Habits and Virtues: Does it Matter if a Leader Kicks a Dog?

Joanne Ciulla

Abstract


Abstract: This paper argues that it is reasonable to make attributions about a leader’s character based on minor incidents such as kicking a dog. It begins with a short review of the relevant literature from leadership studies and social psychology on how our prototypes of leaders affect the attributions we make about them. Then the paper examines the role of virtues, habits, and dispositional statements to show why an act such as kicking a dog can offer insight into a leader’s moral character.

Keywords: Leadership; Leadership Ethics; Virtue; Habit Attribution; Dispositional Statements.

 

Costumi e virtù: conta se un leader prende a calci un cane?

Riassunto: In questo articolo si sostiene che è ragionevole compiere attribuzioni concernenti il carattere di un leader basate su piccoli eventi incidentali, come prendere a calci un cane. Il testo prende le mosse da una piccola rassegna della letteratura più importante tratta dagli studi sulla leadership e dalla psicologia sociale su come le nostre immagini prototipiche di leader influenzano le attribuzioni che di solito compiamo nei loro confronti. Successivamente il testo esamina il ruolo delle virtù, dei costumi e delle affermazioni disposizionali per mostrare la ragione per la quale un atto come il prendere a calci un cane possa gettar luce sulla caratura morale di un leader.

Parole chiave: Leadership; Etica della leadership; Virtù; Attribuzione di costumi; Affermazioni disposizionali.


Parole chiave


Leadership; Leadership Ethics; Virtue; Habit Attribution; Dispositional Statements

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4453/rifp.2014.0026

Copyright (c) 2014 Joanne Ciulla

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