Understanding
Primates – and Donald Trump (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
"Based
on scientific criteria, bully Trump is not a natural leader. How then can we
explain his popularity? To understand it, we need to go way back into our
evolutionary history as primates. Monkeys live in groups with a clear
hierarchical structure, whereby one dominant male, the alpha, is boss. The alpha-male
decides who can eat, who can interact and who is allowed to pick his fleas. Intimidation
and bullying is part of his daily repertoire. ... Trump fulfils the need of many Republican
voters for a powerful, authoritarian leader. Clever as he is, he also chooses
his opponents carefully. In particular, Trump is looking for a fight with
groups the average American hates, such as Capitol Hill politicians, assertive
journalists, the Mexican government and the CEOs of
companies listed on the stock market."
Mark van Vugt
is Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the VU University Amsterdam and a scholar
on leadership. He writes that to understand the popularity of Donald Trump,
one must look at our evolutionary history as primates.
Nowhere are the cultural differences
between Europe and the United States more visible than in leadership elections.
While Europeans prefer authentic leaders like a Merkel or Jeremy Corbyn, the
average American voter prefers a leader highly proficient at show business. In
the tradition of Hollywood stars like Reagan and Schwarzenegger, businessman
and television personality Donald Trump is making a bid to be president of the
United States. How does "The Donald" measure up on the yardstick of
leadership? What explains his popularity - and can he win the White House?
In the language of science, leadership
refers to the influence one person has on another to achieve a common objective.
Does Trump have leadership qualities? It's difficult to answer the question without
access to the man himself or his psychological test scores. Based on his media appearances in debates and interviews, Trump shares at
least one characteristic of leadership with some former U.S. presidents such as
John F. Kennedy or Bill Clinton, and that is narcissism.
Narcissistic leaders are distinguished from the rest by an
overriding desire for status and power. They want to be adored, think they are
always right and want show everyone how successful they are. Narcissistic
leaders cannot be kept from the limelight. One question scientists often ask
leaders to measure their narcissism is: "Do you want to be admired by
others?" Narcissistic leaders enjoy attention the same way you and I enjoy
a glass of wine - and they have an above average interest in the opposite sex. Research
shows that this can lead them to couple their dominant positions to a
licentious sex life. Trump's preference for young models and the organization
of the Miss Universe contest is significant.
Bully
But Trump also has something that distinguishes
him from other leaders that, according to textbooks, would immediately
disqualify him from a political career. He's a narcissistic bully. He seeks to
achieve his goals not by convincing others - but by intimidating them. He
insults Mexican immigrants by depicting them as criminals and rapists. He
refers to women as "fat pigs" or "sluts." He bullies his
political rivals. In the Republican debates he belittles his opponents by
dismissing them as idlers. He calls Obama a "failure" and a "bad
leader" and demands on television that he make his birth certificate
public. His attempt at intimidation succeeded. The White House published the
birth certificate which, to Trump's disappointment, showed that Obama was indeed
born in the United States - in Hawaii - and is therefore permitted to be American
president. He blackens the reputations of former business partners and treats
employees of his companies with contempt.
So based on scientific criteria, bully
Trump is not a natural leader. How then can we explain his popularity? To
understand it, we need to go way back into our evolutionary history as
primates. Monkeys live in groups with a clear hierarchical structure, whereby
one dominant male, the alpha, is boss. The alpha-male decides who can eat, who
can interact and who is allowed to pick his fleas. Intimidation and bullying is
part of his daily repertoire. It's easier for the other monkeys in the group to
make themselves subordinate to the alpha rather than join
the "losers." Even in the animal kingdom it is true: If you win, you
have friends! This also explains our ambivalent attitude toward bullies in the
workplace, in the schoolyard and in politics. We don't love them, but would
rather have them for us than against us.
Authoritarian
leader
Trump fulfils the need of many Republican
voters for a powerful, authoritarian leader. Clever as he is, he also chooses
his opponents carefully. In particular, Trump is looking for a fight with
groups the average American hates, such as Capitol Hill politicians, assertive
journalists, the Mexican government and the CEOs of
companies listed on the stock market. It is characteristic of him to be the
only Republican candidate who thinks CEO salaries should
be cut.
Research into political
psychology shows that voters generally prefer leaders who radiate positive
emotions like cheerfulness and optimism. Mark Rutte, our prime minister, has understood this perhaps too
well. Negative emotions like sadness or anger are not so appreciated by voters.
However, there is an important exception that Trump puts to convenient use.
Reseach by University of Amsterdam Psychologist Gerben Van Kleef shows that angry
people are attracted to unkind leaders. With a little imagination we could call
that the "Wilders effect."
Wilders
effect
Trump benefits from the [Geert] Wilders effect
[video, right] because right now, Americans have so little faith in the political system.
According to a June 2015 Gallup poll, only eight percent of people trust
Congress - the lowest percentage ever recorded. In recent years we've seen how congressional
Republicans and Democrats have so fought one another that hardly any legislation
has been adopted or policies implemented.
In response to such political discontent, people often focus their
attention on an outsider - someone who isn't part of the current structure of political
power and thus bears no responsibility for the malaise. It is the "Hitler
phenomenon." Charismatic newcomers therefore have particular appeal that
sets them apart them from the rest according to our research at the VU
university. We presented people with a number of political scenarios in which
they had to choose between several candidates in a presidential election. In
some scenarios they were told that the country was in need of stability,
whereas in the others, emphasis was placed on the need for economic and
technological change. For the scenario of change, people often opted for an
inexperienced leader who is also found to be more charismatic than the older,
more experienced political rot. Other research into charismatic leaders by Carl
Senior from Aston University shows that they frequently possess more striking
physical characteristics than their opponents, such as an asymmetric body, a unique-looking
face or unusual hairstyle. Apparently, an unusual feature can enhance someone's
charisma – particularly if voters are looking for something new.
Posted By
Worldmeets.US
This combination of traits - narcissism,
intimidation, anger, charisma and guinea pig hair - could in part explain The
Donald's popularity in the polls. But could he win the grand prize, the White
House - or even the Republican nomination? I expect not, and to understand why,
we have to return to the monkey rock or schoolyard.
Studies into monkeys and children show that
the bully has a shaky power base because he makes too many enemies.
Psychological development confirms that as children get older, the bully loses
his status in the schoolyard. Research by primatologist Frans
de Waal published in the book Chimpanzee
Politics shows that the alpha is eventually deposed because he ends up standing
alone against the group. Grooming behavior in monkeys
shows that to remain on top the alpha has to regularly groom subordinates.
According to this logic, Trump will ultimately
fail to forge the coalitions so necessary to playing a meaningful role in
American politics. One clue is that there have already been numerous personnel
changes on his campaign team. The lesson for the other Republican candidates is
that rather than competing with one another against The Donald, they would be
better off acting together. During the Republican TV debate on Wednesday night
you could already see that happening. My scientifically based prediction: Trump
will fall on his own sword.
*Mark
van Vugt is professor of evolutionary psychology at
the VU University and an expert on leadership. He is co-author of the books 'Authority' and 'The Natural Leader.'
