The same evolved pleasure in yielding to a protective high‑status partner that powers religious devotion also helps explain historic and modern support for monarchy and charismatic strongmen. Lavish displays and status theater signal guardianship, eliciting gratitude, loyalty, and willingness to obey.
— It reframes authoritarian appeal as a predictable reward mechanism, informing analyses of political branding, leader worship, and coalition durability.
Robin Hanson
2025.08.15
100% relevant
Hanson: 'a similar joy of submission helps explain the great appeal of monarchy... and the incredible amounts spent to make kings look impressive.'
Carl Rollyson
2025.07.29
74% relevant
The article’s claim that Americans yearn for a 'superman' and cast presidents as providential mirrors the mechanism that devotion to a prestigious, protective leader elicits loyalty and obedience—here illustrated by Trump supporters’ 'hand of God' and 'divine intervention' language.
← Back to All Ideas