The success of authority figures?

Question

The success of authority figures in recruiting compliant followers is alarming.

Why is this?

Is it because many people really are not individuals, but personal victims of one or several of the following categories?

o Ignorant

They have a limited comprehension of critical thinking (reading/understanding) skills.

o Emotional

They suffer from an overwhelming emotional paralysis that effectively blinds them.

o Arrogant

They unquestioningly abide by and enforce societal laws and moral standards.

o Apathetic

They possess a lazy indifference as a consequence of a mindless trust in others.

Answer 1

I can't disagree with your categories of growing problems in people at large, particularly Ignorance.  There may be something deeper than the simple authority of these figures that is driving peoples' compliance. Given that research shows that authority is one of the weaker influences on follower commitment, trust, perceptions of expertice and charisma are more likely candidates for the avenue of power of these figures.

  One more category you might include is plain lack of attention. People are so distracted with other things, and the number of other things to be distracted by is growing quickly, so that the likelihood that people are paying attention to the complexities of laws, governance and the changes in their society is decreasing.  I don't believe the scrutiny that politicians face now is anywhere as intense as it was 50 years ago. Yes we have more information, but we may spend half as much time looking at the ten times greater abundance of information we could if we so had the desire.

  Better to play a video game, watch American Idol, or crank out a few answers here on Answers.

I better do something else for a while....

Peace and Best Regards all.

Answer 2

Probably the 'arrogance'... I think people are afraid of consequences more than anything.  People don't challenge the authority because this leads to being outcast, ostracized, or punished.  People rebel in smaller ways, but in front of said authority figure, they probably tend to use tact.