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The Leadership Archetype: A Jungian Analysis of Similarities between Modern Leadership Theory and the Abraham Myth in the Judaic–Christian Tradition

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  • Neil Abramson

Abstract

Archetypal psychology suggests the possibility of a leadership archetype representing the unconscious preferences of human beings as a species about the appropriate relationships between leaders and followers. Mythological analysis compared God’s leadership in the Abraham myth with modern visionary, ethical and situational leadership to find similarities reflecting continuities in human thinking about leadership over as long as 3600 years. God’s leadership behavior is very modern except that God is generally more relationship oriented. The leadership archetype that emerges is of a leader that develops his/her follower by reliably maintaining a vision, behaving according to firm ethical values even when it weakens the leader’s authority, accepting suffering when the follower is unreliable, and always forgiving even when the follower behaves with hubris in an attempt to overthrow the leader. If God’s leadership principles were mandatory in management, many dysfunctional leaders would be disqualified and many of the negative consequences of poor leadership might be averted. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007

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  • Neil Abramson, 2007. "The Leadership Archetype: A Jungian Analysis of Similarities between Modern Leadership Theory and the Abraham Myth in the Judaic–Christian Tradition," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 72(2), pages 115-129, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:72:y:2007:i:2:p:115-129
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-006-9159-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frances Westley & Henry Mintzberg, 1989. "Visionary leadership and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(S1), pages 17-32, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jerzy Kociatkiewicz & Monika Kostera, 2012. "The good manager : an archetypical quest for morally sustainable leadership," Post-Print hal-02423779, HAL.
    2. Islam, Gazi, 2008. "Animating Leadership: Crisis and Renewal of Governance in 4 Mythic Narratives," Insper Working Papers wpe_137, Insper Working Paper, Insper Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa.
    3. Teresa J. Rothausen, 2023. "Diverse, Ethical, Collaborative Leadership Through Revitalized Cultural Archetype: The Mary Alternative," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(3), pages 627-644, October.
    4. Ahmet Melih Karavelio?lu, 2014. "Analysis of Leadership Styles in Banking Sector in North Cyprus: Testing Factors Effecting Authoritarian Style and a Model for Banking Sector in a Small Island Economy," International Journal of Regional Development, Macrothink Institute, vol. 1(1), pages 39-64, December.

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