{"id":20849,"date":"2020-12-12T09:06:16","date_gmt":"2020-12-12T13:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=20849"},"modified":"2020-12-19T17:39:37","modified_gmt":"2020-12-19T21:39:37","slug":"questioning-authority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/questioning-authority\/","title":{"rendered":"Questioning Authority: Why We Doubt Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What does questioning authority mean? Why do humans question authority?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questioning authority means that we don’t always agree with authority, but also realize our dependence<\/a> on authority figures. This conflict is normal to human nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about questioning authority and why people are conflicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Questioning Authority: Why We Do It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the previous two laws, we learned how to manage human nature when belonging to a group. Now, we\u2019ll learn how to manage human nature when it comes to leaders and authority, and why questioning authority comes naturally to us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By nature, humans have conflicted emotions about almost everything. <\/strong>However, people tend not to admit these conflicts to themselves, or even notice them in others, because they\u2019re confusing and require extensive self-reflection<\/a> to untangle. This is for three reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Right from childhood, we experienced the conflicting desires of independence from and dependence on our parents.<\/li>
  2. Pure, unmixed emotions are so powerful they can be overwhelming and frightening. We have to dilute them with other emotions to feel in control.<\/li>
  3. Our goals and directions are constantly shifting because we\u2019re a painful mix of changing moods, masks, and contradictory traits.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    We especially have conflicted feelings about authority figures because they remind us of the conflicting feelings we experienced toward our parents, leading to problems with authority.<\/strong> Like our parents, we depend on authority figures\u2014without them, we don\u2019t have people to learn from, we fall victim to short-term thinking (more on this in Law #12: People Are Bad at Long-Term Thinking<\/a>), and there\u2019s nothing to rebel against, so we don\u2019t learn to think outside the box. Additionally, in leaderless groups, <\/strong>everyone\u2019s individual needs pull the group in so many different directions that the group doesn\u2019t have purpose and never makes progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We also, however, crave independence from authority figures. We want to disassociate from leaders because they make us feel inferior and envious, or because we fear they might manipulate their power<\/strong> to achieve their own ends, rather than what\u2019s best for the group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These conflicted feelings cause us to act fickle towards authority figures<\/strong> and encourage questioning authority.<\/strong> For example, in older times, if something went wrong under a king\u2019s rule, he could be executed, and people would celebrate at these events. Today\u2019s leaders are \u201cexecuted\u201d via losing elections or public shaming<\/a>. Additionally, when it comes to established leaders, this fickleness can come from a fear of corruption\u2014the longer someone\u2019s in power, the greater chance they have of being corrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this law, we\u2019ll learn how to manage toxic types and make people like us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Manage Toxic Types: Leaders and Authority Figures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Authority and leadership<\/a> aren\u2019t synonymous. Authority comes from striving for a higher purpose, which is a fundamental human need. <\/strong>People need purpose to help them guide their behavior for two reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n