Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures.

Human groups show a variety of leadership dynamics ranging from egalitarian groups with no leader, to groups with changing leaders, to absolutist groups with a single long-term leader. Here, we model transitions between these different phases of leadership dynamics, investigating the role of inequal...

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Main Authors: John Bryden, Eric Silverman, Simon T Powers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0263665&type=printable
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author John Bryden
Eric Silverman
Simon T Powers
author_facet John Bryden
Eric Silverman
Simon T Powers
author_sort John Bryden
collection DOAJ
description Human groups show a variety of leadership dynamics ranging from egalitarian groups with no leader, to groups with changing leaders, to absolutist groups with a single long-term leader. Here, we model transitions between these different phases of leadership dynamics, investigating the role of inequalities in relationships between individuals. Our results demonstrate a novel riches-to-rags class of leadership dynamics where a leader can be replaced by a new individual. We note that the transition between the three different phases of leadership dynamics resembles transitions in leadership dynamics during the Neolithic period of human history. We argue how technological developments, such as food storage and/or weapons which allow one individual to control large quantities of resources, would mean that relationships became more unequal. In general terms, we provide a model of how individual relationships can affect leadership dynamics and structures.
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spelling doaj-art-fe37dfd26eb34c8dab124d153dbbd4292025-08-20T03:47:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01172e026366510.1371/journal.pone.0263665Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures.John BrydenEric SilvermanSimon T PowersHuman groups show a variety of leadership dynamics ranging from egalitarian groups with no leader, to groups with changing leaders, to absolutist groups with a single long-term leader. Here, we model transitions between these different phases of leadership dynamics, investigating the role of inequalities in relationships between individuals. Our results demonstrate a novel riches-to-rags class of leadership dynamics where a leader can be replaced by a new individual. We note that the transition between the three different phases of leadership dynamics resembles transitions in leadership dynamics during the Neolithic period of human history. We argue how technological developments, such as food storage and/or weapons which allow one individual to control large quantities of resources, would mean that relationships became more unequal. In general terms, we provide a model of how individual relationships can affect leadership dynamics and structures.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0263665&type=printable
spellingShingle John Bryden
Eric Silverman
Simon T Powers
Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures.
PLoS ONE
title Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures.
title_full Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures.
title_fullStr Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures.
title_full_unstemmed Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures.
title_short Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures.
title_sort modelling transitions between egalitarian dynamic leader and absolutist power structures
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0263665&type=printable
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AT ericsilverman modellingtransitionsbetweenegalitariandynamicleaderandabsolutistpowerstructures
AT simontpowers modellingtransitionsbetweenegalitariandynamicleaderandabsolutistpowerstructures