Is there such a syndrome?
February 27, 2020 10:31 AM Subscribe
Is there an existing term for a condition or phenomenon where a person in a position of power begins to hold crazy opinions or behave badly caused by having ended up surrounded only by sycophants?
I've seen it happen too often to politicians, professors, religious leaders, famous artists and CEOs. My first guess was King Lear syndrome but it doesn't quite apply because he had the Fool.
I've seen it happen too often to politicians, professors, religious leaders, famous artists and CEOs. My first guess was King Lear syndrome but it doesn't quite apply because he had the Fool.
The echo chamber effect
High on your own supply
posted by sallybrown at 10:49 AM on February 27, 2020
High on your own supply
posted by sallybrown at 10:49 AM on February 27, 2020
Megalomania?
posted by briank at 10:55 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by briank at 10:55 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Nobel Disease? However, being surrounded by sycophants is more of an effect ("Hmm, a Nobel winner sure knows what they're doing!").
posted by Seeking Direction at 11:05 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by Seeking Direction at 11:05 AM on February 27, 2020
Corporate America?
posted by notsnot at 11:16 AM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by notsnot at 11:16 AM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
There's The Bathsheba Syndrome - the cause isn't directly sycophants but sycophants are another byproduct of power. The Navy has been using this in leadership classes for a while (with, as far as I could tell, limited to no impact). But it does specifically address the idea that people who are promoted to increased levels of power and privilege have a tendency to use that power / privilege unethically.
posted by macfly at 11:28 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by macfly at 11:28 AM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's related to the idea in this post, Evaporative Cooling Of Group Beliefs. Tho it's not specifically about people in power I think it's along the same lines and might help.
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:41 AM on February 27, 2020
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:41 AM on February 27, 2020
Best answer: Acquired Situational Narcissism aka Rockstar Syndrome.
posted by Horkus at 11:44 AM on February 27, 2020 [10 favorites]
posted by Horkus at 11:44 AM on February 27, 2020 [10 favorites]
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton
We could call it Baron Acton's Law.
posted by SemiSalt at 11:48 AM on February 27, 2020 [4 favorites]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton
We could call it Baron Acton's Law.
posted by SemiSalt at 11:48 AM on February 27, 2020 [4 favorites]
Emperor has no clothes
posted by canoehead at 12:25 PM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by canoehead at 12:25 PM on February 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
Emperor’s New Clothes?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 1:16 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 1:16 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
This book by David Owen might be relevant:
The Hubris Syndrome: Bush, Blair and the Intoxication of Power
posted by Corvid at 1:43 PM on February 27, 2020
The Hubris Syndrome: Bush, Blair and the Intoxication of Power
posted by Corvid at 1:43 PM on February 27, 2020
Reality distortion field.
posted by no regrets, coyote at 1:51 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by no regrets, coyote at 1:51 PM on February 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
A narcissist and enablers, at any level.
posted by stormyteal at 2:10 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by stormyteal at 2:10 PM on February 27, 2020
I think this has some similarity to the Groupthink phenomenon.
posted by Pfardentrott at 3:26 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by Pfardentrott at 3:26 PM on February 27, 2020
Response by poster: Nobel Disease certainly covers the crazy-opinion half of it; Batsheba syndrome the bad-behavior half. But Acquired Situational Narcissism seems to be closest to what I was looking for in that the sufferer did not originally harbor delusions and megalomania but acquired it as a result of power and isolation. Thanks, everyone!
posted by KwaiChangCaine at 7:07 PM on February 27, 2020
posted by KwaiChangCaine at 7:07 PM on February 27, 2020
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posted by alex1965 at 10:44 AM on February 27, 2020 [2 favorites]