The Power of Prestige

The Power of Prestige

When a given person has the power of prestige behind him, his statements, even when attempts to describe pre-existing facts, are subconsciously taken as commands. When a person who does not have the power of prestige makes statements, those statements are, at best, taken as attempts to describe pre-existing facts or, more likely, as acts of either due submission or undue defiance. Thus, when a professor at a prestigious institution comes up with a crackpot theory, people see merit in it---for, considered, as a command, it does have merit--and when a professor at a no-name institution comes up ...

When a given person has the power of prestige behind him, his statements, even when attempts to describe pre-existing facts, are subconsciously taken as commands. When a person who does not have the power of prestige makes statements, those statements are, at best, taken as attempts to describe pre-existing facts or, more likely, as acts of either due submission or undue defiance. Thus, when a professor at a prestigious institution comes up with a crackpot theory, people see merit in it---for, considered, as a command, it does have merit--and when a professor at a no-name institution comes up with a reasonable theory it is either judged according to its merits or dismissed.

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