Platow, Michaelvan Knippenberg, DaanHaslam, S. Alexandervan Knippenberg, BarbaraSpears, Russell2015-12-070144-6665http://hdl.handle.net/1885/22843Two experiments tested hypotheses, derived from social identity and self-categorization theories, regarding the attribution of charisma to leaders. In Experiment I (N = 203), in-group prototypical leaders were attributed greater levels of charisma and were perceived to be more persuasive than in-group non-prototypical leaders. In Experiment 2 (N = 220), leaders described with in-group stereotypical characteristics were attributed relatively high levels of charisma regardless of their group-oriented versus exchange rhetoric. Leaders described with out-group stereotypical characteristics, however, had to employ group-oriented rhetoric to be attributed relatively high levels of charisma. We conclude that leadership emerges from being representative of 'us'; charisma may, indeed, be a special gift, but it is one bestowed on group members by group members for being representative of, rather than distinct from, the group itself.Keywords: adolescent; adult; female; human; leadership; male; middle aged; persuasive communication; review; self concept; social behavior; social psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Leadership; Male; Middle Aged; Persuasive Communication; Self Concept;200610.1348/014466605X419862015-12-07