going to be satisfied?)
How does Freud’s view of the “great man” compare with the other authors?
Leadership for Social Change | Saint Louis University 
I do believe that most people have the need for an authority figure. Most people in the world, myself included sometimes, feel the need to have someone tell them what to do and take charge of a situation, especially if they feel uncomfortable or threatened by it or the people around them. If an authority figure is present, then the individual no longer has to worry about being in charge of him/herself and can instead just follow what the authority figure says.
I definitely agree with Alexis on this one. I think a lot of people do not have the ability to take control of their lives and in fact need someone to do it for them. They know they need a purpose in life, but the idea of doing it alone scares them. I personally know someone who was in and out of rehab last year. I remember him telling me that he was going to join the military in order to “get his act together”. He knew that in the military he would have someone watching him and enforcing rules on him constantly. He wasn’t stable enough to do it for himself–he needed authority in order to be successful. Whether or not I think this concept is a good, well I’m not sure. What I do know is for some people an authority figure is a necessity,
I think that most people find it a comfort to have an authority figure. The figure can act as a guide, a boss, or even sometimes a scapegoat. For a lot of people it is difficult to find an authority figure that they can actually get along with or agree with. This is where the happy medium comes in. If the leaders and the followers are able to compromise and come to agreements on most everything, the group will be extremely successful in working towards their goal. The happier the followers, the more effort they put forth and more effort means faster achievement making the leader happy as well.
I agree that a leader is often seen as essential because it allows blame and responsibility to be put on others. However, I believe it’s a leader’s responsibility to balance their own needs and goals with those of their followers. They cannot put their followers into a position where they feel forced to believe certain things to the point that they are too scared to disobey. At the same time, it is a follower’s responsibility to respect a leader but still have their own goals and beliefs. Sometimes it is better to disagree and grow from those differences then be cloned into a certain mind of thinking.
I agree with the previous posts, that the majority of individuals find comfort in an authority figure. because an authority figure claims responsibility. Also, I agree with Freud that individuals act differently in a group that alone. In my opinion, this s attributed to mob mentality. When individuals are in a group, they influence one another to behave in a specific way. In addition, I believe that their is a evolutionary desire for humans to come together and form groups for survival.
In response to your second question, I don’t think all followers will ever be completely satisfied, but logical ones will be able to compromise. It is rare for things to work out perfectly for all parties, but if a “social contract” of some sort can be worked out, it could benefit both the purpose of the leader and the needs of the followers.
I definitely agree with the above responses. I believe that people desire an authority figure in their lives. This person acts as comforter, protector, rule-enforcer, leader, and sometimes, the scapegoat. Some people do not have the ability to take control of their own lives or various situations and need another figure or person who can do that. Often times it is the leader who can act as an authority in his or her followers lives because they are trusted and respected.
I think that people generally do seek direction and authority in their lives. We resist it when we have it, but desperately seek it when we don not. For example, teenagers fight and bicker with their partents on a regular basis, but left to their own devices, like they are in college, they generally turn to idols and organizations to tell them what to do. I believe humans like to believe that they are in control of their lives, but secretly seek out direction from others because that is what we have been taught from young ages.
I do think that most people want an authority figure in their life, whether they realize it or not. I feel that people, in general, want an authority figure who won’t infringe on their freedoms, but give them some direction where needed. I think that people are always looking for someone to look up to, but the admiration fades when they begin to feel il-treated.
I agree with these posts. We all want someone to give us guidance that we can blame when bad things happen. We need structure and order in our lives and if this doesn’t come from a father or even a mother, we look for in other authority figures.
I feel that most people do not necessarily need an authority figure as much as they desire structure. Many times, an authority figure provides the desired structure, which is why people feel comfortable being submissive. People are comfortable with order and structure because having a routine removes a stressful thought from one’s day.
I agree with Nick on this one. For anything to get accomplished in a group there will always be a few followers that end up unsatisfied. For there to be progress, that involves change. When things change there are always particular people that aren’t happy with it. Being a part of the group in the first place was accepting that at some point they might have to sacrifice their own beliefs for the greater good of the group in its entirety.
I agree with Jenny, most people do not want to admit to it, but they want someone as a leader in their life. People often ignore the want for leadership because it is sometimes associated with weakness. However, as we have discussed in class, followers are essential to change. Leaders give followers a sense of direction and organization. If everyone led, a group would get no where. But if no one took charge, there would be just as much chaos. You need a balance of authority and outside ideas to make a movement effective.
I think that all people crave structure at least to some degree, and that for most people will involve some authority figure they can look to for direction. That authority figure could be a parent, teacher, boss, coach, anyone who leads them in things they want to do. Almost everyone has someone they can look to for direction. The problem with having an authority figure is that sometimes your wants with be in conflict with their’s. I believe it is difficult for everyone to be happy when it comes to making decisions for a large group, everyone must be willing to compromise at some point.
As stated above, I think that people need an authority figure in their lives. I have often heard that children need boundaries; but’ i think that this applies to the entire human race. No matter what age we are, humans function better in structured situations. During the school year, my routine is pretty well defined and I often feel more energetic and certainly get a lot more accomplished than what I do in the summer when my day is less structured.
A majority of people have a role model, a status they long to have or someone they greatly admire. It is human nature to want to get better at something – to do your best. Almost everyone has a passion, something they fervently want to achieve or have. Through the processes of obtaining that goal, it is logical to lean on authority figure or to learn from another role model. From the aforementioned reasons above, I believe that people have the need for an authority figure. It is possible to find a “happy” medium between the leader’s wants and those of his followers so long as they share a common goal, purpose, and passion. Without a common vision, the group dynamics will crumble into pieces. There is no need for the group to function together on the same path.
I agree with most of the comments that people do desire some sort of authority figure in life. Not only do authority figures provide some structure to all aspects of life, but they can also be role models for ways that someone would want to live their life. There are conflicts with authority figures, but those conflicts also help you learn about your own personal beliefs versus the beliefs of others and how to carry out those throughout your life. Authority figures do much more than just set boundaries and rules, and I think that’s a big part as to why people need them.
Of course people have a need for authority figures. This is because they have what people want. They have what is desired, and they know of a way to attain it.
People follow authority figures and emulate them because they want or admire their lives.
We admire MLK because he did something great. He was a man, but it seemed like he became a saint. We love him because we admire what he did and we hope to change the world like he did.
I think our political system is run on the system of finding “the medium” between the wants of the leaders and followers. Systems of charismatic leadership are regulated by the wants of the followers so a leader is only as useful as long as his wants align with the will of the people. Therefore, if a leader wants to maintain is position for an extended period of time, he or she must be able to adapt their wants in such a way to satisfy the will of the people without completely sacrificing their own personal convictions.
I agree that most people have a need for an authority figure. I believe that is the whole purpose of a leader. Followers all have goals or ideas, but it takes someone else to unite those with similar goals or ideas and assist them into putting these things into action. The need for an authority figure creates the relationship between leaders and followers.
I think that all people have a need for some type of authority. Even people that seem to want to make their own rules were probably influenced by somebody else at one point or another. In some situations, having a leader brings comfort and security. It also lessens the responsiblity a certain person may have. And when a person feels less responsible, they will also feel less guilty if something goes wrong. And who wants to feel guilty?
I personally do not believe that most people need an authority figure. In my opinion, ALL people need an authority figure. An authority figure is imperative in instilling various qualities, such as discipline, respect, and understanding. Without authority, there is also no compassion that follows and idea of dominance. It is not possible to adapt without authority because these ideas cannot be learned any other way.