People tend to overestimate the intelligence and foresight of individuals at the top more than their integrity. This tendency is often referred to as the "halo effect" or "leadership halo." It occurs when people ascribe positive qualities or attributes to leaders or individuals in high positions based on their status or perceived competence in certain areas.
Here's why people tend to overestimate intelligence and foresight more:
Visibility and power: People at the top of organizations or in leadership positions often have more visibility and power. Their decisions and actions have a significant impact on the organization or society as a whole. Due to their authority, people may assume that these leaders must be highly intelligent and possess great foresight to have reached their positions.
Attribution error: When people observe successful outcomes or achievements from leaders, they tend to attribute those successes solely to the individual's intelligence and foresight, overlooking other factors such as luck, timing, or the contributions of a team.
Charisma and confidence: Leaders are often selected based on their charisma, confidence, and ability to communicate effectively. These qualities can create an impression of intelligence and foresight, even if they are not directly related to those qualities.
Confirmation bias: People may actively seek and interpret information that confirms their beliefs about the intelligence and foresight of leaders, while dismissing or ignoring evidence to the contrary.
Aspirational thinking: In some cases, people may project their hopes and aspirations onto leaders, assuming that they must possess extraordinary intelligence and foresight to lead effectively.
On the other hand, people may be more skeptical or critical about the integrity of individuals in leadership positions, especially when there are well-known instances of corruption, unethical behavior, or misuse of power by some leaders. These negative experiences and media coverage of such events can lead to a more cautious approach in assessing the integrity of leaders.
Overall, it's essential for individuals to critically evaluate leaders based on a balanced assessment of their competence, integrity, and track record, rather than making assumptions based solely on their position or status.