question for sociologists

Ian Murray seamus2001 at attbi.com
Wed Feb 5 09:08:11 PST 2003


----- Original Message ----- From: "Wojtek Sokolowski" <sokol at jhu.edu>

> A question for any sociologists that might be on the list.

> You can reply off-list if you'd like.

> Do you know of a social theory that identifies the tendency

> of subordinates to tell their superiors what they - the

> superiors, that is - want to hear? (As opposed to telling

> them the truth.)

> I once saw this referred to as "the leader and his

> echo,"sreferring to subordinates who shield the leader from

> factual information for fear of recrimination. Surely this

> has another name. (viz. Peter Principle, etc.)

> Thanks!

> Brian

=====================

See the work of Irving Janis [applied his work on groupthink to the 1st space shuttle disaster]; Solomon Asch: http://www.psych.upenn.edu/sacsec/about/solomon.htm ; and Bob Altemayer's "The Authoritarian Specter."

Ian



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