When I learned that the reading by Goethals & Allison was about “mystery,” my mind immediately went to its implications in terms of attractions, especially what makes men attractive. I thought of a girl going “wowww, he’s just … sooo mysterious! Like … what is he even thinking???”
The reading definitely touched on it, calling mystery “essentially erotic” at times, and I thought it funny how David Gergen, regarding Ronald Reagan, “writes almost as if he is in love [with] Reagan.” That made me giggle. It really does seem that if a man is conventionally attractive and has a degree of stoicism, we instinctively fill them in as “heroes.” We are even fed this in the media, with many male love interests or protagonists holding this schema. It also makes total sense as to why this can further be extended to leaders, since society loves them being attractive males as well.
However, it seems like we have taken steps to reverse these stereotypes? Within romantic/sexual attraction, it is known that attractive men can use their “mysterious” charms to endanger women. Still … I am skeptical that we have made as many steps forward in regards to our leaders. The danger is that political leaders especially hold so much authority, that their villain-like behavior cane be disguised, censored, and so on. A cruel lover tends to be easier to spot and be held liable than a cruel leader …
I really agree with your final point on the progress we have made. I did not think about the implications of simple interactions between two people while reading, however, your mention of how it is known that ” attractive men can use their ‘mysterious’ charms to endanger women”… I didn’t think about CONCIOUS behavioral manipulation to trick others in small scale interactions… that makes my stomach turn.
In regards to what you said, how political figures “hold so much authority, that their villain-like behavior can be disguised, censored,” this is very intriguing to me and is definitely the work of media and publicist… yet I wonder if the people doing the sponsoring or the political figures themselves view their behavior as negative? or just undesirable to some and that is why they sensor? idk
especially hold so much authority, that their villain-like behavior cane be disguised, censored, and so on. A cruel lover tends to be easier to spot and be held liable than a cruel leader …
**delete**
“especially hold so much authority, that their villain-like behavior cane be disguised, censored, and so on. A cruel lover tends to be easier to spot and be held liable than a cruel leader …”