New Books in Psychology

Molly Worthen, "Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump" (Random House, 2025)

Sep 6, 2025
Molly Worthen, a history professor at the University of North Carolina and freelance journalist, dives into the captivating role of charisma in American history. She discusses how charismatic leaders, from the Puritans to Donald Trump, exploit cultural upheaval to connect with followers. Worthen highlights the impact of narrative on political movements and critiques the emotional ties fans develop with these figures. The conversation reveals how the desire for meaning fuels the rise of personalities who promise order amid chaos.
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INSIGHT

Charisma As Narrative Power

  • Charisma is a leader's ability to invite followers into a new, activating narrative about their place in a larger story.
  • It combines empowerment for followers with a sense of security tied to the leader's vision.
INSIGHT

Celebrity Versus Mobilizing Charisma

  • Celebrity can evoke powerful feelings but usually produces a more passive following than political or religious charisma.
  • Charisma mobilizes people into action and durable movements more often than celebrity does.
INSIGHT

Charisma Is A Relational Phenomenon

  • Charisma arises from an interaction between leader and followers, not from the leader alone.
  • It endures only while followers find the leader's story persuasive or when it becomes embedded in institutions.
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