Marveling at his supporters’ enthusiasm during his 2016 election campaign, Donald Trump once proclaimed, "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters.” Trump’s assertion acknowledged a consequential feature of the human psyche: At high levels, the soothing light of conformity becomes blinding.

Thought experiment: Would you want supporters who would back you even if you murdered someone? This is a tricky question to answer because we all crave unconditional support on some level. Receiving others’ blind loyalty makes us feel safer (I will not be deserted) and more powerful (my people will do anything for me). We know, too, how blindly loyal followers can exert real power in the world, as those who lack doubt, restraint, or reflection can charge as one, fast, and with full force.

We also know the allure of being totally faithful and obedient to someone ourselves, the relief that comes from shedding the heavy burden of responsibility, from........

© Psychology Today