When being charismatic is admirable what words describe precisely what makes it admirable?
Beginning Story: Alice is a rather dull and shy person. She is usually afraid of saying the wrong things, doesn't make friends easily because she doesn't put herself forward at all, contributes very little to group discussions at work, although she has many excellent ideas, and avoids situations where she has to meet new people. Her life is very contracted and rather unexciting. In contrast to Alice is Rosa. Rosa is very lively and friendly, she draws people to her by her enjoyment of life and by her entertaining stories. A natural leader she loves to work with other people, who admire her wit and vivacity.
Reflection on the story: Rosa gets more out other life than Alice, who seems to not wholly participate in the world, or even in her own self. Most would agree that the charisma that Rosa possesses is a product of her engagement in her life, unlike Alice. Rosa draws people to her and leads them by the power of her personality.
Hypothesis #1: When being charismatic is good, fully engaging in the world is at the root of its goodness.
Counterexample to Hypothesis #1: JuJu Wilson, a paint manufacturer, is a very engaging person; he draws people to him and is able to direct large groups by the force of his personality. JuJu wants a BMW in every color his company manufactures. When his wife balks at the purchase of his seventh (JuJu Green), which he really can't afford, he tells his employees that his son needs an expensive operation for which he won't be able lo pay if he gives them their promised raise. Instead he uses the earmarked funds to take his wife on a round the world vacation.
Reflection on the story: Although JuJu is a charismatic individual who is fully engaged in the world, this example illustrates the inadequacy of the earlier proposed X. There is nothing that is particularly admirable about JuJu's personal charm. This is an example of "Bad" charisma not just simply because his workers are cheated (charisma with a bad result) but because it is truly not virtuous, instead it is an example of manipulative pseudo-charisma. Rosa's charisma is an unselfconscious expression of real delight in life and in herself that is in contrast to this. Rosa's is the variety that is good.
Hypothesis #2, a revision of Hypothesis #1: When charisma is good, an unselfconscious expression of enjoyment in oneself and in an engagement with the world is at the root of its goodness.
'To help pinpoint the real goodness that I sense in Rosa's story I will present contrasting stories that show other examples of pseudo-charisma.
Contrasting story: Etta can always be found surrounded by acquaintances recounting an amusing anecdote or the hilarious tale of her latest romance. She only feels "alive" when she is at the center of attention. Everyone thinks of her as the life of the party. When Etta is alone, however, she feels deeply worthless; she hates the way she looks so is constantly taking diet pills, imagines her coworkers find her lax, and suspects her friends think that she is phony and talk badly about her behind her back. Her sparkle conies from insecurity and the need to make other people like her.
Reflection: Etta only seems to be charismatic. This is confusing in that charisma is generally thought of as an external trait, but true good charisma is internal. Etta is deeply insecure and doubts her self worth. Her charisma is both false and harmful. It is a role that she plays, not a reflection of who she is. This is damaging to Etta's development in that it keeps her from actually relating to others and forming friendships based on her "true" self. She feels false and believes that others think she is too, resulting in the feeling that she has to be "up"' and maintain the role everyone has come to expect her to play.
Another form of harmful charisma: Contrasting Story: Martin is a televangelist. His winning ways have resulted in an international audience. The Church of Martin in Martinville, NM, a line of religious products, his own brand of sneakers, and many real-estate ventures. Martin has convinced many people that salvation lays in sending him money and following his strict Martin plan of morality. Martin doesn't really believe any of the doctrines that he has set forth. His intention is to make as much money as possible and fake his death, so that he can live in obscurity on his private island, possibly returning as a messiah if he runs out of money.
Reflection: This is another example of pseudo-charisma like that displayed by JuJu. Although people are drawn to Martin he is using his charm to manipulate. This is an example of shallow charisma. There is no doubt that his personality is exciting and he is engaged with others, but he is concealing his real murky and deceptive motives for personal gain at the expense of his admires. A person with Good charisma will probably benefit from it incidentally, but they won't use it as a tool. Of course other people are naturally drawn to charismatic people, but a person with good charisma may not even be aware that they possess it,
Another Contrasting story: Sheila is very charismatic, she is always at the center of activity, is not afraid to speak her mind, likes to organize events and delegate to other people, but she also feels that no one else is as capable or as vital. She bosses her children, who have the feeling that they aren't able to do anything right. Her husband lives in fear of her criticism and often withdraws. Sheila's first impression is good, but rather than being drawn to her, people feel that they can't escape her once they come into her orbit.
Reflection: Sheila is, as grade school children might say "bossy". Many other superficial traits, such as leadership abilities are those exhibited by someone with Good Charisma, but the source other power is not from a positive feeling about herself; rather it is from the feeling that everyone else around her is incompetent. Good charisma seems to be more introverted; it is the result of a secure sense of self and serenity when combined with an active personality.
It might be useful to compile a list of words that relate to charisma:
energetic
genuine
charming
lively
vibrant
positive self image
engaging
self-respecting
personally appealing
fun
powerful
enjoyment of life
confident
alive
inspiring
dramatic
flare
outgoing
popular
natural leader
affirming
strong sense of self
risk taker
secure
innovative
connected
active
irreverent
Some of these words are a part of what makes good charisma good, others are results, and some are the fertile soil in which good charisma grows.
What is more essential to the virtue of of charisma in its most ideal form? How does a certain word relate to the moral substance of "being charismatic"? Can you have a certain quality without having charisma? Personal appeal, charm, a lively nature, irreverence, and wit are all often associated with charisma, but it would not necessarily increase the quality of Good charisma by having more and more of those traits. More essential to good charisma are positive self-image, a secure sense of self, a genuine enjoyment of life, and the ability to take risks and have fun. energy, activity, and confidence. If you increase all of these things you would have more of the good kind of charisma. Yet somehow this doesn't quite capture what quality it is that people whom we describe as charismatic possess. Results of good charisma might include popularity, leadership abilities, the ability to inspire, innovate, and connect. The earlier proposed hypothesis stated that charisma is good when an unselfconscious expression of enjoyment in oneself and in an engagement with the world is at the root. of its goodness. In light of the reflection since that proposal I would amend the theory in this way:
"Unselfconscious enjoyment in oneself' would be encompassed in the idea of a serene self-confidence. To include the idea that it isn't manipulative, I would add innocent. "Engagement with the world" is very vague; by that I intended to imply that personal interaction is a part of good charisma, I still feel that, yet came to realize that although charisma is manifested outwardly it has its roots internally. Still some part of interaction with other people must be included. Perhaps good charisma is connected to the world in that other people are drawn to and inspired by it.
Reformulated Theory of the moral substance of "being charismatic": When charisma is good it is an outward manifestation of a serene self-confidence expressed in an innocent and active exuberance that inspires and draws others.
Okay, well I can see that if one was surrounded by awful people maybe one couldn't inspire anyone, but charisma does have a public element to it's nature. I am not certain that the last person on earth could be said to be charismatic, even though she might possess all of the internal qualities.