Abstract: | Charismatic leaders have the ability to gain a following of persons who are willing to place personal gain secondary to the will and wishes of the leader. Such a charismatic situation has tremendous potential for good or evil. Therapy groups seem to be natural arenas for the charismatic situation. Group members often perceive their leaders as "more than" human, and this seems to serve some important function in the life of the group. The present author assesses the place of the charismatic leader, along with its assets and liabilities, in the practice of group psychotherapy. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |