Overlapping Semantics of Leadership and Heroism: Expectations of Omnipotence, Identification With Ideal Leaders and Disappointment in Real Managers

Arnulf, J. K. and K. R. Larsen (2015). "Overlapping semantics of leadership and heroism: Expectations of omnipotence, identification with ideal leaders and disappointment in real managers." Scandinavian Psychologist 2(e3).

30 Pages Posted: 4 Nov 2020

See all articles by Jan Ketil Arnulf

Jan Ketil Arnulf

BI Norwegian Business School

Kai R. Larsen

Leeds School of Business; Information Systems Group; Gallup

Date Written: 2014

Abstract

Building on the semantic theory of survey response, we show how leadership research is vulnerable to semantic overlaps in central concepts. Many people have unrealistic expectations of leaders, and confuse leadership with heroism.

Keywords: Leadership, Heroism, Latent Semantic Analysis, Semantic Theory of Survey Response, Charisma, Transformational Leadership

Suggested Citation

Arnulf, Jan Ketil and Larsen, Kai R., Overlapping Semantics of Leadership and Heroism: Expectations of Omnipotence, Identification With Ideal Leaders and Disappointment in Real Managers (2014). Arnulf, J. K. and K. R. Larsen (2015). "Overlapping semantics of leadership and heroism: Expectations of omnipotence, identification with ideal leaders and disappointment in real managers." Scandinavian Psychologist 2(e3)., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3716109

Jan Ketil Arnulf (Contact Author)

BI Norwegian Business School ( email )

Nydalsveien 37
Oslo, 0442
Norway

Kai R. Larsen

Leeds School of Business; Information Systems Group ( email )

995 Regent Dr.
Boulder, CO 80309-0419
United States

Gallup ( email )

901 F St NW
Washington, DC 20004
United States

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