----- 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